Student Run Self Helps commitment to equality applies to everything that we do, externally and internally. The values of equality are at the heart of how we accept, respect and value people with diverse identities and backgrounds.

We aim to ensure that no job applicant, employee or volunteer receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation or disability. SRSH recognises that these visible and non-visible differences between people can also lead to differences in experiences, values, attitudes, ways of thinking, behaving, communicating and working.

Selection criteria and procedures are reviewed to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities.

In our work reaching out to students SRSH strives to ensure that the support we provide is accessible to all students. This goes beyond ensuring that individuals we come into contact with are treated equally. We actively work to ensure that individuals from all backgrounds are able to find out about the support we offer and feel able to access the support we provide. 

A vulnerable adult is defined as an individual who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and is  or maybe unable to take care of him or herself or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation. This policy statement recognises that abuse of vulnerable adults is widespread, but frequently unrecognised. Abuse is defined as a ‘single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to a vulnerable person.’ Perpetrators of abuse are not confined to any section of society, they may be:

• A member of a recognized professional group
  
• A volunteer or member of a community group or social club
  
• A vulnerable adult
  
• A spouse, relative or member of the person’s social network
  
• A neighbour, member of the public or stranger
  

Abuse can be physical, psychological, financial, sexual, neglect or discriminatory.

Risk of abuse to vulnerable adults through attending SRSH support groups

• The risk is assessed as very low. However, all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure the safety of individuals attending group sessions. 
  
• SRSH’s volunteer recruitment and selection procedures will take account of the need to protect vulnerable adults. 
  
• Volunteers receive training, support and supervision to ensure they understand the necessity to maintain professional boundaries at all times. 
  

• SRSH volunteers (group facilitators) shall never run a group meeting with less than two group facilitators present at the meeting. 
  
• Group facilitators must not meet group attendees (vulnerable adults) outside of group sessions or offer any form of support beyond that provided in the group session. 
  
• Maintaining these boundaries, there is never opportunity for one-to-one interaction between group facilitators and attendees. 
  

SRSH has a clear structure for addressing concerns ( see policy on concerns ) and SRSH takes every reasonable action to ensure that group facilitators feel comfortable raising concerns about their co-facilitators with the SRSH management team.  SRSH has a clear system in place for reporting complaints . SRSH takes every reasonable effort to ensure that individuals attending group sessions know how to raise a complaint with the SRSH management team.

Disclosure of abuse

SRSH staff and volunteers must be aware that vulnerable adults may disclose cases of abuse. In such a situation SRSH volunteers must continue to follow the SRSH confidentiality policy . However, volunteers should take the allegation seriously, stay calm, listen patiently and reassure the person that they are doing the right thing in talking about the abuse. SRSH volunteers cannot provide support outside of the group sessions, but should signpost attendees to suitable services who can provide further support. In the first instance this should be:

• The student union advice and representation service 
  
• The student union welfare officer 
  

In the event of group facilitators dealing with a disclosure of abuse, support will be provided for group facilitators through SRSH’s standard supervision system and direct support will be available from the SRSH project manager.