Purpose
Because autism research and related activities may involve children, families, adults requiring additional support, and other potentially vulnerable individuals, GARC is committed to maintaining appropriate safeguarding awareness and practices.
Core Principles
GARC seeks to:
- prioritize safety and welfare;
- treat safeguarding concerns seriously;
- minimize foreseeable risk;
- respect dignity and privacy;
- maintain appropriate professional boundaries;
- escalate concerns where required;
- avoid retaliation against individuals who raise genuine concerns.
Scope
Safeguarding considerations may apply to:
- research participation;
- interviews and focus groups;
- online communities;
- events;
- educational or research activities;
- direct communications;
- collaborations involving children or adults at risk.
Research Activities
Before activities involving potentially vulnerable participants begin, the project should consider:
- the nature of participant contact;
- consent and capacity;
- communication needs;
- supervision;
- privacy;
- online safety;
- escalation routes;
- foreseeable safeguarding risks.
Concerns
A safeguarding concern should not be ignored because it arises during research rather than a clinical or care setting.
Where circumstances require external reporting or referral, GARC will follow applicable law and relevant local or institutional procedures.
Role of GARC
GARC is a research institution and does not present itself as an emergency, medical, child-protection, or statutory safeguarding service.
Where there is an immediate threat to safety, appropriate emergency or statutory services should be contacted.
Confidentiality
Safeguarding information should be handled sensitively, but confidentiality cannot be promised where disclosure is necessary to protect a person or meet applicable obligations.