Gambling Recovery Hub: Safeguarding Policy

1. Introduction

At Gambling Recovery Hub, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone who engages with our services. While we are not a crisis service and do not provide therapy, we recognize our legal and moral duty of care to protect vulnerable individuals.

Our role is to provide support, guidance, and signposting, and where necessary, encourage individuals to seek appropriate emergency or professional help. We do this by listening, offering information, and helping people explore their options while respecting their rights and autonomy.

2. Our Commitment to Safeguarding

We are dedicated to ensuring that all individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and safety. Our safeguarding approach includes:

  • Recognizing and responding to potential risks, including signs of harm, abuse, or severe distress.
  • Referring individuals to appropriate crisis or emergency services when necessary.
  • Operating within legal safeguarding guidelines, including the duty to report concerns where there is a risk of significant harm.
  • Maintaining confidentiality while balancing the need to act in cases where safety is at risk.

3. Scope of Our Services

Gambling Recovery Hub provides peer-led support, guidance, and signposting for individuals affected by gambling-related harm. We do not:

  • Offer therapeutic intervention or professional counselling.
  • Act as a crisis response service for individuals in immediate distress or danger.
  • Replace medical, psychological, or emergency services.

If a service user presents in crisis (e.g., expressing suicidal ideation or immediate harm), our role is to support them in finding the right help, rather than intervening directly.

4. Identifying and Responding to Safeguarding Concerns

When we are concerned about someone’s safety—either because they are at risk from their own actions or from someone else—we will always aim to support them in the best and safest way possible.

We do this by:

  • Listening to their concerns.
  • Helping them explore what they want to do.
  • Encouraging them to seek professional or emergency support when necessary.

Most of the time, whatever a person tells us will remain confidential between them and the Gambling Recovery Hub. However, there are times when we may need to take further steps to protect someone from harm.

5. When We May Need to Take Action

While we prioritize confidentiality, there are situations where we may need to share concerns with an external service. This applies if:

  • We believe a person is unable to make informed decisions about their own safety (e.g., due to extreme distress, confusion, memory loss, or loss of consciousness during a call).
  • We receive information that identifies a child or vulnerable adult at risk of abuse or harm.
  • We have legal safeguarding obligations to report specific concerns.

If we determine that action needs to be taken, we will always try to discuss this with the individual first and help them explore their options.

6. What Might Happen If We Need to Take Action

If we need to escalate a safeguarding concern, some of the following actions may be taken:

  • If someone is in immediate danger, we may contact emergency services (e.g., police or ambulance) to check on their welfare.
  • If we believe a child is at risk, we may need to share information with relevant authorities, such as social services.
  • In some cases, we may ask for more details to help ensure appropriate support can be provided.

We can only take these steps if we have enough identifying information (e.g., name, contact details, location). If an individual chooses not to share this information, our ability to act will be limited.

7. Signs Someone May Be Struggling to Cope

If you or someone you know is showing signs of distress, some indicators to look out for include:

  • Increased isolation or withdrawal from others.
  • Expressing hopelessness or feeling like a burden.
  • Self-harm or mentioning thoughts of suicide.
  • Drastic changes in behaviour, mood, or daily routine.
  • Increased engagement in risky behaviours, including excessive gambling.

If you recognize these signs in yourself or others, seeking help is the best step. Support is available from crisis services, medical professionals, and organizations dedicated to mental health and addiction recovery.

8. Confidentiality and Data Protection

We respect the confidentiality of all individuals engaging with Gambling Recovery Hub. However, there are exceptions where confidentiality must be breached, including:

  • A disclosure of intent to harm oneself or others.
  • Concerns regarding the safety of a child or vulnerable adult.
  • A legal obligation to report specific safeguarding concerns.

All personal data is handled in accordance with GDPR regulations and data protection laws, ensuring information is only shared when necessary for safeguarding purposes.

9. Staff and Volunteer Responsibilities

All staff and volunteers working with Gambling Recovery Hub:

  • Are trained in safeguarding awareness and understand their duty of care.
  • Are expected to follow safeguarding procedures when concerns arise.
  • Must maintain professional boundaries and refer individuals to appropriate services when concerns exceed the scope of our support.

10. Reporting and Escalation Process

If a safeguarding concern arises:

  1. A safeguarding lead within Gambling Recovery Hub will assess the situation.
  2. If necessary, we will signpost the individual to emergency support.
  3. If the situation meets legal safeguarding criteria, a report may be made to the appropriate external agency (e.g., social services, police, mental health crisis teams).

11. Review and Policy Updates

This policy is reviewed annually or in response to changes in legislation or best practices. Gambling Recovery Hub remains committed to continuous improvement in safeguarding standards.

12. Contact for Safeguarding Concerns

For safeguarding concerns, users should be directed to appropriate services such as:

For internal safeguarding concerns within the Gambling Recovery Hub, contact:
📧 info@gamblingrecoveryhub.org