Safeguarding Policy Template UK
Safeguarding Policy (Adults & Children) Template (UK)
Approx. 8 pages · 15 sectionsBranded PDF + editable WordLast reviewed:
What is a safeguarding policy and who needs one?
A safeguarding policy explains how your organisation protects children and adults at risk from harm when your staff work with or near them: responsibilities, safer recruitment, recognising abuse, reporting concerns and training. Buyers of education, health, social care, housing and community services expect every supplier to have one.
Essential for contracts involving children, young people or adults at risk. Covers roles (including a designated safeguarding lead), safer recruitment, DBS checks, recognising and reporting concerns and training.
Why buyers ask for this
Buyers in education, health, social care and community services have duties to protect children and adults at risk, so they commonly require suppliers whose staff may come into contact with them to have a safeguarding policy and a named lead.
Who needs it
Organisations whose staff may come into contact with children or adults at risk, e.g. education, health, care, housing and community contracts.
Where it comes up in a PQQ, SQ or PSQ
Under the Procurement Act 2023, supplier selection uses the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) plus each buyer's own conditions of participation and quality questions. Typical questions this policy supports:
- "Provide your safeguarding policy and name your designated safeguarding lead"
- Questions on DBS checks for staff who will work on the contract
- Requests for safeguarding training records and referral procedures
- – Required for education, health, social care and community contracts
What's inside
The full safeguarding policy runs to about 8 pages (including the branded cover and document control page) across 15 sections:
- Purpose
- Scope
- Definitions
- Roles & Responsibilities
- Safeguarding Principles
- Legal & Regulatory Framework
- Recognising Abuse & Indicators of Concern
- Responding to Disclosures or Concerns
- Escalation & Referral to External Agencies
- Information Sharing & Confidentiality
- Safer Working Practices & Professional Boundaries
- Allegations Against Staff or Contractors
- Training & Awareness
- Records & Documentation
- Review
Key points covered
- Scope and principles
- Designated safeguarding lead
- Safer recruitment and DBS checks
- Recognising signs of abuse
- Reporting and recording concerns
- Local authority referrals
- Training
- Review
Every document carries your logo, company name, version number, approval signatory and next review date, in branded PDF plus editable Word.
UK legislation, standards and guidance it references
Excerpt preview
[Your Company Ltd] (“the Company”) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk who may be affected by our activities. The aim of this Policy is to: This Policy applies to: This Policy should be read alongside: Compliance with this Policy is mandatory.
Get your safeguarding policy in minutes
£19.99 per policy, or £199 for all 39 policies. One-off payment.
Tender deadline this week? Download in 10 minutes.
How to adapt it
- Read every section and remove anything that doesn’t reflect how your organisation actually works.
- Complete the bracketed [ADAPT] prompts with your own arrangements, people and data.
- Have the policy approved and signed by a director or equivalent, and communicate it to staff.
- Keep evidence that you follow it, and review it by the date shown.
Safeguarding Policy FAQs
What is a designated safeguarding lead?
A named person responsible for receiving concerns, deciding on referrals to the local authority or police, and keeping records. The template has a prompt for you to name yours.
Does the policy cover both children and adults at risk?
Yes. It covers children and adults at risk in one document, reflecting duties under the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 and the Care Act 2014, with prompts for your own referral contacts.
What should staff do if they are worried about someone?
The policy sets out a simple route: act immediately if someone is in danger, record what was seen or said, and report to the designated safeguarding lead the same day without investigating themselves.
How much does the Safeguarding Policy template cost?
£19.99 per policy, or £199 for all 39 policies. It is a one-off payment with no subscription, and you download branded PDF and editable Word files straight away.
Free guides
- Which policies do UK public-sector tenders ask for?
- Documents needed for public sector tenders: a UK checklist
General information, not legal advice. Requirements differ between buyers and change over time; always check the tender documents.