Safeguarding Policy

Rooted Common Ground is for members aged 18 and over. If we become aware a member is under 18, their account will be immediately suspended and their data deleted.

Members can self-identify as vulnerable in their privacy settings. This triggers additional protections, including routing of any reports to trained moderators (not volunteers).

• Community Buddies must be Trusted Members.
• Buddies must be present for the first two visits to any Buddy person's home.
• Any safeguarding concern about a Buddy person is escalated to admin immediately.
• If we have serious concerns about a vulnerable person's safety, we may contact emergency services or social services without waiting for a formal report.

Rooted Common Ground does not carry out or verify DBS or PVG checks. Members offering or seeking care of vulnerable adults are strongly advised to obtain these independently. When a member creates or responds to a listing in a higher-trust category — such as pet care, transport and errands, companionship, or wellbeing support — we now show an in-flow safeguarding notice that must be acknowledged before the listing can be posted or accepted, making clear the responsibilities involved and that checks are not carried out by us.

Our verification steps, trust tiers, and reporting tools are designed to reduce risk and to help if something goes wrong. They are risk-reduction measures, not guarantees: we cannot guarantee the conduct of any member and we cannot promise that nothing will ever go wrong. Always use your own judgement and call 999 if you are in immediate danger.

Any safeguarding concern should be reported immediately using the Safety Centre. Safeguarding reports are reviewed by a trained moderator within 4 hours. Serious safeguarding concerns are escalated to our designated safeguarding lead within 1 hour.

[NAME — to be appointed before launch]
safety@rooted-common-ground.world

If we have reasonable grounds to believe a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of serious harm, we will report this to the relevant authorities. We do not need member consent to do this.