Fife Triratna Buddhist Group Adult Safeguarding policy.

Adult Safeguarding policy 2024

From here on, the Fife Triratna Buddhist Group will be referred to as the ‘sangha’.

Safeguarding Steering Group Member

Hrdayadhi Claire Easingwood

Safeguarding Officer

Kusaladhi Shaun Moran

This document was adopted by the Fife Sangha Steering Group at their meeting held on 28/01/25. It will be reviewed and updated by the Safeguarding officer and Fife Sangha Steering Group annually.

Safeguarding officer’s signature S.Moran

Safeguarding Member on behalf of Fife Sangha Steering Group signature C.Easingwood

Date of Signing: 10/02/25

This Fife Sangha Adult Safeguarding policy is to be read in conjunction with the

Triratna guidance document ‘Managing those who pose a risk 2023’
The Triratna guidance document ‘Online safety in Triratna 2023’
The Fife Sangha Ethical Guidelines 2023
Safeguarding and Data Protection 2023
Triratna Model Adult Safeguarding Policy published 2023 by Triratna’s ECA Safeguarding officer safeguarding@triratna.community

Fife Sangha – Our values

This policy is an expression of the first ethical precept taught by the Buddha: to protect living beings from harm. It is based on law and good practice in our jurisdiction. This model is based on Scottish law and good practice in the UK.

Our sangha is part of Triratna, a worldwide network of friends in the Buddhist life. This is for many of us a source of great richness, support, and strength. However, it also carries a risk that we may fail to notice, question or act on behaviours of concern, out of naivety, loyalty to friends or lack of awareness, or an assumption that “it couldn’t happen here” or “they would never do a thing like that.”

The purpose of this policy

This policy is for Friends, Mitras and Order members involved in Fife Sangha activities (and those of any outreach groups run by the Group) as employees, volunteers, leaders or teachers.

It aims to provide

Protection for all adults attending Fife Sangha activities, including those who may be at risk of harm or have care and support needs, and
Protection for Friends, Mitras and Order members working with them.

It sets out

information and practices contributing to the prevention of harm to adults.
what to do if harm is suspected.

Our responsibilities and those responsible for carrying them out

As the Steering Group of the Fife Sangha we wish all adults who meet our sangha in any way to flourish through their engagement with the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

We recognise an ethical duty to prevent or address harm to all adults during our activities. Our activities are offered to all members of the public although we acknowledge that this could include adults who may be particularly at risk of harm or have particular care and support needs. Although we do not run activities specifically for those with identifiable vulnerabilities such as those who are carers, or who live with mental illness or addiction, we recognize that people who may be vulnerable in these ways do attend our events and take part in the life of our sangha.

Our understanding of vulnerability and ‘at risk’ are described below. The types of harm we have a duty to prevent, and address are listed in Appendix 1; they apply by law to the care of adults who are deemed formally vulnerable or ‘at risk’. However, this list also provides a guide as to the types of harm we must be alert to, prevent or address in the case of all adults.

Kusaladhi is our Safeguarding officer. They are responsible for co-ordinating the Safeguarding of adults in all our activities. (See also our Safeguarding Adults policy.)

Hrdayadhi is our Steering Group member. They are responsible for making sure Safeguarding is taken seriously by the trustees and is a standing item on the agenda at every steering group meeting, ensuring the members comply with their Safeguarding obligations as required by good practice.

Who is an adult?

For the purposes of this policy an “adult” is a person who has passed their 18^th birthday regardless of the legal age of majority in any jurisdiction.

Who is an adult who is vulnerable or “at risk”?

The UK Care Act 2014 defines such a person as “any person who is aged 18 years or over

and at risk of abuse or neglect because of their needs for care and or support”; i.e., they need care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs); and

“Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and as a result of those care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect”.

Adults who may be formally ‘at risk’ may also include those who

have dementia
have learning disabilities
have mental health problems
have drug, alcohol or substance dependency
have physical or sensory disabilities
are suffering from bereavement, grief and/or loss
through age or illness are dependent on other people to help them
live with domestic abuse
are homeless
are refugees or asylum seekers or
for any reason may be considered not to have ‘mental capacity’. (See below.)

Whether a person is “vulnerable” or “at risk” in these cases will vary according to circumstances, and it should be noted that a person with a physical disability is not necessarily at risk, though they could be. Each case must be judged on its own merits.

Definitions of abuse in adults
See appendix 1.
Signs of abuse in adults
See appendix 2.

What is ‘mental capacity’?

See appendix 3.

Vulnerability can be variable
Vulnerability and resilience can vary throughout a person’s life. Many people who are generally emotionally and psychologically stable in most aspects of their lives and would not be formally classified as vulnerable or ‘at risk’ may on occasion may find themselves in a more vulnerable position, e.g. after a bereavement, serious illness, or breakdown of a relationship. They may be new to the practice of meditation and their practice may make them more sensitive.

For example, we will bear in mind that a person who is emotionally vulnerable for any reason may not be able to make balanced decisions regarding giving money or becoming more involved with Triratna, or entering intimate relationships, whether friendship or relationships which are more romantic or sexual in nature. We will take great care to help each other avoid exploiting people in such everyday situations of vulnerability.

Protecting those with psychological disorders

We are aware that those attending our centre and activities include adults experiencing psychological disorders ranging from mild to severe.

We recognise that as Buddhists we do not have the professional skills to diagnose or help people with psychological disorders and that they may not be helped solely by the kindness of Buddhists. In such cases we may need to advise them to seek professional help.

We are aware that for people with serious psychological disorders traditional Buddhist practices involving recognition of the illusion of self could be dangerous. We may need to encourage them in traditional Buddhist practices involving the calming of body and mind, or to avoid meditation – altogether, or during periods of relapse.

Where we believe a person to be at risk of self-harm or suicide, we will encourage them to contact their GP, mental health team or to go to the accident and emergency department of the local hospital. If necessary, we will make the contact on their behalf, with their permission. We will consult with Triratna’s ECA Safeguarding officer if necessary: safeguarding@triratna.community or with external advisers such as Thirtyone:eight.

Where we consider there is immediate danger of a person harming themselves or others we will contact emergency services, without their permission if necessary.

Protecting those with psychological disorders – online

Buddhism and meditation are increasingly taught using online media. In person, it is relatively easy to notice where a person may have compromised mental health; online it is much more difficult.

We recognise that among those seeking individual online guidance from members of the Triratna Buddhist Order there may be some reporting meditation experiences which are an indication of serious psychological disorder.

In engaging in individual guidance online by email, blog, social media or text we will take great care at the start to establish with local Order members the identity, location and suitability of the participant, and which local Order members are available locally to support them in person and gaining permission to contact those Order members if we believe they are at risk. (This does not apply where the participant is an Order member and therefore well known to us.)

Children  

For simplicity, we make our activities available only to those over 18, therefore children are not admitted. Similarly, our policy is not knowingly to communicate with children online.

Security Checks

We are informed by Disclosure Scotland that, because our activities are open to all and not intended specifically for children or vulnerable adults, we do not need to register with them for disclosure checks on our members offering sangha activities.

Managing those who pose a risk to others

There may be cases where it is known that a person attending our activities is likely to pose a risk to others (for example, a person who is known to have a previous criminal conviction for sexual or other violent offences, who is on the UK Sex Offender Register, or someone who is under investigation for possible sexual or other violent offences).

Such a person will be asked by the Safeguarding officer to agree a behaviour contract, setting out the terms of their continued participation in Fife Triratna activities, within agreed boundaries and based a formal risk assessment. This should be provided by the person’s probation/police supervising officer or other external professional, or an Order member with professional experience in risk assessment. If necessary our Safeguarding officer will consult with Thirtyone:eight and/or ask the ECA Safeguarding officer to put us in touch with a professionally qualified Order member.

Where it is felt that we do not have the resources to manage this relationship safely, we reserve the right to ask the person not to attend our activities.

We will consult with Triratna’s ECA Safeguarding officer if necessary:

safeguarding@triratna.community or with external advisers such as Thirtyone:eight.

What is ‘abuse’?

‘Abuse’ is not a legal term, but covers a number of ways in which a person may be deliberately harmed (legally or illegally), usually by someone who is in a position of power, trust or authority over them, or who may be perceived by that person to be in a position of power, trust or authority over them; for example by a Friend, Mitra or Order member who is helping to run Fife Sangha activities for those newer to such activities. The harm may be physical, psychological or emotional, or it may exploit the vulnerability of the person in more subtle ways.

However, harm can also occur less consciously, through naivety, idealism or lack of awareness.

Types of abuse

See Appendix 1.

Signs of abuse

See Appendix 2.

If someone has a concern

All allegations or suspicions should be taken seriously and reported to our Safeguarding officer: Safeguarding officers name] on [contact email].

If a person over 18 alleges abuse: 

We understand that we need to:

Stay calm

listen patiently.
reassure the person they are doing the right thing by speaking up.
clarify issues of confidentiality early on. We will make it clear we may have to discuss their concerns with others, on a strictly need-to-know basis, with their permission if possible. (See below.)
explain what we are going to do.
write a factual account of what we have seen and heard, immediately.

We will do our best to avoid:

appearing shocked, disgusted, or angry
pressing the individual for details
promising to keep secrets
making comments or judgements (other than to show concern)
confronting any alleged perpetrator
contaminating the evidence by investigating matters ourselves.

Our responsibility is to take them seriously, not to decide if what they are saying is true.

What we will do next

We understand that our first concern must be the safety and wellbeing of this person and that we must not be distracted from this by loyalty to the person who has been accused or a desire to maintain the good name of Triratna or the Fife Sangha.
If the person receiving the disclosure is not our Safeguarding officer, they must tell the Safeguarding officer only, who will co-ordinate the handling of the matter on behalf of the Fife Sangha. However, if the Safeguarding officer is not immediately available the matter should be communicated to the Safeguarding member the Steering Group identified, above.
We understand that every person has a legal right to privacy under the International Convention on Human Rights and data protection legislation; therefore, if possible, we need to get the person’s consent to share the information they have given us, within the limits described here and below.
If the adult alleging abuse is not formally vulnerable or ‘at risk’ and their complaint may be criminal, it is up to them to report to the police if they wish to; though we will offer them help and support to do this.
If the person is formally vulnerable or ‘at risk’ we may report on their behalf, though with their permission if possible.
Whether or not formally vulnerable or ‘at risk’, if the person may be in immediate danger the Safeguarding officer, Chair of the Steering Group, Safeguarding member or person receiving the disclosure will phone social services or police straight away. A telephone referral will be confirmed in writing within 24 hours.
If necessary, our Safeguarding officer will contact Triratna’s ECA Safeguarding officer for advice: safeguarding@triratna.community
It may be necessary, and therefore legally ‘reasonable’, to pass on information without the adult’s consent if they may be at immediate risk of harm once they leave your company and/or a crime has been or is about to be committed; also, if what is disclosed indicates that there is also a risk of harm to a child.
The person receiving the disclosure will make detailed factual notes about the conversation/concern/incident as soon as possible, including time, date and location, and pass them to the Fife Sangha Safeguarding officer. (See ‘Secure, confidential record-keeping’ below.) As far as possible what the person has said should be recorded in their own words, as these could be used in court.
We understand that no sangha member should attempt to investigate a criminal allegation, that this is the job of the police and that to attempt this could prejudice a court case and put the parties in danger.

We will consult with Triratna’s ECA Safeguarding officer if necessary: safeguarding@triratna.community or with external advisers such as Thirtyone:eight.

Who else needs to know?

We understand that confidentiality, sharing information only on a need-to-know basis, is very important. Under data protection legislation nobody has a right to know about a case – except, for Safeguarding purposes, those in a position to prevent further harm, and our Chair of the Steering Group, who holds ultimate responsibility for the governance of the Fife Sangha. For example, where there is a criminal allegation against a Mitra it could be justifiable for the Safeguarding officer, Safeguarding member of the Steering Group and Mitra convenor to know about it.

This is not a matter of concealment but is intended to protect all concerned from further harm. It will also protect our sangha from fear, rumour and disharmony which will make it much harder to deal with the matter effectively without causing further harm.

Secure, confidential record-keeping
We understand our responsibility for secure and careful record-keeping. Our Safeguarding officer will keep a detailed log of all Safeguarding-related incidents as well as conversations, actions and the reasoning behind them. These should not be kept on any computer, but on an external hard drive or memory stick. To guard against loss in case the files, hard drive or memory stick become corrupted these will be backed up to another hard drive or memory stick and/or printed off. Any memory sticks, hard drives and paper copies will be stored in a locked cabinet, box or drawer accessible only to the Safeguarding officer and one or two others approved by our Steering group particularly the Safeguarding member of the Steering group.

We also understand that under data protection law we need to word our records in a form we would be happy for the subjects to read if they ask to, as is their legal right. This means notes should be factual and respectful, free of interpretations and value-judgements.

Keeping confidential records
We understand that because many abuse cases come to light 30 or more years or later we should keep our records for up to 50 years. This is important to address historical cases effectively but also for insurance purposes.

If the Fife Sangha closes down, we will give our records to another Triratna Buddhist centre/Sangha to keep with their own confidential Safeguarding logs.

Appendix 1

Definitions of abuse in adults

In the UK we have a legal duty to prevent or address the following types of harm to adults who may be vulnerable or ‘at risk’.

The list below also provides a guide as to the types of harm we should be alert to prevent or address in the case of all adults, as does the list at this link, from the Charity Commission for England and Wales https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-duties-for-charity-trustees

As defined in the UK Care Act 2014, Safeguarding duties apply to an adult who is defined as vulnerable or ‘at risk’ because they

have need for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and;
are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
as a result of those care and support needs are unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.

Physical abuse – including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions.

Domestic violence – including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour-based’ violence.

Sexual abuse – including rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.

Psychological abuse – including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks.

Financial or material abuse – including theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.

Modern slavery – encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.

Discriminatory abuse – including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

Organisational abuse – including neglect and poor care practice within an Institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.

Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.

Self-neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding. Incidents of abuse may be one-off or multiple, and affect one person or more.

Appendix 2
Signs of abuse in adults

Physical abuse

History of unexplained falls, fractures, bruises, burns, minor injuries.
Signs of under or over use of medication and/or medical problems left unattended.
Any injuries not consistent with the explanation given for them
Bruising and discolouration – particularly if there is a lot of bruising of different ages
and in places not normally exposed to falls, rough games etc.
Recurring injuries without plausible explanation
Loss of hair, loss of weight and change of appetite
Person flinches at physical contact &/or keeps fully covered, even in hot weather;
Person appears frightened or subdued in the presence of a particular person or
people

Domestic violence

Unexplained injuries or ‘excuses’ for marks or scars
Controlling and/or threatening relationship including psychological, physical, sexual,
financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour-based’ violence and Female Genital
Mutilation.

Sexual abuse

Pregnancy in a woman who lacks mental capacity or is unable to consent to sexual
intercourse
Unexplained change in behaviour or sexually explicit behaviour
Torn, stained or bloody underwear and/or unusual difficulty in walking or sitting
Infections or sexually transmitted diseases
Full or partial disclosures or hints of sexual abuse:
Self-harming
Emotional distress
Mood changes
Disturbed sleep patterns
Psychological abuse
Alteration in psychological state e.g. withdrawn, agitated, anxious, tearful
Intimidated or subdued in the presence of a carer
Fearful, flinching or frightened of making choices or expressing wishes
Unexplained paranoia
Changes in mood, attitude and behaviour, excessive fear or anxiety
Changes in sleep pattern or persistent tiredness
Loss of appetite
Helplessness or passivity
Confusion or disorientation
Implausible stories and attention seeking behaviour
Low self-esteem

Financial or material abuse

Disparity between assets and living conditions
Unexplained withdrawals from accounts or disappearance of financial documents or
loss of money
Sudden inability to pay bills, getting into debt
Carers or professionals fail to account for expenses incurred on a person’s behalf
Recent changes of deeds or title to property
Missing personal belongings
Inappropriate granting and / or use of Power of Attorney

Modern slavery

Physical appearance; unkempt, inappropriate clothing, malnourished
Movement monitored, rarely alone, travel early or late at night to facilitate working hours
Few personal possessions or ID documents
Fear of seeking help or trusting people

Discriminatory abuse

Inappropriate remarks, comments or lack of respect
Poor quality, or avoidance of, care
Low self-esteem
Withdrawn
Anger
Person puts themselves down in terms of their gender or sexuality
Abuse may be observed in conversations or reports by the person of how they perceive themselves

Institutional Abuse

Low self-esteem
Withdrawn
Anger
Person puts themselves down in terms of their gender or sexuality
Abuse may be observed in conversations or reports by the person of how they
perceive themselves
No confidence in complaints procedures for staff or service users.
Neglectful or poor professional practice.

Neglect and acts of omission

Deteriorating despite apparent care
Poor home conditions, clothing or care and support.
Lack of medication or medical intervention

Self-neglect

Hoarding inside or outside a property
Neglecting personal hygiene or medical needs
Person looking unkempt or dirty and has poor personal hygiene
Person is malnourished, has sudden or continuous weight loss and is dehydrated –
constant hunger, stealing or gorging on food
Person is dressed inappropriately for the weather conditions
Dirt, urine or faecal smells
Home environment does not meet basic needs (for example heating or lighting)
Depression

Appendix 3
What is ‘mental capacity’?

Whether a person has mental capacity is a matter of specialist assessment by social and mental health services. However, it may be useful to know something about it.

Mental capacity is the ability to make a particular decision. An adult may be at risk if they are unable to make a decision due to illness, disability, poor mental health, dementia, a learning disability or something else that may impair their judgment.

A person may be deemed to be ‘without capacity’ if they cannot:

understand a decision
retain information
weigh up information
communicate their decision

About matters such as

finance
social care
medical treatment