Safeguarding

Safeguarding is about our legal duty and moral obligation to ensure that the health, welfare human rights of all students is promoted.

We take pride in ensuring the college is a safe, and supportive atmosphere for our students to thrive. The College is committed to ensuring that students have access to a range of support from student services, student support, tutors and inclusive learning support.

We also work alongside a wide range of external organisations who we regularly refer to for support.

What does ‘Safeguarding’ mean?

Safeguarding refers to the process of protecting children and adults to provide safe and effective care. This includes all procedures designed to prevent harm.

The Children Act 2004 reinforces that all people and organisations working with children and young people have a responsibility to help safeguard and promote welfare across the UK.

In relation to Children, young people, and vulnerable adults, safeguarding means:

Protection from harm
Preventing impairment of young people’s health or development
Making sure that the environment is safe and provides effective care
Taking action to make sure that the best outcomes can be achieved

Safeguarding action may be needed to protect young people and vulnerable adults from any forms of neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse or emotional abuse.

A fuller list can be found in “Working Together to Safeguard Children” (DfE latest update September 2016).

Safeguarding is not just about protecting young people and vulnerable adults from deliberate harm, neglect and failure to act.

It relates to broader aspects of care and education including:

Learners’ health and safety and wellbeing including their mental health
Meeting the needs of learners who have special educational needs and/or disabilities
The use of reasonable force
Meeting the needs of learners with medical conditions
Providing first aid
Educational visits
Intimate care and emotional wellbeing
Online safety and associated issues
Appropriate arrangements to ensure learners’ security, taking into account the local context

What do I do if I or someone I know has a concern about Safeguarding?

Tell someone. Any student or visitor can approach any member of staff anytime about safeguarding and they will listen to you sensitively and act upon what you say.

The College has procedures in place to investigate and deal with any safeguarding concerns and we take these very seriously.

If you have concerns about your wellbeing or that of others, please share them with a member of staff on the list, your personal tutor, any tutor or any member of staff.