Safeguarding

Safeguarding is about our legal duty and moral obligation to ensure that the welfare of all young people and all vulnerable adults is promoted. It means that all staff are trained to provide help as soon as possible, always act in the best interest of the young person and know about systems to make referrals. 

In relation to 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