Safeguarding
Last updated: August 2026
Safeguarding sits at the centre of everything we build at Maara. We work with new mothers and newborn babies during one of the most vulnerable windows of their lives, inside people's own homes — so our safeguarding standards are non-negotiable.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. If you're worried about a child or vulnerable adult but it's not an emergency, you can also contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.
1. Vetting every carer
Every carer in the Maara network is required to hold, or be actively obtaining, an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate, ideally registered on the DBS Update Service so we can check it continuously rather than just once. Alongside this, every carer must provide:
- Proof of identity and right to work in the UK
- Verified references from previous clients or employers
- Evidence of relevant qualifications for their specialism (doula training, IBCLC certification, HCPC registration for physiotherapists, professional body membership for therapists, etc.)
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Completion of Maara's postpartum-specific safeguarding induction before their first booking
2. Recognising the signs
Every Maara provider and support-line worker is trained to recognise warning signs of postnatal depression, birth trauma, and the rarer but serious postpartum psychosis, and knows the correct escalation route for each. Our website includes the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) — the NHS's own validated screening tool — as part of our care plans, used to open a conversation early rather than wait for a crisis point.
3. Escalation and reporting
Any provider who has a safeguarding concern about a mother, baby, or household — or who is worried about their own safety while working in someone's home — has a clear, documented escalation path to a named safeguarding lead at Maara. Concerns are always treated seriously, recorded, and where appropriate referred to the relevant health visitor, GP, social services, or emergency services.
4. If you have a concern
If you are a mother, family member, or carer with a safeguarding concern relating to Maara, please message us on WhatsApp via the link in our site footer, marking your message "Safeguarding" so it reaches the right person quickly. You do not need to have all the details — just tell us what you're worried about.
5. Data and privacy in safeguarding matters
Where we need to share information to protect someone from harm, we may need to act without full consent, in line with UK data protection law's safeguarding exemptions. You can read more about how we handle personal data generally in our Privacy Policy.
6. This policy will grow with us
As Maara moves from a founding provider network into a fully operational service, this page will be expanded with our full safeguarding policy document, our named Designated Safeguarding Lead, and details of our ongoing training programme.