At Girls’ Brigade England & Wales, safeguarding isn’t just a policy – it’s a core part of our mission to keep children, young people, and vulnerable adults safe
We’ve already shared essential guidelines in previous briefings but today we want to focus on something called the ‘rule of fives’, and why your role in safeguarding truly matters.
What does a ‘safeguarding culture’ mean in practice?
Safeguarding is an evolving discipline not just about protecting individuals from harm; it is about ensuring that all members of Girls’ Brigade England & Wales know how to recognise, report, and respond to abuse, harm or neglect. This includes understanding the Girls’ Brigade England & Wales policies and procedures and acting in line with them.
By completing your mandatory safeguarding training, as a leader, you are helping to safeguard not only others but yourself as well. This process ensures that anyone with a history of harmful behaviour is prevented from working or volunteering with us.
The ‘rule of fives’ focuses on five key safeguarding issues that are essential for identifying and understanding the risks involved in our work.
Girls’ Brigade England & Wales wants you to know about the ‘rule of fives’ and making a difference
When it comes to responding, the Five Rs of Safeguarding guide your actions:
1 Recognise Be aware of potential signs of harm or abuse.
2 Respond Act swiftly if someone discloses concerns or if you notice red flags
3 Report This is where you notify the Safeguarding team (GB Central Office or [email protected]). And just a heads-up – you can report directly to safeguarding, no need to go through line management
4 Record Make sure you document what you see, hear, or are told. The cause for concern form is your friend here – It is in LTTF and should be sent to [email protected]
5 Refer In urgent situations, call 999! If appropriate, we will refer cases to statutory agencies for further action.
These are the five areas where we need to stay vigilant:
1 Abuse This could be physical, sexual, emotional, or financial harm
2 Neglect When the essentials like food, clothing, healthcare, or education are withheld
3 Exploitation Whether it’s criminal, sexual, or online
4 Harm This includes risks like gangs, radicalisation, exploitation and trafficking
5 Maltreatment Discrimination, self-neglect and modern slavery fall under this umbrella.
The need for safeguarding is not always obvious, so understanding the five ways people may convey abuse is crucial too:
1 Help-seeking behaviours Subtle signs that someone need support
2 Telling without words Actions or non-verbal cues that indicate distress
3 Partially telling Offering bits and pieces of the story
4 Telling others Speaking outside the immediate circle of trust
5 Telling in detail Giving a full, clear disclosure.
Here is another five for you – the Five Cs of Safeguarding in Children. The quality of your completed safeguarding form can really help. These are your guiding principles
when addressing safeguarding concerns, especially in child protection referrals:
1 Clarity Be clear about the child’s situation and your role
2 Child-focused Always centre the child’s wellbeing and needs
3 Communication Timely and clear communication is key
4 Curiosity Stay curious about what’s going on with the child
5 Context Look at the broader picture – health, wellbeing and vulnerabilities.
Mental health presentations
It is widely acknowledged that organisations within the voluntary and faith sectors are increasingly recognising mental health, particularly in adults, as a critical safeguarding concern. This may manifest in a range of behaviours:
- self-neglect
- suicidal ideation
- extreme, erratic or aggressive behaviours in public
that require people to be supported with a possible referral to other services. Together, we can make sure that our members and staff remain safe from harm. Your vigilance and adherence to these safeguarding principles are vital in achieving this goal.
Causes for concern and case management
To understand why your vigilance is so important, the following are some examples of concerns received. Safeguarding cases result from both internal sources – like our own people – and external sources, such as social media, the public and from statutory services.
Your attention and prompt action can truly make a difference. You will doubtless have seen numerous Safeguarding cases in the press but there are a few Girls’ Brigade England & Wales cases where staying vigilant and professionally curious helped protect vulnerable people. These cannot be shared as the size of the organisation means that there is a risk of identifying the individuals concerned.
In conclusion
Real-life examples demonstrate that safeguarding is not just about ticking boxes – it’s about creating a culture in which we can all work safely and keep others safe. Through safeguarding we can make a genuine difference in someone’s life. By following the ‘rule of fives’ and staying alert, you help create a safer environment for everyone we serve. Remember, your actions and decisions matter – they protect our colleagues and the community.
Let’s keep up the good work, stay vigilant, and never underestimate the power of reporting concerns. Together, we are all making a real impact. So stay safe, stay curious – see something, say something and do something.
Don’t forget to check out LTTF for access to the cause for concern form and check out our previous briefings for more information.
Key Messages
- Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
- The welfare of children and adults at risk is paramount
- If in doubt, report
- The national safeguarding team provides professional safeguarding leadership, expertise and assurance
- Safeguarding suspensions are neutral risk-management measures, not disciplinary sanctions
- The organisation works alongside police, Social Care, LADOs and other statutory agencies
- Confidentiality and due process are essential to fair safeguarding practice
- Effective safeguarding depends upon leaders actively supporting and championing it.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
