Introduction
Safeguarding is a fundamental responsibility of all individuals and organisations operating within the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, regardless of whether you’re an employee, trustee or a volunteer. It doesn’t matter if you’re providing youth services, community care, housing support, or outreach programmes, safeguarding must be embedded into every aspect of service design and delivery.
This page provides guidance for VCSE organisations in Redcar and Cleveland and VCSE wider partners across the Tees Valley on their safeguarding duties, links to key legislation, and information about local safeguarding partnerships.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding refers to the actions we take to promote the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and to protect them from harm. It includes:
- Protecting people from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- Preventing harm to health or development
- Ensuring safe and effective care
- Empowering individuals to make informed choices and live free from harm
Safeguarding is not just a matter of compliance — it’s about creating safe, inclusive environments where people are treated with dignity and respect.
VCSE Responsibilities
All VCSE organisations have a duty to safeguard the people they work with. This includes:
- Developing and implementing safeguarding policies and procedures
- Appointing a designated safeguarding lead
- Providing regular training for staff and volunteers
- Conducting safe recruitment checks
- Responding appropriately to disclosures or concerns
- Working in partnership with statutory agencies
Safeguarding arrangements should be proportionate to the size and nature of the organisation but must always be robust and clearly documented.
Key National Legislation and Guidance
VCSE organisations must ensure they comply with relevant legislation, including:
Children and Young People
Statutes
- Children Act 1989
- Education Act 1996
- Education Act 2002
- Children Act 2004
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
- Children and Young Persons Act 2008
- Children and Families Act 2014
- Children and Social Work Act 2017
- Education and Training (Welfare of Children) Act 2021
- Online Safety Act 2023
Guidance
- Department for Education’s Working together to safeguard children 2023
- Department for Education’s Children’s social care: national framework 2023
- Department of Education What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused: Advice for practitioners March 2015
- Home Office Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation – procedural information 2016
- Multi-Agency Statutory Guidance on Female Genital Mutilation (Updated July 2020)
- Department of Education Information Sharing: Advice for Practitioners (May 2024)
Adults
Statutes
- Mental Health Act 1983
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Sexual Offences Act 2003
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Equality Act 2010
- Care Act 2014
- Serious Crime Act 2015
- Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
- The Data Protection Act 2018
- Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019
- Health and Care Act 2022
- Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
- Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023
- Online Safety Act 2023
Guidance
- Mental Health Act 1983: Code of Practice
- Care Act 2014: Care and Support Statutory Guidance (Revised October 2018)
- Controlling or coercive behaviour: Statutory guidance (Dec 2015)
- Council Guide to Modern Slavery – Local Government Association supported by a Maturity Matrix (October 2022)
- Identifying a Deprivation of Liberty – Practical Guidance
- Note for Safeguarding Adults Boards – Mental Health Crisis Concordat
- Skills for Care: Employing Personal Assistants Toolkit
- The Casey Review: Opportunity and Integration (Dec 2016)
- NICE Guideline NG189: Safeguarding Adults in Care Homes (2020)
- Office of the Public Guardian’s Safeguarding Policy (Updated January 2023)
- SCIE Guidance on Information Sharing in Safeguarding (2023)
- Second National Analysis of Safeguarding Adult Reviews (April 2019 – March 2023)
- British Medical Association’s Adult Safeguarding Toolkit (2024)
- Safeguarding Adults Protocol: Pressure Ulcers and Raising a Safeguarding Concern (2024)
- RCGP Safeguarding Standards for General Practice (2024)
- NHS England Safeguarding Guidance (Version 1.4, March 2025)
Charity Commission Guidance
VCSE should also refer to the Charity Commission Safeguarding Guidance.
Local Safeguarding Partnerships in the Tees Valley
Each local authority area in the Tees Valley has multi-agency safeguarding partnerships that provide strategic oversight, policy frameworks, and training. VCSE organisations are encouraged to engage with their local boards.
Children and Young People

Other Children & Young People Safeguarding partnerships in the Tees Valley:
Support for VCSE Organisations
If you are part of a VCSE organisation in Redcar and Cleveland or the broader Tees Valley then you are not alone. There is support available to help strengthen safeguarding practices:
- Training and e-learning provided by both the South Tees Safeguarding Children Partnership and Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board
- Policy templates and checklists
- Peer networks and forums
Incorporating safeguarding into governance and daily practice ensures that all individuals who come into contact with your services are protected and valued.
Contact and Reporting Concerns
If you believe a child or adult is at immediate risk, contact emergency services by dialling 999.
For non-emergency safeguarding concerns, refer to the relevant local authority safeguarding team via:
Find Out More
Safeguarding Children and Young People

Safeguarding Adults
