What are my safeguarding responsibilities as a mentor?
Some mentees are under 18 and reached us through a school or a programme. The rules below are not optional and they exist to protect the mentee and you.
- Read time
- 4 minutes
- Module
- Mentoring well, long term
- Session length
- 30 minutes
What good looks like.
All contact stays on the platform. No private messaging, no personal phone numbers, no meeting in person, no exceptions for under-18 mentees.
If a mentee discloses harm, risk or abuse, do not investigate and do not promise confidentiality. Listen, keep them safe in the moment, end the session calmly, and report it the same day.
Report anything that concerns you even if you are not sure. Judging whether it matters is our team's job, not yours.
A sequence you can follow.
- 01
Keep it on the platform
Every message, file and call.
- 02
Do not promise secrecy
Say you may need to pass something on.
- 03
Write it down
What was said, in their words, with the date.
- 04
Report the same day
Through the safeguarding route on our safeguarding page.
What to avoid.
Handling a disclosure privately to avoid making a fuss
Asking probing questions to establish the facts
Waiting to see if it happens again
Extra tips
Small things that make the half hour better.
Report the same day
You do not need certainty; you need to pass on the concern.
Write down what was said
Their words, the time, the date, not your interpretation.
Do not investigate
Asking more questions can make a situation harder to handle later.
Know the address before you need it
Keep support@mentorhero.com where you can find it in a hurry.
Take this guide with you.
Download a printable version of this guide: the short answer, the steps, the extra tips, the mistakes to avoid and the questions mentors ask, to read before your next session.
The things people ask first.
Will I be told what happens next?
You will be told your report was received. Details stay confidential to the mentee.
Do I need a background check?
Requirements depend on the programme; where checks are needed we arrange them before matching.
Next: Confidentiality and data.
What is said in the session stays in the session, with two exceptions.