Safeguarding Policy

1. Policy Statement

MEL is committed to protecting children and adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or other harm.

Safeguarding is particularly important in healthcare and care-related recruitment, where workers may have contact with patients, service users or people requiring additional support.

2. Scope

This policy applies to MEL employees, candidates, temporary workers, contractors and relevant business partners.

3. Types of Harm

Safeguarding concerns may include:

• physical abuse;
• sexual abuse;
• emotional or psychological abuse;
• neglect;
• financial abuse;
• domestic abuse;
• discriminatory abuse;
• organisational abuse;
• exploitation;
• modern slavery; and
• other forms of harm or unsafe treatment.

4. Safer Recruitment

Where appropriate to the role, MEL may conduct checks including:

• identity verification;
• right to work checks;
• employment references;
• qualification checks;
• DBS checks where legally eligible and appropriate;
• professional registration checks;
• training and competency checks; and
• other client or role-specific compliance checks.

5. DBS and Professional Checks

DBS checks will only be requested at a level permitted by law for the relevant role.

Where a role requires professional registration, MEL may verify the relevant registration status before placement and where appropriate during the relationship.

6. Recognising Concerns

Workers and employees should remain alert to signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation or inappropriate conduct.

A safeguarding concern does not require the person reporting it to prove that abuse has occurred. A reasonable concern should be reported through the appropriate channel.

7. Reporting

Safeguarding concerns should be reported immediately to the appropriate manager and, where relevant, the safeguarding lead or safeguarding team of the client organisation.

Where there is immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted.

8. Client Organisations

Clients remain responsible for their own safeguarding arrangements, policies and statutory duties. MEL will cooperate with relevant safeguarding processes when a concern involves a MEL worker or recruitment placement.

9. Worker Conduct

Workers must maintain appropriate professional boundaries, follow client safeguarding procedures and report concerns promptly.

10. Confidentiality

Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared where necessary to protect individuals, comply with legal requirements or enable appropriate investigation.

11. Allegations Against Workers

Where an allegation is made against a MEL worker, MEL may take proportionate precautionary action while the matter is investigated.

This may include removal from an assignment or suspension where appropriate.

12. Training

Relevant MEL personnel will receive appropriate safeguarding awareness and guidance.

13. Monitoring

MEL will review safeguarding concerns, recruitment checks and incidents to identify opportunities for improvement.

14. Breaches

Failure to follow safeguarding requirements may result in disciplinary, contractual or other appropriate action.

15. Contact

MEL
6-9 The Square
Stockley Park
Uxbridge
UB11 1FW

Email: info@mymel.co.uk
Telephone: 020 8064 0994

16. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or immediately following a significant safeguarding incident or material legal change.