Safeguarding

Employers play a key role in ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals, particularly children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This guide will provide an overview of safeguarding, your responsibilities as an employer, signs of abuse to look out for, and the procedures to follow if you suspect safeguarding concerns.

• What is Safeguarding?

  Safeguarding refers to the measures taken to protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults from maltreatment, harm, exploitation or neglect. It is a preventative approach to ensure that individuals are safe in both physical and online environments and can thrive in safe and supportive settings.

  The primary goals of safeguarding include:

  • Protecting individuals from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
  • Providing help and support to meet the needs of individuals as soon as problems emerge.
  • Protecting young people from maltreatment, whether within or outside the home, including online.
  • Preventing impairment of young people’s mental and physical health or development.
  • Taking action to enable all young people to have the best outcomes.
  • Promoting their welfare.
  • Taking action to ensure individuals can achieve the best possible outcomes through the provision of safe and effective care.

  Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, including employers who interact with individuals in various capacities.

• Employer responsibilities

  As an employer working with Newbury College, you are expected to uphold safeguarding practices and ensure a safe environment for students. Below are your key responsibilities:

  Adhere to Safeguarding Policies and Procedures

  Employers must comply with Newbury College's safeguarding policies, which are aligned with UK legislation and national safeguarding guidelines. This includes:

  • Familiarising yourself with the College’s safeguarding policies.
  • Ensuring that all staff working with children, young people, or vulnerable adults have appropriate training.

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  Create a Safe Environment

  You must take steps to ensure that your workplace is a safe and supportive environment, including:

  • Establishing clear professional boundaries.
  • Ensuring staff members and volunteers understand the policies around safeguarding.
  • Ensuring all staff working with vulnerable individuals are subject to appropriate background checks, including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks where applicable. 

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  Respond to Safeguarding Concerns

  If you suspect or are made aware of any safeguarding issues, it is essential to act immediately:

  • Report concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) at Newbury College.
  • Ensure that any incidents are recorded in a secure and confidential manner.
  • Do not conduct your own investigation. Follow college procedures by reporting to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

• Professional boundaries

  To respect safeguarding policies and personal boundaries when working with students, employers should avoid the following actions.

  • Offensive language: Avoid swearing, offensive, or discriminatory language, and refrain from making derogatory or sexual comments in conversations with students. Refrain from making jokes or engaging in 'banter' that could be interpreted as offensive, bullying, or inappropriate. What may seem like harmless humour could be distressing to students.
  • Physical contact: Do not initiate physical contact with students unless absolutely necessary for their safety or your job. In such cases, physical contact should be minimised and handled professionally to avoid any misunderstandings.
  • Personal relationships: Avoid developing personal relationships with students, including any form of romantic or sexual contact, which is strictly prohibited and may be illegal. Refrain from discussing your personal relationships or inappropriately engaging in conversations of a sexual nature, as this can undermine professional boundaries.
  • Meeting students outside of college/work: Do not meet students outside of the college premises or the agreed working location(s). This includes social engagements or informal meetings.
  • One-on-one situations: Do not meet students one-on-one in private, secluded areas without ensuring the interaction occurs in visible or monitored spaces, such as rooms with windows or open doors.
  • Sharing personal contact details: Avoid sharing personal contact information with students, including phone numbers, email addresses, or social media accounts. Communication should only occur via college-approved methods, such as emails to the student's college email address.
  • Engaging in social media interactions: Do not add students to personal social media accounts or communicate with them via social platforms. All interactions should be professional. Further guidance on communicating with students via professional platforms, such as LinkedIn, will be available soon.
  • Taking or storing photos: Avoid taking photos of students. All photography should be done on college-approved devices unless the college and the student have given explicit consent.
  • Offering lifts: Avoid offering students lifts or transportation.

• Signs of abuse

  Abuse can take many forms, and employers and their staff need to be aware of the signs that may indicate a safeguarding concern. Safeguarding involves protecting individuals’ rights to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. This applies to both adults and children, especially those with mental health issues.

  Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, financial, or discriminatory. Neglect involves failing to meet someone’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, or medical care.

  Common signs of abuse include:

  Exploitation indicators

  • Appearing with unexplained gifts or new possessions.
  • Associating with other individuals involved in exploitation.
  • Suffering from changes in emotional wellbeing.
  • Misusing drugs and alcohol.
  • Going missing for periods of time or regularly coming home late.

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  Mental Health

  Safeguarding and mental health are closely linked, as individuals with mental health issues can be more vulnerable to abuse or neglect including:

  • Social isolation.
  • Dependency on others.
  • Difficulty in communicating needs. 

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  Other signs

  • Behavioural changes: Noticeable changes in behaviour, such as withdrawal from social activities, loss of interest in hobbies, or a decline in performance at work.
  • Emotional symptoms: Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or irritability. Individuals may also experience mood swings or feelings of hopelessness.
  • Physical symptoms: Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping too much or too little), changes in appetite or weight, and unexplained physical ailments like headaches or stomach aches.
  • Cognitive issues: Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things. There may also be a noticeable decline in logical thought and speech.
  • Personal care: Neglecting personal hygiene and appearance or a significant decline in self-care routines.

  It’s important to create inclusive and supportive environments in social care, physical activities, and everyday interactions. This includes being aware of safeguarding practices and knowing how to report concerns

• Reporting concerns

  If you suspect that an individual is at risk, follow the steps below to report your concerns:

  • Immediate danger: If you believe someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services (999).
  • Reporting to Newbury College: Notify the Safeguarding Team at Newbury College immediately (click here). Provide clear details of the concern, including any observations or disclosures made.
  • Keeping records: Ensure that any safeguarding concerns are documented clearly, including the date, time, and nature of the incident or concern. Keep all records confidential and share only with those involved in the safeguarding process.

• Online safety

  Staying safe online is crucial in today’s digital world. Here are some tips for employers to help keep students safe while they are under their care:

  • Ensure students follow safe code of conduct online which includes promoting safe platforms: Encourage the use of secure and approved communication platforms for online interactions.
  • Ensure ‘professional boundaries’ are always adhered to on social media platforms.
  • Be vigilant and monitor online interactions through filtering and monitoring your IT systems to ensure appropriate and safe online access.
  • Use Strong Passwords: Create complex passwords using a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or common words.
  • Finally, foster a safe environment by encouraging students to report any suspicious or uncomfortable online interactions.

• Courses and resources

  • FREE Safeguarding, Prevent and British Values Level 2 Certificate - Develop the skills needed to recognise and prevent radicalisation and extremism, the principles of safeguarding, the prevent duty and its importance in society, the importance of online safety and British values.
  • Safeguarding at Newbury College - including policies, external links and other resources.
  • Report Harmful Content - Website for reporting harmful content.

If you require further advice or are unsure how to handle a safeguarding concern, please contact the Safeguarding Team at Newbury College, or access our safeguarding resources.