Facilitator guides, model policies &
printable safeguarding tools.

Action Required: Ensure the person is physically safe. Move to a confidential, unhurried environment and affirm that they have full control over the pace of the conversation.

Key phrase: "Thank you for trusting me with this. You are safe here, and we can take this entirely at your pace."

Action Required: Listen actively and compassionately. Do not demand a strictly linear timeline, interrupt for minor details, or ask "why" questions that imply blame.

Trauma affects memory encoding. Never cross-examine the person or compare their account against an offender’s status or reputation.

Action Required: Acknowledge their courage. Be transparent about who must be informed if there is an immediate risk to life or statutory duty of care—never make promises you cannot keep.

Key phrase: "I believe you, and what happened is not your fault. Let us look together at the support options available to you."

Action Required: Record the date, time, and the person’s own words factually in a secure, restricted-access record. Avoid speculative commentary or personal opinions.

Never store sensitive disclosure notes in shared team folders or unprotected email threads.

Action Required: Provide warm referrals to independent specialist services (see Global Support Directory) and outline formal/informal reporting pathways without pressuring them.

Restoring agency is central to recovery. Unless statutory safeguarding applies, the survivor decides how and when to proceed.

Action Required: An individual experiences or witnesses harassment, grooming, coercion, or institutional cover-up.

If there is immediate physical danger, contact emergency services (111 in NZ / 999 in UK / 911 in US & Canada / 000 in AU) immediately.

Action Required: Choose between Internal Safeguarding Lead OR Independent Third-Party Whistleblowing Channel (mandatory when senior executives, board members, or high-profile talent are involved).

Organisations must never force a complainant to report through a line manager or HR officer who has a conflict of interest.

Action Required: Implement immediate non-punitive safety adjustments (schedule separation, safe leave, remote work) while activating formal whistleblower anti-retaliation protections.

The complainant must never suffer career penalty, blacklisting, or forced silencing.

Action Required: Conduct an independent investigation focused on patterns of conduct, corroborating evidence, and procedural fairness—free from silence-buying NDAs.

Commercial value or celebrity status must play zero role in the scope or outcome of the inquiry.

Action Required: Communicate outcomes transparently to the complainant, enforce proportionate disciplinary action, and audit cultural conditions to prevent recurrence.

Board safeguarding committees review anonymised systemic findings quarterly.

Action Required: Create a simple diversion to break the momentum of an uncomfortable or boundary-crossing interaction and give the targeted person an immediate exit.

Example: "Excuse me, we need you urgently in the briefing room," or "Could you help me check this schedule at reception?"

Action Required: When power dynamics make direct confrontation unsafe, immediately alert a designated Safeguarding Officer, security lead, producer, or senior duty manager.

Coordinate with trusted colleagues so no junior staff member is left isolated with a person misusing authority.

Action Required: Note the date, time, location, witnesses, and exact words or actions observed. Keep records safely and offer them to the affected colleague.

Contemporaneous bystander notes are vital in overcoming "he-said-she-said" dismissal during formal inquiries.

Action Required: If the moment passed too quickly to intervene safely, speak privately with the person afterwards to validate what you saw and offer support.

Key phrase: "I saw what happened in that meeting and it was not acceptable. You do not have to carry that alone—how can I support you?"

Action Required: When it is safe to do so—especially for leaders and senior peers—address the conduct calmly, firmly, and immediately in the room.

Key phrase: "That comment crosses our professional standards. We treat everyone in this room with respect."