Safeguarding
Cambridge Online Education Safeguarding Policy and Procedures - June 12 2021 - request copy of this document contact us, thank you.
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1. Introduction
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Cambridge Online Education makes a positive contribution to a strong and safe community and recognises the right of every individual to stay safe.
Cambridge Online Education comes into contact with children and / or vulnerable adults through the following activities:
· Delivery of Courses Online
The types of contact with children and / or vulnerable adults will be controlled
This policy seeks to ensure that Cambridge Online Education undertakes its responsibilities with regard to protection of children and / or vulnerable adults and will respond to concerns appropriately. The policy establishes a framework to support paid and unpaid staff in their practices and clarifies the organisation’s expectations.
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2. Confirmation of reading |
I confirm that I have been made fully aware of, and understand the contents of, the Safeguarding Policy and Procedures for Cambridge Online Education.
Please complete the details below and return this completed form to Dr. Troy Page
Employee Name :
Employee Signature:
Date:
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3. Legislation
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The principal pieces of legislation governing this policy are:
· The Children act 2004
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4. Definitions |
Safeguarding is about embedding practices throughout the organisation to ensure the protection of children and / or vulnerable adults wherever possible. In contrast, child and adult protection is about responding to circumstances that arise.
Abuse is a selfish act of oppression and injustice, exploitation and manipulation of power by those in a position of authority. This can be caused by those inflicting harm or those who fail to act to prevent harm. Abuse is not restricted to any socio-economic group, gender or culture. It can take a number of forms, including the following:
· Physical abuse · Sexual abuse · Emotional abuse · Bullying · Neglect · Financial (or material) abuse
Definition of a child A child is under the age of 18 (as defined in the United Nations convention on the Rights of a Child).
Definition of Vulnerable Adults A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves from harm or from being exploited. This may include a person who:
· Is elderly and frail · Has a mental illness including dementia · Has a physical or sensory disability · Has a learning disability · Has a severe physical illness · Is a substance misuser · Is homeless
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5. Responsibilities |
All staff (paid or unpaid) have responsibility to follow the guidance laid out in this policy and related policies, and to pass on any welfare concerns using the required procedures. We expect all staff (paid or unpaid) to promote good practice by being an excellent role model, contribute to discussions about safeguarding and to positively involve people in developing safe practices.
Additional specific responsibilities
The MD (Dr. Troy Page) has a responsibility to ensure:
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6. Implementation Stages |
The scope of this Safeguarding Policy is broad ranging and in practice, it will be implemented via a range of policies and procedures within the organisation. These include:
· Whistleblowing –ability to inform on other staff/ practices within the organisation · Grievance and disciplinary procedures – to address breaches of procedures/ policies · Health and Safety policy, including lone working procedures, mitigating risk to staff and clients · Equal Opportunities policy– ensuring safeguarding procedures are in line with this policy, in particular around discriminatory abuse and ensuring that the safeguarding policy and procedures are not discriminatory · Data protection (how records are stored and access to those records) · Confidentiality (or limited confidentiality policy) ensuring that service users are aware of your duty to disclose · Staff induction · Staff training
Safe recruitment Cambridge Online Education ensures safe recruitment through the following processes:
· Providing the following safeguarding statement in recruitment adverts or application details –recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. · Job or role descriptions for all roles involving contact with children and / or vulnerable adults will contain reference to safeguarding responsibilities. · There are person specifications for roles which contain a statement on core competency with regard to child/ vulnerable adult protection/ safeguarding · Shortlisting is based on formal application processes/forms and not on provision of CVs · Interviews are conducted according to equal opportunity principles and interview questions are based on the relevant job description and person specification · DBS checks will be conducted for specific roles for all staff (paid or unpaid) working with children and vulnerable adults. Portable/ carry over DBS checks from another employer will not be deemed to be sufficient. It is a criminal offence for individuals barred by the ISA to work or apply to work with children or vulnerable adults in a wide range of posts. · No formal job offers are made until after checks for suitability are completed (including DBS and 2 references).
Disclosure and Barring Service Gap Management Cambridge Online Education commits resources to providing Disclosure and Barring Service check on staff (paid or unpaid) whose roles involve contact with children and /or vulnerable adults.
In order to avoid DBS gaps, Cambridge Online Education will ensure that established staff and roles are regularly reviewed through: · A 3 year rolling programme of re-checking DBS’s is in place for holders of all identified posts. · Existing staff (paid or unpaid) who transfer from a role which does not require a DBS check to one which involves contact with children / vulnerable adults will be subject to a DBS check.
Service delivery contracting and sub-contracting: · There will be systematic checking of safeguarding arrangements of partner organisations · Safeguarding will be a fixed agenda item on any partnership reporting meetings. · Contracts and memorandums of agreement for partnership delivery work will include clear minimum requirements, arrangements for safeguarding and non-compliance procedures’.
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7. Communications training and support for staff |
Cambridge Online Education commits resources for induction, training of staff (paid and unpaid), effective communications and support mechanisms in relation to Safeguarding
Induction will include:
· Discussion of the Safeguarding Policy (and confirmation of understanding) · Discussion of other relevant policies · Ensure familiarity with reporting processes, the role of the MD (and who acts in their absence) · Initial training on safeguarding including: safe working practices, safe recruitment, understanding child protection and the alerter guide for adult safeguarding
Training All staff who, through their role, are in contact with children and /or vulnerable adults will have access to safeguarding training at an appropriate level. Sources and types of training will include: · Safeguarding Children and Young People · Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
Communications and discussion of safeguarding issues Commitment to the following communication methods will ensure effective communication of safeguarding issues and practice: · Team meetings · One to one meetings (formal or informal), · Clinical supervision
Other aspects of communications may where appropriate include: · Participation in multi-agency safeguarding procedures and meetings in order to be involved in child/ adult protection procedures · Participation in joint client visits · Involvement in the CAF process · Provision of a clear and effective reporting procedure which encourages reporting of concerns. · Encouraging open discussion (e.g. during supervision and team meetings) to identify and barriers to reporting so that they can be addressed. · Inclusion of safeguarding as a discussion prompt during supervision meetings/ appraisals to encourage reflection
Support We recognise that involvement in situations where there is risk or actual harm can be stressful for staff concerned. The mechanisms in place to support staff include:
· Debriefing support for paid and unpaid staff so that they can reflect on the issues they have dealt with. · Seeking further support as appropriate e.g. access to counselling. · Staff who have initiated protection concerns will be contacted by MD within a timescale of week.
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8. Professional boundaries |
Cambridge Online Education expects staff to protect the professional integrity of themselves and the organisation. The following professional boundaries must be adhered to:
Giving and receiving gifts from clients: · Cambridge Online Education does not allow paid or unpaid staff to give gifts to or receive gifts from clients. However, gifts may be provided by the organisation as part of a planned activity.
Staff contact with user groups.
· Personal relationships between a member of staff (paid or unpaid) and a client who is a current service user is prohibited. This includes relationships through social networking sites such as facebook and twitter · It is also prohibited to enter into a personal relationship with a person who has been a service user over the past 12 months. · Cambridge Online Education prohibits passing on service users’ personal contact details · Taking family members to a client’s home is not allowed · Selling to or buying items from a service user/client is not allowed · Accepting responsibility for any valuables on behalf of a client is prohibited · Accepting money as a gift/ Borrowing money from or lending money to service users in prohibited · Personal relationships with a third party related to or known to service users is not allowed · Cambridge Online Education prohibits accepting gifts/ rewards or hospitality from organisation as an inducement for either doing/ not doing something in their official capacity · Be cautious of, or avoid personal contact with clients
The following policies also contain guidance on staff (paid or unpaid) conduct: · Code of conduct · E-safety · Computer misuse.
If the professional boundaries and/or policies are breached this could result in disciplinary procedures or enactment of the allegation management procedures
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9. Reporting |
The process outlined below details the stages involved in raising and reporting safeguarding concerns at Cambridge Online Education
Communicate your concerns with your immediate manager
Seek medical attention for the vulnerable person if needed
Discuss with parents of child Or with vulnerable person. Obtain permission to make referral if safe and appropriate
if needed seek advice from the Children and Families helpdesk or Adults helpdesk
Complete the Local Authority Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Incident Report Form if required and submit to the local authority within 24 hours of making a contact
Ensure that feedback from the Local Authority is received and their response recorded
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10. Allegations Management |
Cambridge Online Education recognises its duty to report concerns or allegations against its staff (paid or unpaid) within the organisation or by a professional from another organisation.
The process for raising and dealing with allegations is as follows: First step: Any member of staff (paid or unpaid) from Cambridge Online Education is required to report any concerns in the first instance to the MD or peer. A written record of the concern will be completed.
Second step: contact local authority for advice. The Adult Helpdesk is 0800 612 0439
Third step: – follow the advice provided
Cambridge Online Education recognises its legal duty to report any concerns about unsafe practice by any of its paid or unpaid staff to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), according to the ISA referral guidance document:
http://www.isa-gov.org.uk/PDF/ISA%20Referral%20Guidance%20%20V2009-02.pdf
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11. Monitoring |
Cambridge Online Education will monitor the following Safeguarding aspects:
· Safe recruitment practices · DBS checks undertaken · References applied for new staff · Records made and kept of supervision sessions · Training – register/ record of staff training on child/ vulnerable adult protection · Monitoring whether concerns are being reported and actioned · Checking that policies are up to date and relevant · Reviewing the current reporting procedure in place · Presence and action of Designated senior manager responsible for Safeguarding is in post
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12. Managing information |
Information will be gathered, recorded and stored in accordance with the following policies:
· Data Protection Policy · Confidentiality Policy
All staff must be aware that they have a professional duty to share information with other agencies in order to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. The public interest in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults may override confidentiality interests.
However, information will be shared on a need to know basis only, as judged by the Managing Director
All staff must be aware that they cannot promise service users or their families/ carers that they will keep secrets.
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13. Communicating and reviewing the policy |
Cambridge Online Education will make clients aware of the Safeguarding Policy through the following means: Displayed on Website Highlighted in Training Session This policy will be reviewed every 2 years and when there are changes in legislation. |