Green Labyrinth Training 

Q5 Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy 2021-2022

Contact Details and Company Role 

DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEADS (DSL)

Study Programme:

Amy Farley - ALS Team Leader

Rachel Huntley - Learning Mentor

Tel: 01793 236245 Ext: 4014
safeguarding@greenlabyrinth.uk

Work Based Learning:

Andrea Gostling - Operations Manager

Tel: 07803708352
agostling@greenlabyrinth.uk

Policy

1. Definitions

2. Introduction

3. Equalities Statement

4. Overall Aims

5. Expectations

6. Role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead

7. NPTC and Senior Leaders

8. Training

9. Safer Recruitment

9.1. Safer Recruitment regarding employers

10. Staff Support

11. Support for Learners

12. Whole Provider Approach

13. Identification of those at Increased Risk, or have Additional Safeguarding Needs

14. Extra Familial harm – risk outside the home

15. Allegation Management

16. Key Safeguarding Areas

Procedures 

1. Reporting concerns

2. Involving parents and carers

3. Multi-agency working

4. Private fostering arrangements

5. Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation

6. Children missing from education

7. peer on peer abuse/ Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children

8. Serious Violence

9. The Prevent Duty

10. Sharing Information

11. Transfer of Safeguarding Records when a child leaves our school

Appendices 

Appendix A-  Forms of abuse and neglect

Appendix B-  Concerns About a Child - GL safeguarding procedure

Appendix C- Concerns About a Member of Staff

Appendix D- Dealing with a disclosure of abuse

Key documentation: duty, procedures, guidance 

POLICY

This policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies

• •Attendance 

• •Behaviour 

• •E-Safety 

• •Prevent Strategy 

• •SEN 

• •Anti Bullying

• •Staff code of conduct

1. Definitions

• Safeguarding is defined as: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes; 

• Child Protection refers to the situation where a child is suffering significant harm, or is likely to do so, and action is required to protect that child. 

• A Child refers to anyone under the age of 18. 

• A Learner will refer to any one on a programme at Green Labyrinth, including apprentices.

2. Introduction

At Green Labyrinth Training, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of learners is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone at Green Labyrinth who comes into contact with learners, their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. Green Labyrinth recognises that we are an important part in the wider safeguarding system. All staff will understand and recognise that a one size fits all approach may not be appropriate for all people at risk and a more personalised or contextualised approach for more vulnerable learners, learners who are victims of abuse and some SEND learners may be needed. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all staff will make sure their approach is person-centred. This means that they will consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child, young person or vulnerable adult. 

Green Labyrinth is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its learners by:

• • The provision of a safe environment in which children, young people and adults can learn;

• • Fulfilling our statutory responsibilities to identify children, young people and adults who may be in need of extra help or who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

• • Working to protect children, young people and adults from maltreatment, to prevent the impairment of person’s mental and physical health or development

• • Always taking action to enable all learners to  have the best outcomes

All action taken by Green Labyrinth will be in accordance with:

• Current legislation and Statutory guidance: 

Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) which sets out the multiagency working arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and protect them from harm; in addition it sets out the statutory roles and responsibilities of schools.  

Keeping Children Safe in Education (2021) is statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education which all schools and Training Providers must have regard to  when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

The Teacher Standards 2012 state that teachers, including head teachers, should safeguard children’s wellbeing and maintain public trust in the teaching profession as part of their professional duties.

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 to help avoid harm, or risk of harm, by preventing people who are deemed unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable adults from gaining access to them through their work

All staff at Green Labyrinth has a duty and responsibility to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults attending our Training Provider or employers, irrespective of their role:

• • All staff will be responsible for identifying concerns early and providing help for children, young people and vulnerable adults, to prevent concerns from escalating to a point where intervention would be needed. These concerns will be discussed with our school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or their deputy - see Annex 1 for full Green Labyrinth safeguarding procedure workflow. 

• • All staff will be aware of the process and principles for sharing information within the Training Provider which supports safeguarding. 

• • All staff should be aware of the local early help process and understand their role within it. 

• • All staff have a responsibility to contribute to the Early Help Assessment and Plan as requested

• • The most important consideration is whether sharing information is likely to safeguard and protect a child, young person or vulnerable adult.  Any staff member who has a concern about a child, young person or vulnerable adults welfare should follow our Training Provider referral processes - see Annex 1 for full Green Labyrinth safeguarding procedure workflow. 

• • All staff will be aware that safeguarding incidents and/or behaviours can be associated with factors outside the Training Provider and/or work placement and/or can occur between children/young people outside of these environments. All staff, but especially the designated safeguarding lead (and deputies) will consider whether children, young people and vulnerable adults are at risk of abuse or exploitation in situations outside the home. Extra-familial harms take a variety of different forms and children, young people and vulnerable adults can be vulnerable to multiple harms including (but not limited to) sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, and serious youth violence.

3. Equalities Statement

We are committed to anti-discriminatory practice and recognise learners and families’ diverse circumstances. We ensure that all children have the same protection, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, race, economic condition, disability and religion. With regards to safeguarding we will consider our duties under the Equality Act 2010 in relation to making reasonable adjustments, non-discrimination and our Public Sector Equality Duty. 

4. Overall Aims

This policy will contribute to the safeguarding of learners at Green Labyrinth by:

• • Clarifying standards of behaviour for staff and learners

• • Contributing to the establishment of a safe, resilient and robust safeguarding ethos in the Training Provider, built on mutual respect, and shared values

• • Teaching our learners about safeguarding, including online safety, through teaching and learning opportunities, as part of broad and balanced curriculum

• • Alerting staff to the signs and indicators of safeguarding issues including abuse and neglect

• • Developing staff awareness of the causes and consequences of abuse and neglect

• • Developing staff awareness of the risks and vulnerabilities their learners face by addressing concerns at the earliest possible stage

• • Reducing the potential risks learners face of being exposed to violence, extremism, exploitation or victimisation; 

• • Working in partnership with learners, employers, parents and agencies.

This policy will contribute to supporting the learners at Green Labyrinth by:

• • Identifying and protecting the most vulnerable

• • Taking a contextual safeguarding approach to understanding the risks presenting to children, young people and vulnerable adults outside the family home, taking into consideration extra familial harm

• • Taking seriously the risks presented to young people by young people, with particular vigilance for child on child sexual harassment and sexual violence 

• • Assessing individual needs where possible

• • Designing plans to meet those needs.

5. Expectations

All staff will:

• • Be familiar with this safeguarding policy, in addition to this all staff will be aware of the systems in place which support safeguarding including; reading the Behaviour Policy; the Staff Code of Conduct; safeguarding response to children and vulnerable young people who go missing from education; and the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). 

• • Be subject to Safer Recruitment processes and checks, whether they are new staff, supply staff, contractors, volunteers etc.

• • All staff will read and understand Part 1 or Annex A of statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education (2021). Those working directly with children and young people will also read Annex B. 

• • Be involved, where appropriate, in the implementation of individual education programmes, integrated support plans, child in need plans and inter-agency child protection plans

• • Know who and how to contact the DSL and any deputies, the senior leadership team, and the senior leader responsible for safeguarding.

• • Be alert to signs and indicators of possible abuse and neglect or at risk of harm and be able to identify vulnerable learners and take action to keep them safe.  
  • Information or concerns about learners will be shared with the DSL where it includes those: 

               • who need a social worker and may be experiencing abuse or neglect
               • requiring mental health support, 
               • may benefit from early help
               • where there is a radicalisation concern 
               • where a crime may have been committed
               • where there is the potential for peer on peer abuse/child on child sexual harassment or sexual violence

• Be clear as to Green Labyrinth’s policy and procedures with regard to peer on peer abuse, children missing education, learners who have low and persistent absence,  and learners requiring mental health support
• Record concerns appropriately and in a timely manner by face to face meeting with safeguarding team, phone call to safeguarding and/or a follow up email to safeguarding@greenlabyrinth.uk
• Are aware of the need to raise to the senior leadership team, any concerns they have about safeguarding practices within the Training Provider 
• Adhere to Green Labyrinth’s code of conduct and behaviour management policies; 
• Have the skills, knowledge and understanding to keep looked after children and previously looked after children safe; 
• Be aware of signs of abuse or neglect and the additional barriers to recognising abuse and neglect in learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those with relevant health conditions; 
• Be aware of their legal responsibility to report cases of FGM to the police. Whilst all staff should speak to the designated safeguarding lead (or deputy) with regard to any concerns about female genital mutilation (FGM), there is a specific legal duty on teachers. If a teacher, in the course of their work in the profession, discovers that an act of FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under the age of 18, the teacher must report this to the police (KCSIE 2021)

Regulated professionals have a mandatory reporting duty to report cases of known FGM. Teachers are considered regulated professionals. The duty requires that they themselves report known incidents to the police. This cannot be delegated to the Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Report their concerns to the DSL if they think a learner may be at risk of radicalisation or involvement in terrorism;
• Aware that up skirting is now a criminal offence. 
• Aware of Training Providers whistleblowing procedures and policy;
• Allegations regarding foster carers or anyone in a position of trust working or volunteering with children, young people and vulnerable adults should be referred to the LADO on the day that the allegation is reported. The allocated social worker should also be informed on the day. The Training Provider should not undertake any investigation unless the LADO advises this. Where a staff member feels unable to raise an issue with the senior leaders or feels that their genuine concerns are not being addressed, other whistleblowing channels may be open to them: 

General guidance can be found at: 

Advice on whistleblowing https://www.gov.uk/whistleblowing 
The NSPCC whistleblowing helpline is available for staff who do not feel able to raise concerns regarding child protection failures internally. Staff can call: 0800 028 0285 – line is available from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Friday and Email: help@nspcc.org.uk.

If a child, young person or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger or is at risk of harm, a referral should be made to MASH and/or the police immediately. Anyone can make a referral. Where referrals are not made by the DSL, the DSL should be informed, as soon as possible, that a referral has been made.

6. Role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is a senior member of staff, who undertakes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection within the educational institution.

Whilst the activities of the DSL can be delegated to appropriately trained deputies, the ultimate lead responsibility for safeguarding child protection remains with the DSL.

The DSL and DDSL at Green Labyrinth have the appropriate training, knowledge and skills to carry out this substantive role, this includes training on the Prevent Duty. The safeguarding team at Green Labyrinth understand the importance of providing information and support to children’s social care in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. They also understand the impact that adversity and trauma can have, including on children’s behaviour, mental health and wellbeing.

The broad areas of responsibility for the DSL are:

• Liaise with the local authority and other agencies;
• To hear the voice and views of children, young people and vulnerable adults, by developing a culture of listening to, and taking account of their wishes and feelings
• Ensuring staff understand the difficulties some children may have in approaching staff about their circumstances and fostering a culture within Green Labyrinth to overcome any barriers
• Provide advice and support to staff regarding child welfare, safeguarding and child protection matters. 
• Liaise with staff, especially teachers, pastoral support staff, school nurses, IT technicians , senior mental health leads, special educational needs coordinators on matters of safety, safeguarding and welfare, including online and digital safety.
• Refer cases and managing referrals to other agencies to ensure a child’s needs are considered holistically including: the local authority children’s social care in cases of suspected abuse; Wiltshire Prevent Policing team where there is a radicalisation concern; the Disclosure and Barring Service in cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a child and the Police in cases where a crime may have been committed in relation to safeguarding. The DSL will also support and advise other staff in making referrals to other agencies:
• Refer cases to the Police as required - When to Call the Police
• Work with others to fulfil statutory responsibilities in relation to children and young people subject to a child protection plan by attending child protection conferences and implementing the multi agency child protection plan; and when required, liaise with the case manager and the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in relation to child protection cases which concern a staff member. 
• Promote supportive engagement with parents and/or carers in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people including where families may be facing challenging circumstances 
• Work with relevant staff, including senior leaders, taking lead responsibility for promoting educational outcomes by knowing the welfare, safeguarding and child protection issues that the learner may be experiencing, or have experienced, and identifying the impact that these issues might be having on learner’s attendance, engagement and achievement at Green Labyrinth
• Ensuring the staff at Green Labyrinth know the cohort of learners  who have or had a social worker, and they understand the academic progress and attainment whilst maintaining a culture of high aspirations for these learners.  Supporting staff and employers to provide additional academic support or reasonable adjustments to help these learners to reach their potential. Ensure staff at Green Labyrinth understand that although statutory intervention may have ended for a child that there may be a lasting impact on the child’s educational outcomes
• The DSL will act as a single point of contact for all matters of safeguarding and advice for staff and volunteers.
• Undertake Training to ensure the DSL (and any deputies) has the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role (updated every 2 years). Further knowledge and skills should be updated at regular intervals and shared with relevant parties as appropriate;
• Ensure every member of staff at Green Labyrinth has access to the safeguarding and child protection policies and associated practices are known, understood and used appropriately. This includes part time and new staff. 
• Manage safeguarding information confidentially and safely through:
• Ensuring that learners safeguarding files are kept up to date, and records are clear and comprehensive, that the record contains details of how concerns were followed up and resolved and that records note all actions taken and decisions made including outcomes. 
• That safeguarding records are shared when requested if a learner leaves Green Labyrinth with a signed receipt being obtained
• Availability of the DSL (or any deputies) during term time and centre hours will be ensured for staff in the school or Training Provider to discuss any safeguarding concerns
• Ensure appropriate safeguarding cover and availability during term time to include support or attending child protection conferences and strategy discussions.
• Help promote educational outcomes by sharing information about vulnerable learners with relevant staff. This includes ensuring that staff:

•     • know who these learners are, 

•     • understand their academic progress and attainment and maintain a culture of high aspirations for this cohort; 

•     • are supported to identify the challenges that learners in this group might face 

•     • make reasonable adjustments so that they act to best support these learners.

The role of the DSL is explained in more detail in KCSIE 2021- Annex C.

7. NPTC and Senior Leaders 

Senior Leaders and owners, NPTC (Neath Port Talbot College), at Green Labyrinth will ensure that there is a whole provider approach to safeguarding by ensuring safeguarding is at the forefront and underpins all relevant processes and policies. These systems, policies and processes will be readily available and easy to understand.

Senior Leaders and Board members of NPTC, will ensure that there is a senior SLT member with responsibility for Green Labyrinth’s safeguarding arrangements and that member of staff from the Training Provider leadership team is appointed to the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). They will also ensure that the DSL has the additional time, funding, training, resources and support they need to carry out this substantial role effectively.

Senior Leaders and owners, NPTC, at Green Labyrinth will ensure:

• • That safeguarding and child protection practice, process and policy (including online safety) is effective and is compliant with legislation, statutory guidance and local safeguarding arrangements. 

• • That the appointed senior leader with Safeguarding responsibilities will liaise with the DSL to produce an annual report for the board and complete the S.175/157  (annual safeguarding) audit for the Swindon Safeguarding Partnership

• • That the Training Provider has a safeguarding policy 

• • That the Training Provider has key policies in place to cover: 
      • Behaviour
      • Staff behaviour/Code of Conduct
      • E-safety 

• • That Green Labyrinth has policies and systems in place to prevent, identify and respond to Peer on Peer Abuse and Child on Child Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence 

• • The board reviews Green Labyrinth’s safeguarding policies/procedures annually or as required due to changes in statutory guidance

• • That where possible more than one emergency contact telephone number is recorded for each learner and this is checked on a regular basis

• • That there is an appropriately trained Designated staff member appointed to promote the educational achievement for: looked after children; those children who have left care through adoption; special guardianships or child care orders; or were adopted from state care outside England and Wales; and will work with the Virtual School Head  

• • That the staff at Green Labyrinth have the skills, knowledge and understanding to keep looked after children safe

• • That Green Labyrinth operates “safer recruitment” procedures and ensures that appropriate checks are carried out on all new staff and relevant volunteers.

• • That the school has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against staff/volunteers

• • That the Senior Leaders and owners, NPTC (Neath Port Talbot College), will liaise with the Local Authority Designated Officer, Police and other partner agencies in the event of allegations of abuse being made against the Head of Study Programmes or the Operational Manager for Work Based Learning.

• • That Green Labyrinth will maintain a Single Central Record of relevant pre-employment checks as detailed in KCSIE 2021 and that details of individuals should be removed from the single central record when they leave the employment of Green Labyrinth

• • That all staff who work with learners undergo safeguarding and child protection training, including online safety, at induction and this training is regularly updated.

• • That Green Labyrinth will contribute to multi-agency working in line with statutory guidance (see Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018)

• • That Green Labyrinth consider their duties as required in the Prevent Duty and has in place a Prevent risk assessment

• • Learners are taught about safeguarding including online safety

• • That Green Labyrinth has appropriate filters and monitoring systems in place 

8. Training 

In addition to this policy, all staff working directly with Learners will read and understand Part One and Annex B of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2021. Staff members who do not work directly with children will either read and understand Part One or Annex A of KCSIE 2021

• • All staff members will receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training on induction; this will be refreshed annually taking into account current key learning points and trends from serious case reviews and local current and emerging issues and trends. In addition, all staff will receive safeguarding and child protection updates (for example, via email, e-bulletins and staff meetings), as required, but at least annually, to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults effectively 

• • Whistle blowing procedures will be covered in Green Labyrinth’s training so that staff know what to do if they have concerns relating to safeguarding practice within a learning or employment setting.

• • The DSL and any deputies will undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role. The training will be updated every two years. Deputies will be trained to the same level as the DSL. 

• • Proprietors will ensure that all staff members undergo safeguarding and child protection training at induction. The training will be regularly updated. Induction and training will be in line with advice from the Swindon Safeguarding Partnership 

• • Green Labyrinth will ensure that at least one person on any appointment panel will have undertaken safer recruitment training

• • The Designated staff member appointed to promote the educational achievement of children in care will undergo appropriate training

• • The DSL will also undertake relevant Prevent awareness, Prevent referral and Channel training and in turn will provide training, advice and support to staff on protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from the risk of radicalisation. All staff will complete appropriate training, this will include FGM and Prevent training using quality assured provision such as the Government Online Prevent E-training learning package.

• • Online and internet safety training for staff will be integrated, aligned and considered as part of the overarching safeguarding approach

9. Safer Recruitment and Selection 

Green Labyrinth has a culture that safeguards and promotes the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults who attend our settings. At Green Labyrinth we have robust recruitment procedures that deter or prevent people who are unsuitable to work with children from applying or securing employment with us, this includes volunteers who may work in our school.

• • Green Labyrinth pays full regard to the safer recruitment practices detailed in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (2021) including:

•   • all our advertisements for positions at our training provider contain safeguarding statements, 

•   • job description and person specifications include safeguarding information relating to regulated activity, 

•   • the safeguarding policy and associated processes will be provided within the applicant pack.

•   • All applications including shortlisting will follow safer recruitment procedures and guidance within KCSIE 2021 

•   • References will always be obtained, scrutinised and concerns resolved satisfactorily before appointment is confirmed. 

All recruitment materials will include reference to Green Labyrinth’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of learners. 

   9.1. Safer Recruitment regarding employer

To be used in conjunction with the Green Labyrinth’s Employer Handbook.

Green Labyrinth understands employers providing any form of work related learning have the primary duty of care for learners on placements or apprenticeships. Green Labyrinth commits to supporting employers with the responsibilities detailed below:

• • Assessing any risks to learners before placement begins, including welfare and safeguarding. This will include protecting them from harm in any setting where they may be most at risk, for example in 1 :1 situations with an adult for long periods.

• • Providing appropriate induction, training and supervision for learners.

• • Looking after the welfare of learners on placement, including understanding what would be seen as a safeguarding concern and how to report it via Green Labyrinth safeguarding procedure - Appendix B

• • Ensuring systems are in place to prevent unsuitable people working with learners.

Green Labyrinth will RAG rate all of their employers on the MIS system, so that if a safeguarding concern has been investigated via the LADO (Appendix C) and the employer was found to be at fault, they would no longer be a viable work placement.

10. Staff Support

It is recognised that the stressful and traumatic nature of safeguarding and child protection work. Green Labyrinth will support staff by providing an opportunity to talk through their anxieties with their line manager, the DSL or onsite counsellor via supervision, and to seek further support, as appropriate. Further, Green Labyrinth will endeavour to create a robust safeguarding culture and environment, so that staff feel comfortable to discuss matters that occur outside the workplace, which may have implications on their practice to safeguarding of learners in our Training Provider. 

11. Support for Learners

Opportunities will be provided for learners to develop skills, concepts, attitudes and knowledge that promote their safety and wellbeing. 
Green Labyrinth understands that if learners are at risk or have suffered abuse, they will require support and all staff will understand their responsibilities to always act in the best interest of the child.
Learners will always be encouraged and supported to report any incidents of abuse to a member of staff who will liaise with the DSL. 
Green Labyrinth will take a zero tolerance approach to any child on child/peer on peer sexual harassment or sexual violence. Learners at Green Labyrinth will never be made to feel ashamed or feel that they are the problem for making a report.
Support for learners will be tailored on a case by case basis. 
Staff will understand that if a learner has experienced abuse, harassment or a sexual assault then they will likely to be traumatised and may struggle in normal classroom environments. Green Labyrinth will always endeavour to seek the learner’s views. Apprentices will have weekly checks in with their assessors via phone and face to face every 10 weeks. Study Programme learners will have an appointed learning mentor to develop a trusted key person relationship.
Green Labyrinth will also consider the needs for support for any alleged perpetrator

12. Whole Provider Approach

Our safeguarding policy cannot be separated from the general ethos of Green Labyrinth, which ensures that learners are treated with respect and dignity, taught to treat each other with respect, feel safe, have a voice, and are listened to.

Staff members working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are advised to maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned. When concerned about the welfare of a learner, staff members should always act in the best interests of the learner. 

13. Identification of those at Increased Risk, or have Additional Safeguarding Needs 

Certain groups of learners at Green Labyrinth are more likely to be identified as requiring extra support to meet their safeguarding needs; these could include: children in care and previously looked after children, young carers, those with mental health problems and those living in households where there is domestic abuse, mental health concerns and/or substance misuse, learners with parents who are currently in prison etc. Green Labyrinth will takes steps to identify those at greater risk, regularly monitored and appropriate measures are put in place to support their needs via the Learning mentor programme or weekly check ins by an assessor.   

14. Extra familial harm – risk outside the home

Contextual Safeguarding is an approach to understanding, and responding to, young people and vulnerable adult’s experiences of significant harm beyond their families, extra familial harm/risk outside the home. It recognises that the different relationships that young people form in their neighbourhoods, educational provider and online can feature violence and abuse. Parents and carers possibly have little influence over these contexts, and young people and vulnerable adults' experiences of extra-familial abuse can possibly undermine parent-child relationships. Therefore staff at Green Labyrinth will be considering the context within which incidents and or behaviours occur, and any actions taken will consider the safety and wellbeing of the young person and vulnerable adult within this context. This is known as Contextual Safeguarding. 

15. Managing allegations made against members of staff, employers or volunteers

Allegations that meet the harms threshold

• • All staff should report any concerns relating to staff to the Head of study programme and staff and employers to the Operational Manager for work based learning without delay, the Head of study programme or Operational Manager for work based learning will report all allegations that meet the harms threshold to the LADO within 24 hours of the allegation having been received.

• • Where there are concerns/allegations about the Head of study programme or Operational Manager for work based learning, this should be referred to senior leaders.

• • All allegations will be managed in line with the statutory guidance in KCSIE 2021 and the Green Labyrinth whistleblowing procedure.

• • Where staff feel unable to raise an issue with the Head of study programme or Operational Manager for work based learning or senior leaders or feel their genuine safeguarding concerns are not being addressed, then NSPCC whistleblowing advice line is available. 

• • Staff can call 08000 28 0285 – 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Friday and email: help@nspcc.org.uk . Alternatively, staff can write to: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH.

16. Key Safeguarding Areas

In addition to the above there are other areas of safeguarding that Green Labyrinth has a responsibility to address and these include (see KCSIE 2021 Annex B for full details): 

• • Child abduction and community safety incidents

• • Children and the court system

• • Children missing from education

• • Children with family members in prison 

• • Child Criminal Exploitation and Child Sexual Exploitation, 

• • County Lines

• • Modern slavery and the National Referral Mechanism

• • Cybercrime

• • Domestic Abuse

• • Homelessness

• • So called ‘honour-based’ abuse (including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)  and Forced Marriage) 

• • FGM

• • Forced Marriage

• • Preventing radicalisation

• • The Prevent Duty

• • Channel

• • Additional Support

• • Peer on peer/child on child abuse

• • Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment between children in schools and colleges

• • Upskirting

• • The response to a report of sexual violence or sexual harassment

• • Additional advice and support

PROCEDURES

1. Reporting Concerns

The procedure to respond to a concern about a child is detailed in Appendix B.

2. Involving Parents and Carers

In general, the DSL will discuss any child protection concerns with parents/carers before making a referral to another agency including the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). There may be occasions when the DSL will contact another agency before informing parents/carers because they consider that by contacting them it may increase the risk of harm to the learner.

The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation do not prevent the sharing of information for the purposes of keeping children safe and promoting their welfare. Fears about sharing information must not be allowed to stand in the way of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

3. Multi Agency Working

Staff at Green Labyrinth understand the importance of our role to work in partnership with other agencies and that we have a shared and equal duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If there are safeguarding or child protection concerns, referrals should be made by the DSL (or Deputy DSL) to MASH by phone (01793 466903 out of hours 01793 436699) following up with a referral on an RF1. Where the child already has a social worker, the request for service should go immediately to the social worker involved or, in their absence, to their team manager. 

If there is immediate risk then a call must be made to Police. 
All situations where rape of a child has been disclosed then contact with Police must be made.
At Green Labyrinth all staff will understand the age and meaning of consent. 
Further information can be found here Sexual harassment and sexual violence between children

Green Labyrinth will co-operate with any child protection enquiries including statutory safeguarding assessments conducted by children’s social care: Green Labyrinth will ensure representation at single and multi-agency meetings such as integrated support plan meetings, initial and review child protection conferences and core group meetings.

Where a learner is subject to a multi-agency child protection plan or a multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC) meeting, Green Labyrinth will contribute to any information requests.

4. Escalation/professional disagreement

Green Labyrinth will use the Swindon Safeguarding Partnership Policy on resolution of professional disagreements relating to safeguarding and protection of children in all cases where escalation is required, to achieve the right outcome for children.

Escalation policy - Swindon Safeguarding Partnership 

5. FGM Reporting Guidance

Mandatory reporting duty for teachers

All staff, particularly teachers at Green Labyrinth understand the duty to report to Police where they discover that FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under the age of 18. It will be rare for teachers to see visual evidence, and they should not be examining learners.

Staff at Green Labyrinth understand that if there is a suspicion that a girl may be travelling for the purposes of FGM, the teacher or DSL will report this directly to Police as the child may be in immediate risk of harm.  

Phone 101 if a known case (999 if the child is in immediate risk of harm). It is also good practice to inform MASH of these actions). 

6. Children Missing from Education (To be read in conjunction with the Attendance Policy) 

Staff at Green Labyrinth understand that a child, young person or vulnerable adult going missing from education or there is increased absence, unauthorised absences or are persistently absent for part of the day that this is a potential indicator of abuse or neglect or the learner could be at risk of exploitation. All staff will follow Green Labyrinth procedures for unauthorised absence and for responding to learners that go missing from education, particularly on repeat occasions, to help identify and protect them from the risk of abuse and neglect, including sexual or criminal exploitation.

7. Peer on peer abuse and Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment between children

We recognise that children and young people are capable of abusing their peers and that sexual abuse of children by other children is a specific safeguarding issue and that this can happen both inside and outside of school including happening online. 

Abuse will never be tolerated or passed off as “banter” or “part of growing up”. All staff at Green Labyrinth understand that even if there are no reports at the provider, that it does not mean it is not happening, it may be the case that children are just not reporting it. 

All staff will be vigilant to what they hear, are told and see and will report all concerns, disclosures or incidents to the DSL.

Staff at Green Labyrinth will challenge any inappropriate behaviour between peers, they will not downplay or dismiss behaviours as ‘just banter’, ‘just having a laugh’, ‘part of growing up’ or ‘boys being boys’. All Staff at Green Labyrinth will develop and model the ethos and culture of our training providers zero tolerance of this type of behaviour and will support and encourage children to come forward and report any issues or concerns they have. 

All staff will be trained to recognise signs and symptoms which may signal a learner is at risk from sexual harassment or sexual violence and all other types of child on child, peer on peer abuse. 

If a learner makes an allegation of abuse against another learner:

• • Staff will inform the DSL and record the allegation, but will not investigate it

• • The DSL will contact the local authority MASH and follow its advice, as well as the police if the allegation involves a potential criminal offence

The DSL will put a risk assessment and support plan into place for all children involved – both the learner who experience the abuse and the learner against whom the allegation has been made – with a named trusted adult they can talk to if needed

All who experience abuse will be reassured that they are being taken seriously and that they will be supported and kept safe 

Those who experience abuse will never be given the impression that they are creating a problem by reporting sexual violence or sexual harassment

Those who experience abuse will never be made to feel ashamed for making a report. 

In addition to existing advice about managing a disclosure contained in this policy, staff will follow Searching, Screening and Confiscation Advice 2018.

The DSL will manage any incidents in line with the guidance contained in Part 5 KCSIE 2021 and Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment between Children in Schools and Colleges 2021.

Green Labyrinth will minimise the risk of peer-on-peer abuse by:

• • Challenging any form of derogatory or sexualised language or behaviour

• • Being vigilant to issues that particularly affect different  vulnerable groups

• • Ensure our curriculum helps to educate learners about appropriate behaviour and consent

• • Ensure learners know they can talk to staff confidentiality during mentor meetings to ensure their concerns are heard and their wishes are understood

• • Ensure staff are trained to understand that a learner harming a peer could be a sign that the learner is being abused themselves, and that this would fall under the scope of this policy

8. Serious Violence 

All staff will be aware of the risk factors which may signal a learner is at risk from or are involved in serious violent crime. These may include increased absence from lessons or work placement, a change in friendships or relationships with older individuals or groups, a significant decline in performance, signs of self-harm, a change in wellbeing, signs of unexplained injuries or assault. Unexplained gifts or new possessions could also indicate a learner is being exploited.

All staff are aware of the risk factors which increase the likelihood of a learner becoming involved in serious violence such as being male, having been frequently absent from lessons or work placement, having experienced maltreatment and having been involved in offending, such as theft or robbery.

All staff will report any concerns to the DSL.

9. The Prevent Duty

As with other safeguarding risks, staff will be alert to changes in learner’s behaviour which could indicate that they may be in need of help or protection. Staff will use their judgement in identifying a learner who might be at risk of radicalisation and act proportionately which may include our DSL making a referral using the agreed local Prevent referral procedures. 

All referrals will be made to Preventreferrals@wiltshire.police.uk  by our DSL where it will be reviewed, there may be a need for a multi-agency Channel panel where information from partners is reviewed and the referral considered, level of vulnerability agreed and consider what support may be needed. Green Labyrinth’s DSL will provide information and attend Channel Panels where they are requested to do so.

Green Labyrinth’s DSL will also consider whether it is appropriate to share information with any new education setting in advance of a learner leaving the Training Provider. This is to ensure the new setting are able to continue supporting the learner through the Channel programme.

10. Sharing of Information

Green Labyrinth recognises the need to be proactive in sharing information as early as possible to help identify, assess and respond to risks or concerns about the safety and welfare of learners.

Whilst the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)  and the Data Protection Act 2018 places duties on organisations and individuals to process personal information fairly and lawfully, it is not a barrier to sharing information where the failure to do so would result in a child being placed at risk of harm. Fears about sharing information cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the need to promote the welfare and protect the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults; if unsure, staff should contact the DSL to discuss. Green Labyrinth will use the government’s guidance ‘Information Sharing: Advice for practitioners providing services to children, young people, vulnerable adults and parents and carers’ (2018) to help manage information sharing. 

11. Transfer of safeguarding records when a learner moves to a new placement

Where a learner leaves Green Labyrinth, the DSL will ensure their child protection/safeguarding file is transferred to the new education setting when requested, to allow the new Training Provider to continue supporting learners who have had a social worker or have been victims of abuse and have that support in place, also ensuring secure transit, and confirmation of receipt will be obtained. 

Green Labyrinth’s  DSL will also consider if it would be appropriate to share any additional information with the new education setting in advance of a learner leaving to help them put in place the right support to safeguard this child and to help the child thrive in the school or college

The Training Provider will retain records for learner’s where there is an existing safeguarding /child protection file. These will be stored confidentially until the child’s 25th birthday and then disposed of in a confidential and secure manner.

Appendix A

Forms of abuse and neglect 

Abuse: a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others. Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse. Children may be abused by an adult or adults or by another child or children.

All Green Labyrinth staff will be made aware that abuse, neglect and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events that can be covered by one definition or label. In most cases multiple issues will overlap with one another. For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those with relevant health conditions additional barriers can exist when identifying abuse and neglect, these include:

• • assumptions that indicators of possible abuse such as behaviour, mood and injury relate to the child’s disability without further exploration; 

• • being more prone to peer group isolation than other children; 

• • the potential for children with SEN and disabilities being disproportionally impacted by behaviours such as bullying, without outwardly showing any signs; 

• • possible communication barriers and difficulties in overcoming these barriers. 

Physical abuse:  a form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child. 

Emotional abuse: the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning or preventing the child from participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, although it may occur alone

Sexual abuse: involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing, and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children. The sexual abuse of children by other children is a specific safeguarding issue. 

Neglect:   the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers); or ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

Domestic Abuse: The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Act introduces the first ever statutory definition of domestic abuse and recognises the impact of domestic abuse on children, as victims in their own right, if they see, hear or experience the effects of abuse. The statutory definition of domestic abuse, based on the previous cross-government definition, ensures that different types of relationships are captured, including ex-partners and family members. The definition captures a range of different abusive behaviours, including physical, emotional and economic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour. Both the person who is carrying out the behaviour and the person to whom the behaviour is directed towards must be aged 16 or over and they must be “personally connected” (as defined in section 2 of the 2021 Act). Types of domestic abuse include intimate partner violence, abuse by family members, teenage relationship abuse and child/adolescent to parent violence and abuse. Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of sexual identity, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexuality or background and domestic abuse can take place inside or outside of the home. The government will issue statutory guidance to provide further information for those working with domestic abuse victims and perpetrators, including the impact on children. All children can witness and be adversely affected by domestic abuse in the context of their home life where domestic abuse occurs between family members. Experiencing domestic abuse and/or violence can have a serious, long lasting emotional and psychological impact on children. In some cases, a child may blame themselves for the abuse or may have had to leave the family home as a result.  Young people can also experience domestic abuse within their own intimate relationships. This form of peer on peer abuse is sometimes referred to as ‘teenage relationship abuse’. Depending on the age of the young people, this may not be recognised in law under the statutory definition of ‘domestic abuse’ (if one or both parties are under 16). 

Appendix B  If you have concerns about a child - GL safeguarding procedure:

Appendix C: If you have concerns about an adult

All staff, and visitors, working in our school understand and adhere to a staff code of conduct. 

Appendix D

Dealing with a Disclosure of Abuse

When a child tells me about abuse s/he has suffered, what must I Remember?

• Stay calm.
• Do not communicate shock, anger or embarrassment.
• Reassure the child. Tell her/him you are pleased that s/he is speaking to you.
• Never promise confidentiality. Assure her/him that you will try to help but let the child know that you may have to tell other people in order to do this. State who this will be and why.
• Encourage the child to talk but do not ask "leading questions" or press for information.
• Listen and remember.
• Check that you have understood correctly what the child is trying to tell you.
• Praise the child for telling you. Communicate that s/he has a right to be safe and protected.
• It is inappropriate to make any comments about the alleged offender.
• Be aware that the child may retract what s/he has told you. It is essential to record all you have heard.
• At the end of the conversation, tell the child again who you are going to tell and why that person or those people need to know.
• As soon as you can afterwards, make a detailed record of the conversation using the child’s own language. Include any questions you may have asked. Do not add any opinions or interpretations. Email this immediately to safeguarding@ email address, the DSL or DDSL may request a meeting to discuss this further. 

It is not education staff’s role to seek disclosures or investigate. Their role is to observe that something may be wrong, ask about it, listen, be available and ensure the child is supported through any disclosure process.

Key Documentation, procedures and guidance

• Keeping Children Safe in Education (2021)
• What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused: advice for practitioners (2015)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)
• Designated teacher for looked after children and previously looked after children (2018)
• Prevent Duty departmental advice for schools and childcare providers  (2015)
• Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers (2018)
• The Teachers’ Standards (2012)
• Multi agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation (2020)
• Children Missing Education guidance for local authorities (2016)
• Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges (2021)
• Swindon Safeguarding Partnership Policy on resolution of professional disagreements relating to the safeguarding and protection of children (2019)