Safeguarding

What should I do if I am worried about a member?

Steps to take when you have a safeguarding concern, and the tools that can help.

If you are worried that a member is being harmed, or may harm someone, act promptly and calmly.

If someone is in immediate danger

Contact the emergency services straight away. Then tell your safeguarding lead.

Otherwise

1. Write down what you know. Stick to facts: what you saw or were told, when, and by whom. Add a note with the category Concern on the member's record.
2. Tell your safeguarding lead. They decide what happens next, including whether to involve outside agencies.
3. Do not investigate alone. Do not question the people involved in detail unless your lead asks you to.
4. Do not warn the person you are worried about. It could put someone at risk.
5. Do not delete anything. Messages, notes and records may be needed as evidence.

Tools that can help while your lead decides

• Place the member under monitoring, and turn off their messaging if needed, in User Monitoring.
• Reject exchanges that are waiting for approval, with a neutral reason.
• Tag a listing that worries you in Risk Tags.
• Revoke a vetting confirmation in Vetting confirmations.
• Suspend the member in Members if your lead agrees.

Look after yourself

Safeguarding concerns can be upsetting. Talk to your safeguarding lead or another broker about how you feel.

More guides in this topic

• How safeguarding works in the Broker Panel
• What happens when a member chooses a safeguarding option?
• Changing the safeguarding options members can choose
• When a member asks for coordinator help
• Why are messages copied to brokers?
• How do I review a copied message?
• Using the Review Archive
• Placing a member under monitoring
• How do I record a vetting decision?
• Revoking a vetting decision or answering a review request
• What is on the Safeguarding page?

Still need help?

If you can't find what you need, get in touch and a person will help you.