Our Safeguarding Policy

This policy applies to all staff, including senior managers, directors, contractors, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff, students, or anyone working on behalf of PT Skills Academy.

1. Definitions

For the purpose of this policy vulnerable groups are defined in summary as follows:

Children – any person under the age of 18 years

Vulnerable Adults – any person aged 18 or over, who:

• Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of
• those needs) and;
• Is experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect; and
• As a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either
• the risk of, or experience of abuse and neglect.

Legal Framework

This policy has been developed in accordance with the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012).

2. Purpose of this policy:

• To protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults who receive PT Skills services.
• To provide staff and volunteers with the over arching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection;

This policy should be read alongside our policies and procedures on:

• Complaints and Appeals
• Whistleblowing
• Quality Assurance
• GDPR

3. Academy Commitments:

The welfare of vulnerable groups as paramount and believes that all children and vulnerable adults have the right to protection from abuse. Categories of abuse are set out in Annex B. In addition, our University

In order to safeguard vulnerable groups with whom we engage, PT Skills will:

1. Implement a Safeguarding Code of Conduct for our Academy. This is set out In Annex C;
2. Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
3. Implement a procedure dealing with disclosures of abuse and reporting these disclosures, suspicions or allegations of abuse, or concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult. This is set out in Annex D
4. Implement appropriate procedures for the recruitment and selection of staff and students for positions or activities which may entail contact with vulnerable groups.
5. Implement appropriate procedures for the admission and support of under 18s to our vocational courses.
6. Provide appropriate training, support and supervision for staff and students engaged with children and/or vulnerable adults.
7. Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and young people for children and young people
8. Recording and storing information professionally and securely, and sharing information with external agencies on a “need to know basis”
9. Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
10. Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff, and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
11. Utilise a consent form signed by parent / guardian before confirming enrolment of under 18s. Once the student reaches the age of 18, these accepted terms will automatically be regarded as agreed by the student.

4. Vulnerability to radicalisation or extreme view points

PT Skills recognises its duty under the Counter-Terrorism Act 2015 to engage with the Prevent agenda and put reasonable measures in place to safeguard our students from indoctrination into any form of extreme ideology which may lead to the harm of self or others. Our Academy engages in the Prevent partnership in the City, as well as with the regional Prevent Co-ordinator for Further and Higher Education in the sector to ensure appropriate procedures, risk assessments and staff training are in place.

5. Responsibilities

5.1. Academy

Our responsibility is to develop policy, procedures, guidance and training to support appropriate staff and students in safeguarding the vulnerable groups with whom they engage. The Academy Manager is responsible for the strategic leadership of this policy, for its implementation and for its review and development.

5.2. Staff

Academy staff are responsible for ensuring that, through their behaviour, whether on or away from Academy premises, vulnerable groups are not placed at a risk of harm. This includes complying with the general expectations of behaviour set out in this policy (specifically the Safeguarding Code of Conduct set out in Annex C), any specific guidance issued by the Academy from time to time and the Academy Disclosure and Barring Service Policy and Guidelines where appropriate. In addition to ensuring that their own behaviour is consistent with safeguarding vulnerable groups, staff should report any concerns about possible abuse in accordance with this policy.

5.3. Students

Students of the Academy, who may come into contact with vulnerable groups on Academy premises or in connection with Academy training sites, must also ensure that their behaviour is compliant with this policy and associated guidance. This applies particularly to students on programmes to whom activity-specific guidance may be issued, and to students taking part in activities for children organised by the Academy. In addition to ensuring that their own behaviour is consistent with safeguarding vulnerable groups, students should report any concerns about possible abuse in accordance with this policy.

5.4. Contractors

Contractors must ensure that their behaviour towards vulnerable groups is at all times appropriate and does not breach any specific codes of conduct issued by the University from time to time. Contractors must ensure that their actions do not prejudice the health and safety of vulnerable groups or put them at risk of harm. Where the University lawfully requires them to do so, contractors must also comply with vetting requirements, including criminal record disclosures.

5.5. Nominated Officer

The Nominated Officer is responsible for the strategic leadership of our Academy’s safeguarding practice and for creating a network of Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) who will implement this policy and related guidance. The Nominated Officer will ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place to ensure the safeguarding of vulnerable groups, ensure that DSOs have appropriate training and also create links with appropriate local safeguarding agencies. The name and contact details of the Nominated Officer are set out in Annex A.

5.6. Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs)

Designated Safeguarding Officers will be drawn from our Academy staff in the key areas of activity set out in Annex A and will have responsibility for the implementation of policy and procedure in their areas in relation to safeguarding. DSOs will report to the Nominated Officer for the purposes of safeguarding activity.

6. Reporting Concerns

Our University has a Nominated Officer and Designated Safeguarding Officers in place who act as key points of contact for reporting concerns regarding vulnerable groups.

Anyone who has concerns about a child or vulnerable adult’s safety should report these

immediately to the Nominated Officer or, in the event of their unavailability, to a Designated Safeguarding Officer. Contact details are set out in Annex A. The Nominated Officer or DSO will then invoke the reporting procedure as set out in Annex D.

It should be noted that our University’s reporting obligations will override any data protection obligations; thus, if our University has concerns regarding any child or vulnerable adult we reserve the right to make a report to the Disclosure and Barring Service or other agency that includes any necessary information regarding any student or staff member involved.

7. Working with External Agencies

PT Skills will not investigate concerns directly but rather will refer these concerns to relevant agencies in accordance with the reporting concerns procedures set out in Annex D.

PT Skills will work with relevant agencies to ensure that it provides a high standard of advice, guidance and training to its staff with responsibilities for safeguarding.

8. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually, periodically and if our Awarding Body require us to review our ways of working. The strategic leadership of this policy will be the responsibility of the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) in Annex A of this policy.

Annex A – Key Activities and Contacts 

Contact Details

Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
Paul Dunn
Academy Manager
0113 873 0124
info@ptskills.co.uk

Academy Activities;

1. Vocational Training & Education
2. Trainee Placements
3. Enrolment of Under 18s

Annex B – Categories of Abuse

Children

The national guidance set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children sets out four categories of abuse of children:

Neglect

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet basic physical and psychological needs and is likely to result in the serious impairment health or development. This may involve factors such as providing inappropriate clothing, food, inappropriate attention, lack of supervision, lack of safety or exposure to undue cold or unnecessary risk of injury. It may also include neglect of basic emotional needs.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm, including by fabricating the symptoms of, or deliberately causing, ill health. This can also include giving alcohol to children, giving medication without permission, and intensity of training beyond the capacity of the individual.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts. They may include exploitative, non-contact activities such as involving children in looking at pornographic material or watching sexual activities or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways. For vulnerable adult’s sexual abuse may include rape and sexual assault or sexual acts/exploitation to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, could not consent or was pressured into consenting.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional Abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on development. It may involve conveying to that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person. It may involve causing individuals to frequently feel frightened or in danger (shouting, threatening or taunting, constant criticism, bullying, or unrealistic pressure to perform), or exploitation, corruption or radicalisation.

Adults

Physical abuse

This includes assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions.

Domestic violence

This includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse or so called ‘honour’ based violence.

Sexual abuse

This includes rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.

Psychological abuse

This includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks.

Financial or material abuse

This includes theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.

Modern slavery

This includes slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.

Discriminatory abuse

This includes harassment, slurs or similar treatment because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

Organisational abuse

This includes neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.

Neglect and acts of omission

This includes ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating

Self-neglect

This covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.

Annex C – Safeguarding Code of Conduct

All staff and contractors are required to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to maintain high professional standards and act as role models. Such behaviour also has the advantage of protecting staff from allegations of misconduct. Similarly, students of our University and volunteers are expected to conduct and protect themselves properly and effectively when they are in the presence of children or vulnerable adults.

Good practice in this regard is demonstrated by:

• treating all children and vulnerable adults equally and with respect and dignity
• conducting yourself in a manner that sets a good example to vulnerable groups
• trying to work in an open environment and avoiding being alone with a child or vulnerable adult
• maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with children and vulnerable adults avoiding physical contact which, however well-intentioned, may be misinterpreted
• never using physical force against a child or vulnerable adult, unless it constitutes reasonable restraint to protect her/him or another person or to protect property
• never using physical punishment
• keeping a written record of any incident or injury sustained by a child or vulnerable adult
• referring any problems or concerns to the Nominated Officer
• questioning any unknown adult who attempts to engage with a child or vulnerable adult on our Academy premises or in our approved training sites
• never making sexually suggestive comments to a child or vulnerable adult even in fun
• never allowing allegations made by a child or vulnerable adult to go unchallenged,
• unrecorded or not acted upon
• avoiding taking responsibility for tasks for which you are not trained or which a child or vulnerable adult can do for themselves

Annex D –Dealing with Disclosures of Abuse and Reporting Concerns

Dealing with Disclosure

If a child or vulnerable adult tells a member of staff (or a student or a volunteer) about possible abuse:

• listen carefully and stay calm
• make sure you have understood the matter under discussion, clarifying points if necessary
• reassure the individual that by telling you, they have done the right thing
• inform the individual that you must pass on the information now but only to those who need to know; inform them who you are going to tell
• take a note of the main points of conversation including names, times, dates, etc, together with any injuries observed
• report the conversation immediately to the Nominated Officer or a Designated Safeguarding Officer (listed in Annex A)

If a member of staff (or a student or a volunteer) has concerns or suspicions of abuse without having received a disclosure from an individual they should record their concerns as factually as possible and report these concerns to the Nominated Officer or a Designated Safeguarding Officer (listed in Annex A).

Reporting Concerns

The Designated Safeguarding Officer will report any concerns/suspicions/disclosures to the Nominated Officer.

The Nominated Officer is responsible for reporting concerns/suspicions/disclosures to the appropriate investigating agency and agree any further action which may be necessary. If it is agreed with the investigating agency that a formal referral should be made, this will be followed up in writing within 24 hours, using the agency’s pro forma where available.

In the event of the unavailability of the Nominated Officer a Designated Safeguarding Officer may report to the appropriate investigating agency.

The appropriate investigating agency will be, in the first instance, the local authority responsible for the area where the individual lives, or in the case of potential radicalisation the local PREVENT Officer. Local contact details are set out in Annex E. 

Dealing with Allegations of Abuse Against Academy Staff

Our Academy recognises that an allegation of abuse made against a member of staff may be made for a variety of reasons and that the facts of the allegation may or may not be true. It is imperative that those dealing with an allegation maintain an open mind and that investigations are thorough and not subject to delay.

A member of staff who receives an allegation about another member of staff should follow the guidelines above for dealing with disclosure. The Nominated Officer will then report the matter providing the written record of the conversation when the disclosure was made.

The Nominated Officer will make an initial assessment of the matter, consulting with the local authority designated officer (LADO). If this consultation results in a formal referral then the matter will be investigated by the appropriate local agency and our Academy shall hold in abeyance its own internal enquiries while the formal police or social services investigations proceed. To do otherwise may prejudice the investigation. Any internal enquiries shall comply with our Academy’s Staff Disciplinary Procedure.

The Nominated Officer will consult with the police or other investigating agency and shall inform the following parties of the investigation:

• The individual who made the disclosure and their parent/guardian (if appropriate)
• The member of staff against whom the allegation has been made
• The Awarding Body

The Nominated Officer shall keep a written record of the action taken in connection with the allegation.

Suspension of the member of staff concerned may be considered at any stage of the investigation but should not be automatic. Prior to making the decision to suspend, the Academy Manager should interview the member of staff. This should take place with the approval of the appropriate investigating agency. Where a member of staff is suspended, the Academy Manager shall inform the Awarding Body, the parents/guardian of the individual who has made the allegations, on a “need to know” basis. Consideration shall be given to informing the individual who made the allegation. The suspension shall remain under review in accordance with our Academy’s Staff Disciplinary Procedure.

Following the outcome of the external agency investigation the Academy may instigate its Staff Disciplinary Procedure if appropriate. If a member of staff is dismissed or resigns before the disciplinary process is completed, she/he should be informed about our Academy’s duty to inform the Disclosure and Barring Service or other agency of any concerns.

Where an allegation has been made against a member of staff, the Nominated Officer shall, at the conclusion of the disciplinary process, consider whether there are any matters arising from it that could lead to the improvement of the Academy’s procedures and/or policies which should be drawn to the attention of the relevant local authority. Consideration shall also be given to the training needs of staff.

Dealing with Allegations of Abuse Against Academy Students

The provisions of Annex D of this policy shall also apply to students of our Academy. The relevant procedure shall be the Student appeals and complaints procedure. Students against whom allegations have been made will be advised to contact the Awarding Body for advice/representation. On the question of suspension, the Academy shall consider whether it is necessary to suspend the student from all or a specific set of our Academy activities (e.g. work placements).

Annex E – External Agencies

Social Work Services Duty and Advice Team

(for Nominated Officer and DSOs to report concerns)

Leeds – Children’s

Office Hours 0113 222 4403

Out of hours Emergency 0113 240 9536

Leeds – Adults 0113 222 4401

Bradford – Children’s

Office Hours 01274 437500

Out of hours Emergency   01274 431010

Bradford – Adults 01274 431077

http://www.bradford.gov.uk/makeanalert

Police (for urgent action if a child or vulnerable adult is at immediate risk from any form of abuse) 999

Prevent Leeds (for non-emergency referrals of suspicions of radicalisation)

DC Angela Eddison , Channel Co-ordinator  07900 050097

Angela.eddison@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk