Our Safeguarding Approach

Safeguarding underpins every aspect of the FUTURES Framework™ and all services delivered by Guided Futures Advocacy.

While our primary focus is supporting progression, future planning and long-term outcomes, we recognise that individuals cannot thrive unless they are safe, heard and appropriately supported. For this reason, safeguarding is embedded throughout our assessments, progression reviews, wellbeing observations and professional reporting.

Our practitioners are trained to identify safeguarding concerns, unmet needs and emerging risks, ensuring that concerns are recognised early, documented appropriately, risk assessed and escalated in line with statutory guidance where required.

Our approach combines early identification, professional curiosity, independent observation and collaborative working to promote the safety, wellbeing, rights and long-term outcomes of every individual we support.

Our Safeguarding Framework

Guided Futures Advocacy operates in accordance with relevant legislation, statutory guidance and recognised safeguarding best practice, including:

• Children Act 1989
• Children Act 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
• SEND Code of Practice: 0–25 Years
• Equality Act 2010
• Human Rights Act 1998
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
• Relevant Local Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures

All practitioners follow clear safeguarding procedures designed to ensure that concerns relating to an individual's safety, wellbeing, development, participation and lived experience are appropriately identified, documented, risk assessed and acted upon.

Guided Futures Advocacy adopts a preventative safeguarding approach focused on early identification of concerns, independent oversight, voice-of-the-child engagement, professional accountability, and timely intervention where risks are identified.

How Safeguarding Concerns Are Managed

Concern, wellbeing risk, unmet need or safeguarding indicator identified during a FUTURES review or independent audit

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Practitioner documents observations and reports concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead

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Safeguarding review and risk assessment completed

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Where appropriate, early intervention recommendations and preventative actions are proposed

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Where safeguarding thresholds are met, concerns are escalated to the relevant Local Authority Children's Services Team, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Police or other appropriate safeguarding agencies

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Follow-up monitoring, professional reporting and review where appropriate

Where safeguarding concerns are identified, Guided Futures Advocacy works collaboratively with local authorities, education providers, health professionals, families and other relevant agencies to ensure concerns are managed appropriately and in accordance with statutory guidance.

We believe safeguarding is not separate from achieving positive outcomes. It provides the foundation upon which progression, independence, quality of life and better futures can be built.