Safeguarding
& Standards

People come first.

Veterans Backbone works with people who may be dealing with difficult, complicated or vulnerable situations.

Safeguarding means doing what we reasonably can to protect people from abuse, neglect, exploitation, harassment, avoidable harm and unsafe behaviour.

It also means recognising concerns early, taking them seriously and responding appropriately rather than hoping they disappear.

If something feels wrong, it gets looked at.

Everyone means everyone.

Our safeguarding expectations apply across Veterans Backbone.

• Veterans receiving support
• Volunteers
• Staff
• Trustees
• RV Crew members
• Licensed Veterans Backbone sites
• Partners and organisations working alongside us
• Anybody taking part in a Veterans Backbone activity or event

Nobody gets a free pass because of their role, title, history, friendship or position within the organisation.

The rules are not complicated.

Being human doesn't mean having no boundaries.

Veterans Backbone is deliberately more human and less corporate than many services.

That does not mean anything goes.

Staff, volunteers and anyone acting on behalf of Veterans Backbone should maintain appropriate boundaries and avoid relationships, behaviour or situations that could create exploitation, dependency, favouritism, conflicts of interest or harm.

Boundaries protect everybody involved.

We don't ignore it.

If somebody tells us they are being harmed, abused, exploited or placed at serious risk, we will take the concern seriously.

Depending on the situation, that may mean speaking with the person, recording the concern, seeking safeguarding advice or involving another appropriate organisation.

Where there is an immediate risk of serious harm or an emergency, emergency services should be contacted.

Veterans Backbone cannot promise absolute confidentiality where somebody's safety, or the safety of another person, may be at serious risk.

You are allowed to challenge us too.

Safeguarding does not only apply to the people we support.

If you are concerned about the behaviour of somebody connected with Veterans Backbone, we want that concern raised.

This includes concerns involving staff, volunteers, trustees, members, licensed sites or anybody representing the organisation.

Raising a concern should not result in somebody being punished, disadvantaged or excluded simply because they spoke up in good faith.

Local doesn't mean unaccountable.

Veterans Backbone licensed sites are intended to have local autonomy while working within the standards and principles of the wider organisation.

The umbrella organisation does not exist to control every local decision. It does have a responsibility to protect safeguarding standards, organisational integrity and continuity.

Serious concerns may therefore require review or intervention.

Any intervention should be proportionate, documented and limited to what is genuinely required.

Guardianship. Not ownership.

Being different doesn't mean making it up as we go along.

Veterans Backbone may be informal in tone, but the organisation still needs proper governance, clear responsibilities and accountability.

Decisions involving safeguarding, finances, governance and organisational risk should be handled properly and recorded where appropriate.

Trustees retain their legal and fiduciary responsibilities for the organisation.

Policies, procedures and governance documents exist to support good decision-making rather than replace common sense.

The grown-up paperwork.

These documents explain the formal structure behind Veterans Backbone and how organisational and financial governance is intended to operate.

The other important bits.