Guidance for Group Leaders

If someone discloses abuse to you:

Do:

Stay calm and try not to show shock or disbelief

Listen carefully to what they are saying

Be sympathetic (I’m sorry that this has happened to you’)

Be aware of the possibility that medical evidence might be needed

Tell the person that:

They did the right thing to tell you

You are treating the information seriously. It was not their fault

You are going to inform the appropriate person

You/ will take steps to protect and support them

Record and report the disclosure in line with the Procedure

Do Not:

Press the person for more details; this will be done at a later date

Stop someone who is freely recalling significant events (Don’t say ‘hold on, we’ll come back to that later’; they may not tell you or anybody else again)

Do not promise to keep secrets; you cannot keep this kind of information to yourself

Make promises you cannot keep (Such as ‘This will never happen to you again’)

Contact the alleged abuser

Be judgemental

Pass on the information other than to those with a legitimate ‘need-to-know’ under this Policy and Procedure

In your record of the disclosure you should aim to:

Note what people said, using their own words and phrases

Describe the circumstances in which the disclosure came about

Note the setting and anyone else who was there at the time of the abuse or the disclosure

Separate factual information from your own and other’s opinions