Safeguarding Policy

Effective Skills Training Ltd - Safeguarding Policy for Adults, Young Persons, and Children

1. Introduction and Purpose

Effective Skills Training Ltd (hereafter referred to as "EST") is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all individuals who engage with our services, including adults, young persons (under 18 years of age), and children (under 18 years of age, with specific considerations as outlined in relevant legislation). We recognise our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of everyone we work with and to protect them from harm, abuse, and neglect.

This policy outlines the principles, procedures, and responsibilities for safeguarding adults, young persons, and children within EST. It applies to all staff members (including permanent, temporary, and volunteer staff), trainers, assessors, contractors, and anyone acting on behalf of EST.

This policy is underpinned by relevant legislation and guidance, including but not limited to:

The Children Act 1989 and 2004
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 (and any subsequent updates)
Keeping Children Safe in Education (latest version)
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
The Care Act 2014
Human Rights Act 1998
Equality Act 2010
Relevant local authority safeguarding procedures

2. Principles of Safeguarding at EST

EST believes that:

The welfare of adults, young persons, and children is paramount.
Everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe.
All individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation, have the right to be protected from harm and abuse.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
A proactive and preventative approach to safeguarding is essential.
All concerns and allegations of harm or abuse will be taken seriously and responded to promptly and appropriately.
EST will work in partnership with individuals, their families (where appropriate and with consent), and relevant external agencies to ensure their safety and well-being.
EST will ensure that staff are appropriately trained and supported to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.
EST will maintain a culture of openness and transparency regarding safeguarding.

3. Definitions

For the purpose of this policy:

Adult: A person aged 18 years or over.
Young Person: A person under the age of 18 years.
Child: A person under the age of 18 years.
Safeguarding: Protecting adults, young persons, and children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of their health or development; ensuring that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all adults, young persons, and children to have the best outcomes.
Abuse and Neglect: Encompasses physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, financial abuse, organisational abuse, discriminatory abuse, and domestic abuse. These can occur in any setting, including online.
Harm: Includes physical injury, pain, emotional distress, neglect, or any other detrimental effect on a person's well-being.
Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO): The person within EST responsible for safeguarding matters.

4. Roles and Responsibilities

4.1 The Board of Directors/Senior Management:

Have overall responsibility for ensuring that EST has effective safeguarding policies and procedures.
Ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to support safeguarding arrangements.
Promote a culture of safeguarding within the organisation.
Ensure the DSO has the authority, support, and training to carry out their role effectively.
Regularly review the effectiveness of the safeguarding policy and procedures.

4.2 The Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO): John O'Sullivan

Is the lead person within EST for all safeguarding matters.
Provides advice and support to staff on safeguarding concerns.
Receives and records all safeguarding concerns and allegations.
Liaises with relevant external agencies, including social services, the police, and health services, as appropriate.
Ensures safeguarding concerns are dealt with promptly, sensitively, and per agreed procedures.
Maintains confidential and accurate records of safeguarding concerns.
Contributes to the development and review of safeguarding policies and procedures.
Provides or arranges appropriate safeguarding training for all staff.
Monitors the implementation and effectiveness of the safeguarding policy.
Acts as a point of contact for individuals who have safeguarding concerns.

Contact Details for the DSO: John O'Sullivan

Email: compliance@effectiveskillstraining.com

Telephone: 03300433808

4.3 All Staff Members, Trainers, Assessors, and Volunteers:

Have a responsibility to be aware of this safeguarding policy and related procedures.
Must recognise and respond to any safeguarding concerns or disclosures appropriately.
Must immediately report any concerns about the safety or welfare of an adult, young person, or child to the DSO.
Must maintain professional boundaries with all individuals they work with.
Must not take photographs or videos of individuals without explicit consent (where appropriate and in line with EST's Photography and Filming Policy).
Must be aware of and follow EST's code of conduct.
Must participate in safeguarding training as required.
Must contribute to creating a safe and positive learning environment.

5. Safer Recruitment and Selection

EST is committed to safer recruitment practices to prevent unsuitable individuals from working with adults, young persons, and children. This includes:

Undertaking appropriate background checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks at the appropriate level for all staff and volunteers working with or with unsupervised access to individuals under 18 or adults at risk.
Verifying the identity and qualifications of all applicants.
Obtaining and verifying references.
Conducting thorough interviews that explore safeguarding awareness and suitability.
Providing all new staff and volunteers with a copy of this safeguarding policy and relevant procedures during induction.

6. Recognising Signs and Indicators of Abuse and Neglect

All staff should be vigilant and aware of potential signs and indicators of abuse and neglect in adults, young persons, and children. These signs can manifest in various ways, including:

For Children and Young Persons:

Physical: Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, or other injuries; frequent accidents; reluctance to be examined; wearing clothes that cover injuries.
Emotional: Withdrawal, anxiety, fearfulness, aggression, low self-esteem, sleep disturbances, changes in behaviour or eating habits, bedwetting.
Sexual: Difficulty walking or sitting; pain or itching in the genital area; sexually explicit language or behaviour inappropriate for their age; secrecy or fear around certain individuals.
Neglect: Poor hygiene; malnourishment; inadequate clothing for the weather; unmet medical or dental needs; being left unsupervised for long periods; poor attendance or engagement with learning.

For Adults:

Physical: Unexplained injuries; poor physical condition; signs of malnourishment or dehydration; lack of necessary medical care.
Emotional/Psychological: Withdrawal; anxiety; depression; fearfulness; unexplained changes in behaviour; reluctance to talk openly; being isolated from friends and family.
Financial: Unexplained lack of money; inability to account for finances; sudden changes in financial situation; being pressured into financial decisions.
Sexual: Any non-consensual sexual act or exploitation.
Neglect: Poor living conditions; lack of adequate food, heating, or hygiene; unmet care needs.

Online Safety:

Staff should also be aware of potential online risks, including cyberbullying, online grooming, exposure to inappropriate content, and the sharing of personal information.

It is important to remember that:

A single sign may not necessarily indicate abuse, but a combination of signs or a significant change in behaviour should raise concern.
You do not need to be certain that abuse is taking place before reporting a concern.

7. Responding to Safeguarding Concerns and Disclosures

If a member of staff becomes aware of a safeguarding concern or an individual discloses information that raises safeguarding concerns, they must follow these procedures:

Stay Calm and Listen: Allow the individual to speak freely without interruption (unless immediate safety is at risk).
Reassure the Individual: Let them know they have done the right thing by telling you and that you will take their concerns seriously.
Do Not Promise Confidentiality: Explain that while you will keep the information as confidential as possible, you may need to share it with others to ensure their safety and well-being.
Do Not Investigate: Your role is to listen and record the information, not to investigate the matter. Avoid asking leading questions.
Record the Information Accurately and Factually: Note the date, time, location, who was present, what was said, and any observations. Use the individual's own words where possible.
Report immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO): Contact John O'Sullivan as soon as possible, either by phone or in person. If the DSO is unavailable, follow the escalation procedure outlined in Section 9.
Follow the DSO's Advice: The DSO will take appropriate action, which may include contacting external agencies.
Maintain Confidentiality: Only share information with relevant professionals involved in safeguarding the individual on a "need to know" basis.

8. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

EST recognises the importance of maintaining confidentiality. However, the welfare of adults, young persons, and children is paramount, and there may be circumstances where information needs to be shared with other agencies to ensure their safety and protection.

Information will be shared in accordance with the following principles:

Necessity and Proportionality: Information will only be shared where necessary and proportionate to safeguard an individual.
Consent: Where appropriate and safe, the individual or their parent/carer will seek consent to share information.
Legal Framework: Information sharing will be by relevant legislation and guidance.
Best Interests: The individual’s best interests will always be the primary consideration when making information-sharing decisions.

All staff must be aware of EST's Data Protection Policy and ensure that personal information is handled securely, as required by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

9. Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers

Any allegation of harm or abuse against a member of staff or volunteer will be taken very seriously and dealt with promptly and fairly. The following procedures will be followed:

The allegation must be reported immediately to the DSO.
The DSO will inform senior management and consult with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for allegations involving children or young persons, or the relevant safeguarding adults board for allegations involving at-risk adults.
EST will follow the guidance provided by the LADO or the Safeguarding Adults Board regarding the management of the allegation.
The member of staff or volunteer against whom the allegation has been made will be informed and supported appropriately.
EST will cooperate fully with any investigations carried out by external agencies.
Disciplinary procedures will be followed as appropriate, under EST's Disciplinary Policy.

10. Online Safety

EST is committed to ensuring online safety for all individuals who use our services. This includes:

Providing guidance and training to staff and learners on safe online practices.
Implementing appropriate filtering and monitoring systems where applicable.
Having clear procedures for reporting and addressing online safety concerns.
Ensuring that any online platforms used by EST are secure and age-appropriate.
Addressing issues of cyberbullying and online harassment.

11. Training and Awareness

EST will ensure that all staff members, trainers, assessors, and volunteers receive appropriate safeguarding training at induction and on an ongoing basis. This training will cover:

The principles and purpose of safeguarding.
Recognising signs and indicators of abuse and neglect.
Procedures for responding to safeguarding concerns and disclosures.
Information sharing and confidentiality.
Online safety.
Relevant legislation and guidance.
The role and responsibilities of the DSO.

Records of safeguarding training will be maintained.

12. Review of this Policy

This safeguarding policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if legislative or guidance changes or issues arise that necessitate a review. The review will involve input from relevant stakeholders.

13. Contact Information

Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO): John O'Sullivan

Email: compliance@effectiveskillstraining.com

Telephone: 03300433808

External Agencies:

Local Authority Children's Social Care: [Insert relevant local authority contact details]
Local Authority Adult Social Care: [Insert relevant local authority contact details]
Police (non-emergency): 101
Police (emergency): 999
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
Childline: 0800 1111
Action on Elder Abuse: 0808 808 8141

Effective Skills Training Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, young persons, and children. All staff are responsible for being vigilant and acting according to this policy.

John O'Sullivan Designated Safeguarding Officer