Important Information & Policies

Safeguarding & Duty of Care

The safety and wellbeing of the adults we support is our top priority. We have robust safeguarding procedures in place and adhere to all relevant legislation including the Care Act 2014 and the Equality Act 2010.

All our staff and volunteers are trained in safeguarding and have undergone enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. We maintain confidentiality while ensuring appropriate information sharing with relevant professionals and family members.

If you have any safeguarding concerns, please contact us immediately on 07767 295197

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Live Out Loud CIC is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is valued and respected regardless of:

• Age, race, ethnicity or national origin
• Gender or gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Disability or additional needs
• Religion or belief
• Socioeconomic background

We actively work to remove barriers to participation and provide reasonable adjustments and support as needed.

Privacy & Data Protection

We take data protection very seriously and comply fully with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Any personal information you provide is handled securely and confidentially. We only use your information for the purpose it was collected for and will not share it with third parties without your consent, except where required by law or safeguarding procedures.

You have the right to request access to your data at any time. For more information or to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us.

Communication & Feedback

We value your feedback and want to hear about your experience with Live Out Loud CIC. We welcome:

• Comments and suggestions for improvement
• Compliments when we've done well
• Concerns or complaints if something isn't right

We aim to respond to all feedback within 10 working days. If you have a formal complaint, we have a clear complaints procedure in place. Please contact us for more details.

Accessibility & Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to making our services accessible to everyone. If you have specific accessibility needs or require reasonable adjustments to participate in our activities, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your requirements.

This might include sensory-friendly sessions, visual supports, communication aids, or other adjustments tailored to individual needs.

Health & Safety

We maintain high health and safety standards across all our activities and environments. Our staff are trained in first aid and health and safety procedures.

We follow government guidance on health and safety at all times, including COVID-19 protocols should they be necessary.

In the event of any accidents or incidents, we have procedures in place to respond appropriately and will keep relevant parties informed.

Capacity & Informed Consent

We respect the rights and autonomy of all individuals and are committed to supporting people to make their own decisions.

Where necessary, we follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 principles and ensure that individuals have the information and support they need to make informed choices about their participation in Live Out Loud activities.

Activities & Transport

All our activities are carefully planned with safety and enjoyment in mind. Transport arrangements are made only with appropriate consent and insurance in place.

Risk assessments are conducted for all activities and outings to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

How to Make a Complaint

If you are unhappy about any aspect of the service we provide, we want to hear from you. We have a formal complaints procedure:

1. Informal Resolution: Try to resolve the matter by speaking to the relevant staff member or manager
2. Formal Complaint: If informal resolution doesn't work, submit a written complaint to hello@liveoutloudcic.co.uk
3. Investigation: We will investigate your complaint within 10 working days
4. Response: We will provide a written response with our findings and any actions to be taken

You have the right to escalate your complaint to the relevant regulatory body if you are not satisfied with our response.