Safeguarding

This policy ensures the safety, wellbeing, and protection of all young people with additional needs from harm, abuse, and exploitation. It sets out how the organisation will:

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of all students under 18.
• Comply with statutory duties from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) effective September 2024-2025.
• Prepare for forthcoming provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (e.g., improved information-sharing, mandatory child registration systems).

This policy applies to all staff, governors, volunteers, contractors, and visitors.

• Every young person has the right to feel safe and protected.
• All individuals have a responsibility to safeguard young people and report concerns.
• The needs and views of young people are at the forefront of all safeguarding activities; decisions are based on the best interests of the child.
• Safeguarding is a shared responsibility within the community.
• Zero tolerance of abuse, including peer-on-peer incidents, bullying, CSE, CCE, radicalisation, and harassment.
• Policies reflect additional needs, inclusion, and SEN vulnerabilities.

For the purposes of this policy:

• Additional Needs: Any physical, learning, sensory, behavioural, or emotional needs that require additional support.
• Abuse: Any form of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Governing Body ensures policy compliance, safer recruitment, DSL oversight, training, and data compliance. The Headteacher/Principal leads DSL duties, liaises with the LADO and local authority, and responds to allegations. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) manages referrals, training, record-keeping, and online safety measures, and oversees the implementation of this policy. All staff and volunteers must understand and adhere to the safeguarding policy, report all concerns immediately, and attend annual safeguarding training. Parents and guardians are encouraged to share relevant information about their child’s needs to facilitate better safeguarding.

Recruitment and Training

All staff and governors undergo DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks, with verification of identity, prior employment, and references. Robust safer recruitment interview questions focus on safeguarding responsibilities, and an annual audit of compliance is carried out.

All staff, including governors and volunteers, receive induction and annual training covering signs of abuse (including CSE/CCE and peer abuse), online safety and monitoring/filtering requirements, handling disclosures and record-keeping, and young people’s rights and how to stay safe. The DSL and staff attend additional training on changes from KCSIE 2024 updates and Children’s Wellbeing Bill provisions.

Curriculum and Support

The curriculum covers online safety, healthy relationships, consent, and radicalisation prevention (PREVENT), as well as mental health support and reporting pathways. Tailored support is provided to young people with additional needs, with accessible communication methods and materials made available.

Reporting and Response

Any staff member with concerns must record and report to the DSL without delay. KCSIE definitions and thresholds for referral are followed regarding abuse, neglect, exploitation, and peer abuse, with a zero-tolerance approach to peer-on-peer incidents in line with Part 5 of KCSIE. Concerns are handled sensitively and essential information is shared under DPA/UK GDPR guidance. Allegations against staff are managed in liaison with the LADO and local authority. Regular risk assessments are conducted to identify potential safeguarding risks, and strategies are developed to mitigate them.

Online Safety

Robust filtering and monitoring systems are maintained, with the DSL overseeing and reporting incidents. Regular IT audits and user training are carried out to mitigate cyber risks.

Attendance, Wellbeing, and Multi-Agency Working

Unexplained and/or persistent absences are monitored as key safeguarding indicators, and oversight is maintained of pupils placed in alternative provision. The organisation cooperates with the local authority for registration and information sharing under upcoming legislation.

Mental health is recognised as a safeguarding concern, with referral pathways established internally and externally. A Senior Mental Health Lead is in place (statutory by 2025), working with CAMHS and external support as needed. The organisation cooperates fully under Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, shares data as required, and is prepared for multi-agency child protection teams under forthcoming legislation.

Records and Review

Accurate and secure digital records of safeguarding concerns and actions taken are maintained, accessible only to authorised personnel. Safeguarding information is confidential and shared only with relevant authorities on a need-to-know basis.

This policy is reviewed annually and following any safeguarding incident, with immediate review notified by changes in statutory guidance or new government Bills (e.g., Children’s Wellbeing, Crime & Policing). Contact details for the Designated Safeguarding Lead and relevant external agencies are made available to all staff, parents, and young people.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Marcia Care and Education is:

Kyle Woods
Managing Director and Designated Safeguarding Lead

The DSL is responsible for:

• Receiving safeguarding concerns.
• Making decisions regarding safeguarding referrals.
• Liaising with Children’s Social Care, Police and other agencies.
• Maintaining safeguarding records.
• Providing safeguarding advice to staff.
• Ensuring safeguarding procedures are followed.
• Monitoring safeguarding trends and outcomes.

Responsibilities of Staff and Practitioners

All staff, Learning Support Mentors, contractors, associates and volunteers working on behalf of Marcia Care and Education have a responsibility to:

• Remain vigilant to signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation or harm.
• Record concerns accurately and promptly.
• Report concerns immediately to the DSL.
• Follow safeguarding procedures at all times.
• Maintain professional boundaries.
• Attend safeguarding training appropriate to their role.

No member of staff should investigate safeguarding concerns independently.

Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

Any concern regarding the safety or welfare of a child or young person must be reported to the DSL immediately.

The following information should be recorded where possible:

• Date and time of concern.
• Child or young person’s details.
• Factual description of concern.
• Any disclosure made.
• Immediate actions taken.
• Name of person reporting.

Safeguarding records will be maintained securely and separately from general case records.

If the DSL is Unavailable

If the DSL cannot be contacted and there is an immediate safeguarding concern, staff must not delay taking action. Staff should:

1. Contact Children’s Social Care for advice and guidance.
2. Contact the Police where a child is at immediate risk of significant harm.
3. Make a direct referral to the relevant Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) or safeguarding team where required.
4. Inform the DSL as soon as reasonably practicable once contact is established.

Staff should never delay reporting a safeguarding concern because the DSL is unavailable.

Independent Safeguarding Referrals

Marcia Care and Education operates independently and may make safeguarding referrals directly where necessary.

Referrals may be made to:

• Children’s Social Care.
• Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
• Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
• Police.
• Emergency Services.
• Relevant safeguarding partnerships.

Referrals may be made without parental consent where seeking consent could place a child at increased risk of harm or compromise a safeguarding investigation.

Lancashire Safeguarding Contacts

For children ordinarily resident in Lancashire:

Lancashire Children’s Social Care
0300 123 6720

Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team
0300 123 6722

Emergency Services
999

Where a child resides outside Lancashire, referrals will be made to the relevant local authority safeguarding team.

Escalation and Whistleblowing

Where staff believe safeguarding concerns are not being appropriately addressed, they have a duty to escalate concerns.

Concerns may be raised directly with:

• Children’s Social Care.
• The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
• The NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line.
• The Police.

No individual will suffer detriment for raising safeguarding concerns in good faith.