The Motherhood Group is a social enterprise and a user-led organisation that supports the Black and ethnic minority experience through events, workshops, peer support, projects, and advocacy. We are committed to protecting and preserving the privacy of our workshop attendees and those communicating electronically with us.
This notice sets out how we process any personal data we collect from you, what services the notice applies to, the purpose of this data processing, what we will collect, where we store the data and how long we will keep your personal data for. This notice applies to The Motherhood Group website, our reports, recommendations, our workshops, focus groups, events, polls, surveys, newsletters, and online peer support sessions.
The purpose of our data processing is to understand Black womens experiences in maternal care.
By registering to our event, focus group or online sessions you are giving permission for us to process your data to enable participation in the engagement activity. The Motherhood Group will collect information such as names, dates of birth, geographical areas, ethnicity and personal experiences accessing (or trying to access) perinatal mental health services.
The Motherhood Group will use the personal information to identify and inform the key principles that should underpin the Provider Collaborative Model to understand why people have either chosen or not been able to access care, what people think should change in order to improve the rate of access and experience.
The Motherhood Group often process information on behalf of other organisations that we collaborate with.
We do not rent, sell, or share personal information about you with other people or non-affiliated companies. We will store and process personal data using Eventbrite data storage platforms and Wix.com servers. We will secure personal data by asking you to complete our online registration form via Eventbrite and by completing physical forms during our workshops, focus groups and online sessions.
The Motherhood Group uses Eventbrite to register those involved in our engagement activities, further information can be found in their Privacy Policy:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/support/articles/en_US/Troubleshooting/eventbrite-privacy-policy?lg=en_GB.
You can contact The Motherhood Group by emailing:
info@themotherhoodgroup.comEventbrite uses first- and third-party cookies for several reasons. Some cookies are required for technical reasons in order for our Online Properties to operate, and we refer to these as "essential" or "strictly necessary" cookies. Other cookies enable us to better understand your use of our Online Properties, to track and target the interests of our Users, and to enhance the experience of Users on our Online Properties. Third parties serve cookies through our Online Properties for advertising, analytics and other purposes.
The Motherhood Group will send you electronic communications marketing or newsletters. You can also "opt out" of receiving these electronic communications by clicking on the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any such communication.
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The Motherhood Group Safeguarding PolicyOrganisation: The Motherhood Group CIC
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Zoe Makele, Communities Coordinator
Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Sandra Igwe MBE, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Board safeguarding contact: The Board of Directors
Safeguarding contact email: info@themotherhoodgroup.com
Policy approved: 14 March 2026
Next review date: 14 March 2027
Version: 1.0
1. Policy statement
The Motherhood Group CIC is committed to protecting the safety, dignity, wellbeing and rights of everyone who comes into contact with our organisation.
We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We take reasonable and proportionate steps to prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation and avoidable harm and to respond promptly and appropriately when concerns arise.
Our safeguarding responsibilities extend to:
Mothers, pregnant women, birthing people and families using our services.
Babies, children and young people who may be affected by our work.
Adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Members of our Mums Advisory Board.
Black Perinatal Ambassadors and other lived-experience representatives.
Staff, directors, therapists, facilitators and contractors.
Volunteers, speakers, partners and healthcare professionals participating in our activities.
Members of the public attending our events or engaging with us online.
Safeguarding is embedded across our therapeutic services, Mumbrite platform, peer-support and outreach programmes, healthcare-professional training, community events, research involvement, campaigns and partnership activities.
We will respond to safeguarding concerns in a person-centred, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and anti-discriminatory way.
2. Purpose of this policy
This policy explains:
How The Motherhood Group works to prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm.
The responsibilities of people working for or representing the organisation.
How concerns, disclosures and allegations must be reported.
How safeguarding decisions and referrals will be made.
How information will be recorded, stored and shared.
The additional safeguards applied to therapy, peer outreach, online delivery, training and events.
How concerns about staff, volunteers, contractors, ambassadors or organisational practice will be addressed.
This policy should be read alongside The Motherhood Group’s relevant organisational procedures, including:
Staff and volunteer code of conduct.
Safer recruitment procedures.
Complaints procedure.
Whistleblowing procedure.
Data protection and privacy policies.
Mumbrite community guidelines.
Clinical governance and therapy procedures.
Risk-assessment procedures.
Photography, filming and consent procedures.
Equality, diversity and inclusion policy.
3. Scope
This policy applies to all:
Directors.
Employees.
Sessional staff.
Therapists and counsellors.
Facilitators.
Mums Advisory Board members.
Black Perinatal Ambassadors.
Volunteers and interns.
Contractors and consultants.
Speakers and partner representatives acting on behalf of The Motherhood Group.
The policy applies during:
In-person and online therapy.
Mumbrite audio rooms, group sessions and other digital activities.
One-to-one and group peer support.
Community outreach and ambassador activities.
Healthcare-professional training.
Conferences, workshops, filming days and community events.
Research, consultation and lived-experience involvement.
Telephone, email, social-media and messaging contact.
Travel or activities undertaken on behalf of The Motherhood Group.
This policy is based primarily on safeguarding legislation and guidance applicable in England. Where activities take place elsewhere in the United Kingdom or internationally, relevant local safeguarding legislation and reporting requirements must also be followed.
4. Our safeguarding principles
The Motherhood Group will:
Put people’s safety and wellbeing at the centre of decisions.
Listen to concerns and take disclosures seriously.
Act promptly where someone may be at risk.
Respect each person’s views, wishes, culture, identity, communication needs and circumstances.
Never allow concerns about reputation, funding or partnerships to override safeguarding responsibilities.
Challenge racism, misogynoir, stereotyping, adultification, victim-blaming and other discriminatory responses.
Recognise the barriers Black women and families may experience when seeking help or attempting to be believed.
Work collaboratively with statutory, clinical and community services when required to protect someone from harm.
Share information lawfully, proportionately and only with those who need it.
Maintain accurate, secure and timely safeguarding records.
Learn from incidents, complaints, near misses and feedback.
Hold staff, volunteers, leaders and partners accountable for safe conduct.
Ensure that lived-experience representatives are properly trained, supervised and supported.
5. Definitions
5.1 Safeguarding
Safeguarding means preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, exploitation and avoidable harm while promoting people’s safety, wellbeing and rights.
5.2 Child
A child is anyone who has not yet reached their eighteenth birthday. This includes babies, children and young people.
Concerns about an unborn baby may also require safeguarding action where there is reason to believe that the baby may be at risk during pregnancy or following birth.
5.3 Adult at risk
An adult at risk is generally a person aged 18 or over who:
Has needs for care and support, whether or not those needs are currently being met.
Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect.
Is unable to protect themselves from that abuse or neglect because of their care and support needs.
A person may also be particularly vulnerable to harm because of trauma, mental ill health, pregnancy, recent birth, disability, isolation, domestic abuse, homelessness, financial hardship, insecure immigration status, exploitation or other circumstances.
These circumstances do not automatically mean that someone meets the statutory definition of an adult at risk. However, they must inform our assessment and response.
5.4 Abuse and neglect
Safeguarding concerns may include:
Physical abuse.
Sexual abuse, assault or exploitation.
Emotional or psychological abuse.
Domestic abuse and coercive or controlling behaviour.
Financial or material abuse.
Neglect or acts of omission.
Discriminatory abuse.
Organisational or institutional abuse.
Modern slavery, trafficking or exploitation.
Online or technology-facilitated abuse.
Harassment, stalking or intimidation.
Forced marriage.
So-called honour-based abuse.
Female genital mutilation.
Abuse connected with faith, belief or accusations of spirit possession.
Radicalisation into terrorism.
Self-neglect.
Abuse or neglect of a baby or child.
Harm caused by a professional, volunteer, peer supporter or person in a position of trust.
This list is not exhaustive.
6. Perinatal safeguarding
Pregnancy and the two years following birth can involve significant emotional, physical, social and practical pressures.
Experiencing perinatal mental health difficulties does not, by itself, mean that a mother or parent is unable to care safely for their child.
The Motherhood Group will avoid assumptions, stigma and unnecessarily punitive responses. We will consider the individual circumstances, strengths, protective factors and support needs of each mother and family.
A safeguarding response may be required where there are concerns including:
Immediate risk of suicide, serious self-harm or harm to another person.
Serious deterioration in mental health affecting immediate safety.
Psychosis, severe confusion or loss of contact with reality.
Domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking or sexual violence.
A baby or child being injured, neglected or exposed to serious harm.
A child being left without safe and appropriate care.
A parent being prevented from accessing healthcare or support.
Threats to remove, harm or abduct a baby or child.
Substance use creating an immediate risk to a parent, unborn baby or child.
Exploitation, trafficking, homelessness or serious financial abuse.
A disclosure of historic abuse indicating that a child or adult may currently be at risk.
Concerns about unsafe professional practice or the denial of necessary healthcare.
We will distinguish between a person requiring compassionate mental health support and a situation requiring statutory safeguarding intervention.
Safeguarding action will not be used as a substitute for appropriate therapeutic, clinical, social or practical support.
7. Roles and responsibilities
7.1 Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has overall accountability for safeguarding governance.
The Board will:
Approve and review this policy.
Ensure that safeguarding risks are included within organisational risk management.
Appoint a suitably experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy.
Ensure sufficient resources are available for safeguarding.
Receive anonymised safeguarding reports and assurance information.
Ensure serious concerns involving senior leaders are managed independently.
Review significant incidents and ensure learning is implemented.
Ensure safeguarding responsibilities are included in relevant contracts and partnership agreements.
7.2 Designated Safeguarding Lead
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is:
Zoe Makele, Communities Coordinator
Email: info@themotherhoodgroup.com
The Designated Safeguarding Lead will:
Act as the principal organisational contact for safeguarding concerns.
Provide advice to staff, volunteers, ambassadors, therapists and contractors.
Assess concerns and determine appropriate action.
Make or coordinate referrals to statutory services.
Ensure immediate safety plans are considered.
Maintain secure safeguarding records.
Liaise with local authority services, police, healthcare services and other agencies.
Coordinate responses to allegations involving people working for The Motherhood Group.
Identify patterns, recurring risks and organisational learning.
Report safeguarding assurance information to the Board.
Ensure safeguarding training remains current.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead will not personally investigate suspected abuse. Investigations must be undertaken by the appropriate statutory, regulatory or professional authority.
7.3 Deputy Safeguarding Lead
The Deputy Safeguarding Lead is:
Sandra Igwe MBE, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Email: info@themotherhoodgroup.com
The Deputy Safeguarding Lead will act when the Designated Safeguarding Lead is unavailable and will support safeguarding governance, referrals, training and case oversight.
Where a concern relates directly to the Chief Executive, it must be referred to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and the Board of Directors.
7.4 Staff, therapists, ambassadors and volunteers
Everyone working for or representing The Motherhood Group must:
Complete safeguarding induction and required training.
Understand the boundaries and responsibilities of their role.
Remain alert to signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation or serious risk.
Report concerns promptly.
Record concerns factually and accurately.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Avoid promising absolute confidentiality.
Never investigate, confront an alleged perpetrator or attempt to resolve serious concerns alone.
Participate in supervision and safeguarding reviews where required.
Cooperate with lawful safeguarding enquiries.
Report unsafe practice, including where it involves a colleague or senior leader.
Professionally registered therapists and healthcare practitioners must also comply with the safeguarding, confidentiality, record-keeping and reporting requirements of their professional body.
8. Safer recruitment and selection
The Motherhood Group will apply proportionate safer-recruitment procedures to employees, therapists, contractors, volunteers and ambassadors.
Depending on the role, this may include:
A clear role description and safeguarding responsibilities.
Application and interview processes.
Identity and right-to-work checks.
Employment-history checks.
Discussion of relevant unexplained gaps in employment.
References from appropriate sources.
Qualification and professional-registration checks.
Confirmation of professional indemnity insurance.
Disclosure and Barring Service checks at the level for which the role is legally eligible.
Risk assessment of any information disclosed.
Safeguarding induction and probationary oversight.
Signed acceptance of the code of conduct.
Ongoing supervision, performance management and training.
A DBS certificate is only one part of safer recruitment. It does not remove the need for supervision, professional boundaries and active safeguarding management.
Roles will be reassessed when responsibilities change, as changes to duties may affect the level of DBS check for which a person is eligible.
9. Professional boundaries and expected conduct
People representing The Motherhood Group must not:
Exploit a participant financially, emotionally, sexually or professionally.
Begin sexual or otherwise inappropriate personal relationships with participants.
Use their role to promote personal financial interests.
Borrow money from or lend money to participants.
Accept significant personal gifts.
Use abusive, discriminatory, humiliating or intimidating language.
Share participant information without authority or a legitimate safeguarding reason.
Contact participants through personal accounts unless expressly authorised and risk assessed.
Arrange unauthorised private meetings with participants.
Provide childcare unless specifically commissioned, staffed and risk assessed.
Take, retain or publish photographs or recordings without appropriate consent.
Retaliate against anyone who raises a concern.
Provide therapy, clinical advice or crisis intervention beyond their qualifications, competence and role.
Concerns about breaches of professional boundaries must be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
10. Responding to a disclosure or concern
When someone discloses abuse, neglect, exploitation or serious risk, the person receiving the disclosure must:
Listen calmly and give the person time to speak.
Take the concern seriously.
Avoid expressing disbelief, blame or judgement.
Ask only limited, open questions needed to understand immediate safety.
Avoid conducting an interview or attempting to prove what happened.
Explain that information may need to be shared to keep them or another person safe.
Check whether anyone is in immediate danger.
Call 999 where there is an immediate threat to life, serious injury or a crime in progress.
Report the concern to the Designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible and on the same working day.
Make an accurate written record as soon as possible.
Preserve relevant messages, emails or other evidence without conducting an investigation.
Continue treating the person with dignity and keep them informed where it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Staff must not delay emergency action because the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy is unavailable.
11. Reporting safeguarding concerns
Safeguarding concerns should be reported to:
Zoe Makele
Communities Coordinator and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Email: info@themotherhoodgroup.com
Where Zoe Makele is unavailable, concerns should be reported to:
Sandra Igwe MBE
Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Email: info@themotherhoodgroup.com
The email subject line should state:
Private and Confidential: Safeguarding Concern
Where the concern involves the Designated Safeguarding Lead, it should be reported to Sandra Igwe MBE and the Board of Directors.
Where the concern involves Sandra Igwe MBE, it should be reported to Zoe Makele and the Board of Directors.
Where there is an immediate danger, serious injury, immediate risk of suicide or a crime in progress, emergency services must be contacted by calling 999.
12. Recording concerns
Safeguarding records must include:
The date, time and method of contact.
The name and contact details of the person concerned, where known.
The names and ages of any children potentially affected.
What was seen, heard or disclosed.
The person’s own words wherever possible.
Immediate safety concerns.
Action already taken.
Advice received.
Decisions made and the reasons for them.
Information shared, with whom and why.
Follow-up actions and outcomes where known.
The name and role of the person completing the record.
Records must clearly distinguish between:
Facts.
Observations.
Professional opinions.
Third-party information.
Safeguarding records must be stored securely and accessed only by authorised personnel.
Safeguarding information should be stored separately from general programme and participation records where appropriate.
13. Decision-making and referrals
The Designated Safeguarding Lead will consider:
The nature and seriousness of the concern.
Whether a child, unborn baby or adult may be at immediate risk.
The wishes and views of the person concerned.
Whether consent can safely be sought.
The person’s ability to understand and make relevant decisions.
Whether other children or adults may be at risk.
Any pattern of previous concerns.
The risk created by delay.
The need for police, healthcare or local-authority involvement.
Whether the concern relates to a member of staff or person in a position of trust.
Possible actions include:
Agreeing an immediate safety plan.
Supporting the person to contact their GP, midwife, health visitor or mental health service.
Referring to local authority children’s social care.
Referring to the local authority adult safeguarding service.
Contacting emergency services.
Seeking advice from a safeguarding partnership or specialist service.
Referring concerns about an employee, volunteer or contractor to the appropriate authority.
Making a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service where the legal criteria are met.
Recording the concern without external referral while arranging appropriate support and review.
The Motherhood Group will not investigate suspected criminal offences or determine whether an allegation of abuse has been proven.
14. Consent, confidentiality and information sharing
We will normally explain:
What information we propose to share.
Why it needs to be shared.
Who will receive it.
How it may be used.
Wherever appropriate and safe, we will seek the person’s consent.
However, confidentiality is not absolute.
Information may be shared without consent where this is necessary and proportionate to:
Protect a child.
Protect an adult who is unable to protect themselves.
Prevent serious harm to the individual or another person.
Respond to an emergency.
Report or prevent a serious crime.
Comply with a legal obligation or lawful request.
Data-protection law does not prevent proportionate information sharing for safeguarding purposes.
In an emergency involving a serious risk to life or safety, necessary information should be shared without avoidable delay.
Only relevant information will be shared. The decision, reasoning and information shared must be recorded.
15. Immediate mental health and suicide concerns
Mumbrite and The Motherhood Group’s community services are not emergency or crisis services.
Where someone may be at immediate risk of suicide, serious self-harm or harm to another person:
The person receiving the concern must remain calm.
Immediate clinical or safeguarding support must be sought.
Emergency services must be contacted where there is an immediate threat to life.
The person should not be left unsupported where it is safe and practicable to remain with them.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead and relevant clinical professional must be informed immediately.
Relevant information may be shared with emergency services or healthcare professionals.
The decision and action taken must be documented.
Follow-up support may be offered following emergency action.
The Motherhood Group must not assume responsibility for statutory crisis management or emergency healthcare.
Responses must be person-centred and based on the individual’s circumstances and immediate safety rather than relying solely on a numerical risk score.
16. Domestic abuse
We recognise that domestic abuse may include:
Physical violence.
Sexual abuse.
Threats.
Coercive or controlling behaviour.
Emotional abuse.
Financial abuse.
Stalking and harassment.
Technology-facilitated abuse.
A mother may be at increased risk during pregnancy or following birth. Children who see, hear or experience the effects of domestic abuse may also be victims in their own right.
When domestic abuse is disclosed or suspected, representatives of The Motherhood Group must:
Speak to the person privately where possible.
Avoid contacting or confronting an alleged perpetrator.
Consider whether communications, devices or accounts are being monitored.
Ask what method and time of contact is safe.
Consider the safety of babies and children.
Avoid actions that could unintentionally increase risk.
Discuss specialist domestic abuse support and appropriate referrals.
Escalate immediate danger to emergency services.
Record the concern using safe, factual and proportionate language.
No one will be required to leave a relationship as a condition of receiving support.
17. Mumbrite and online delivery
The following safeguards apply to Mumbrite and other online services:
Therapy must be delivered by appropriately qualified, insured and supervised practitioners.
Professional registration or equivalent status will be checked where applicable.
Participants must be informed of the service’s purpose, boundaries, confidentiality arrangements and crisis limitations.
Therapy and facilitated-support sessions must have clear attendance, conduct and safeguarding protocols.
Participants must not record, photograph or distribute session content without express permission.
Personal information about other participants must not be shared outside the session.
Hosts and moderators may remove a participant whose behaviour creates a safeguarding risk.
Direct messaging must take place through approved systems wherever possible.
Staff and ambassadors must not move conversations onto personal social-media accounts without authorisation.
One-to-one online work must be appropriately risk assessed and recorded.
Safeguarding concerns arising online must be managed to the same standard as in-person concerns.
Proportionate emergency contact information should be collected before therapeutic support begins.
Participants joining from outside the United Kingdom must be advised that local emergency and safeguarding arrangements apply.
Proportionate steps will be taken to reduce impersonation, harassment, grooming, unwanted contact and misuse of personal information.
Children must not be directly engaged in online sessions unless the activity has been specifically designed, consented, staffed and risk assessed for children.
Mumbrite must clearly state that it does not replace emergency, psychiatric, medical or statutory safeguarding services.
18. Mums Advisory Board and Black Perinatal Ambassadors
Mums Advisory Board members and Black Perinatal Ambassadors bring essential lived experience, community knowledge and trusted relationships to The Motherhood Group’s work.
Their role may include:
Community outreach.
Listening to mothers.
Sharing information.
Signposting to services.
Supporting mothers to connect with appropriate services.
Identifying barriers to care.
Contributing to programme delivery and improvement.
Ambassadors and Advisory Board members:
Are not expected to act as therapists, social workers or crisis practitioners unless separately qualified and employed in that capacity.
Must not hold serious safeguarding concerns alone.
Must report concerns promptly through the agreed safeguarding route.
Must receive safeguarding training, role boundaries, supervision and named support.
Must use approved communication channels.
Must not retain sensitive information on personal devices outside authorised arrangements.
Must not promise secrecy.
Must not independently investigate or mediate abuse.
Must be paid and supported fairly when undertaking commissioned delivery.
Must be offered debriefing following difficult or distressing disclosures.
The Motherhood Group will not rely on lived-experience representatives to absorb unsafe emotional labour or manage safeguarding risk without appropriate professional and organisational support.
19. Therapy and facilitated support
Therapeutic and facilitated services must operate within a defined clinical and safeguarding framework.
This includes:
Verification of qualifications, professional registration and insurance.
Clear contracting with participants.
Informed consent.
Defined confidentiality and safeguarding limits.
Appropriate assessment before and during support.
Secure clinical records.
Clinical supervision.
Procedures for missed sessions and concerning loss of contact.
Crisis and emergency escalation arrangements.
Management of professional boundaries.
Procedures for concerns about a therapist or facilitator.
Appropriate referral or signposting where a participant’s needs exceed the service’s scope.
Group therapy and peer-support sessions must explain that, although participants are expected to respect confidentiality, The Motherhood Group cannot guarantee the behaviour of every group member.
20. Healthcare-professional training
During healthcare-professional training, participants must not disclose identifiable patient or service-user information unless there is an immediate safeguarding necessity and an appropriate confidential route has been agreed.
Where training raises concerns about:
Unsafe professional practice.
Discriminatory treatment.
Abuse or neglect.
Concealment of serious incidents.
Retaliation against staff or families.
A specific patient, baby or family currently at risk.
The facilitator must:
Pause the discussion where necessary.
Preserve confidentiality.
Report the matter to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Follow the appropriate safeguarding, clinical-governance, whistleblowing or statutory route.
The Motherhood Group’s training must not be presented as a substitute for an NHS organisation’s statutory safeguarding, workforce or clinical-governance responsibilities.
21. In-person events and activities
All significant in-person activities must have proportionate safeguarding and health-and-safety arrangements.
These will include:
A named event lead.
A written or documented risk assessment.
Emergency contact and incident procedures.
Safe and accessible venue arrangements.
Clear routes for reporting concerns.
Appropriate staffing and supervision.
Photography and filming consent procedures.
Management arrangements for speakers, exhibitors and external partners.
Arrangements for distress, disclosures or conflict.
Consideration of babies and children attending.
Appropriate organisational and public-liability insurance.
Parents and carers remain responsible for supervising their children unless The Motherhood Group has expressly agreed to provide an approved, staffed and risk-assessed childcare service.
Staff and volunteers must not be left in unsupervised responsibility for children unless this forms part of an approved role with appropriate checks and procedures.
22. Photography, filming and storytelling
The Motherhood Group will obtain appropriate consent before taking or publishing identifiable:
Photographs.
Video recordings.
Audio recordings.
Case studies.
Personal stories.
Testimonials.
Consent must be:
Informed and freely given.
Specific about the intended use.
Properly recorded.
Separate from access to essential support wherever possible.
Capable of being withdrawn for future use, subject to reasonable limitations once material has already been published or distributed.
Children must not be photographed or filmed without appropriate parental or carer consent and consideration of the child’s own wishes and welfare.
Content must not expose a person to foreseeable harm, stigma, identification, retaliation or exploitation.
A person’s lived experience must not be sensationalised or used beyond the scope they agreed.
23. Allegations against staff, volunteers or representatives
Any allegation that a person working for or representing The Motherhood Group has:
Harmed a child or adult.
Behaved in a way that may indicate a safeguarding risk.
Abused their position of trust.
Breached serious professional boundaries.
Committed a relevant criminal offence.
Concealed or failed to report serious harm.
must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Where the allegation concerns the Designated Safeguarding Lead, it must be reported to the Deputy Safeguarding Lead and Board of Directors.
Where the allegation concerns the Chief Executive, it must be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Board of Directors.
The Motherhood Group will:
Take immediate steps to protect those who may be at risk.
Avoid conducting an internal investigation that could compromise statutory enquiries.
Seek advice from the local authority designated officer where an allegation relates to harm or potential harm to a child.
Contact adult safeguarding services or police where appropriate.
Consider suspension, redeployment or restriction of duties as a neutral protective measure.
Preserve evidence and maintain appropriate confidentiality.
Follow fair employment and contractual procedures.
Make referrals to professional regulators or the DBS where required.
Offer appropriate support to affected participants, staff and witnesses.
No confidentiality agreement will be used to prevent the lawful reporting of safeguarding concerns.
24. Whistleblowing and complaints
Anyone may raise a safeguarding concern without fear of retaliation.
Concerns may be raised with:
Zoe Makele, Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Sandra Igwe MBE, Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
The Board of Directors.
A relevant statutory agency.
A professional regulator.
The police or emergency services.
All internal safeguarding concerns may be submitted to:
info@themotherhoodgroup.com
A person does not have to use the internal process first where:
Someone is in immediate danger.
Evidence may be concealed.
Organisational leaders are implicated.
Reporting internally may increase the risk of harm.
Complaints about safeguarding practice will be reviewed by someone sufficiently independent of the matter complained about.
Victimisation of a person who raises a genuine concern will be treated as a serious disciplinary matter.
25. Equality, culture and anti-discriminatory safeguarding
Safeguarding decisions must not be influenced by stereotypes or assumptions concerning:
Race.
Ethnicity.
Nationality.
Immigration status.
Faith.
Disability.
Age.
Family structure.
Gender.
Sexuality.
Income.
Mental health.
Parenting status.
We recognise that Black mothers may experience:
Disbelief or minimisation of pain and distress.
Stereotyping as aggressive, difficult or unusually resilient.
Fear of punitive statutory intervention.
Poor access to culturally appropriate services.
Distrust arising from previous experiences of racism.
Language, financial or digital barriers.
Misinterpretation of cultural or faith practices.
Disproportionate scrutiny while genuine risks are overlooked.
Cultural sensitivity must never be used to excuse abuse.
Equally, cultural difference must not be mislabelled as abuse without evidence and careful assessment.
Interpreting and accessible communication support should be arranged where reasonably required.
26. Partnerships and commissioned services
Partners, contractors and commissioned practitioners must:
Maintain appropriate safeguarding policies and insurance.
Identify their safeguarding lead.
Comply with relevant professional and legal obligations.
Report concerns arising through joint work.
Participate in risk assessment and information-sharing arrangements.
Cooperate with safeguarding enquiries and reviews.
Ensure subcontractors meet equivalent standards.
Written partnership agreements should identify which organisation is responsible for:
Safeguarding leadership.
Clinical governance.
Record keeping.
Emergency responses.
Statutory referrals.
Participant communications.
Incident reporting.
The Motherhood Group retains responsibility for concerns arising from work delivered in its name and will not assume that a partner’s policy removes the need for its own oversight.
27. Training and supervision
Safeguarding training will be proportionate to each role.
Relevant personnel will receive:
Safeguarding induction before unsupervised delivery.
Training on responding to disclosures.
Information-sharing and confidentiality training.
Professional-boundary guidance.
Online-safety guidance where applicable.
Refresher training at appropriate intervals.
Updates when legislation, guidance or organisational services change.
Therapists, facilitators, ambassadors and staff exposed to complex disclosures will receive appropriate supervision or debriefing.
Training completion will be recorded and reviewed by the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
28. Monitoring, learning and review
The Designated Safeguarding Lead will monitor:
The number and nature of concerns received.
Whether concerns were acted on promptly.
Referral and escalation outcomes where known.
Themes affecting particular communities or programmes.
Complaints and allegations.
Safeguarding training completion.
Online-safety incidents.
Partnership compliance.
Lessons from incidents and near misses.
Safeguarding information reported to the Board will normally be anonymised unless identifiable information is necessary for the Board to fulfil its responsibilities.
This policy will be reviewed:
At least every 12 months.
After a serious safeguarding incident.
Following material changes to organisational services or delivery methods.
Following significant changes to safeguarding legislation or statutory guidance.
Where audits, complaints or feedback identify weaknesses.
The next scheduled review date is 14 March 2027.
29. Key safeguarding contacts
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Zoe Makele
Communities Coordinator
The Motherhood Group CIC
Email: info@themotherhoodgroup.com
Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Sandra Igwe MBE
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
The Motherhood Group CIC
Email: info@themotherhoodgroup.com
Board safeguarding contact
The Board of Directors
The Motherhood Group CIC
Email: info@themotherhoodgroup.com
For concerns about a child or adult at risk, the relevant local authority safeguarding service should be contacted for the area in which the person is located.
Where someone is in immediate danger, seriously injured, at immediate risk of suicide or a crime is in progress, call 999.
30. Relevant legislation and guidance
This policy has been informed by relevant legislation and guidance, including:
Children Act 1989.
Children Act 2004.
Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Care Act 2014.
Care and Support Statutory Guidance.
Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.
Equality Act 2010.
Human Rights Act 1998.
Data Protection Act 2018.
UK General Data Protection Regulation.
Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.
Disclosure and Barring Service eligibility guidance.
Information Commissioner’s Office data-sharing guidance.
Relevant professional standards for therapists and healthcare practitioners.
31. Policy approval
This safeguarding policy was approved by the Board of Directors of The Motherhood Group CIC on 14 March 2026.
The policy is owned by the Board of Directors and implemented operationally by Zoe Makele, Communities Coordinator and Designated Safeguarding Lead.
The policy will next be formally reviewed on 14 March 2027, or earlier if there is a serious incident, significant organisational change or relevant change in safeguarding legislation or guidance.
