Safeguarding PolicyQualified Tutor is a limited company that provides professional development for tutors. Its core activity is to provide continuous professional development for tutors. We also run a closed online community where tutors share resources and ideas on tutoring. In some cases, Qualified Tutor provides training to tutors younger than 18 years of age. For that reason we have provided this safeguarding policy to evidence our regard for keeping children safe in education, safer recruitment and GDPR. Qualified Tutor believes that all young people have the right to learn in a safe and caring environment. This includes the right to protection from all types of abuse. Those of us in a position of trust have to do everything possible to foster these rights. To do this, certain protections need to be in place to protect children, as well as those who work with them. Qualified Tutor takes seriously its responsibility towards safeguarding all young people who engage with us, with the focus being on their safety and welfare. Who does the Qualified Tutor Safeguarding Policy apply to? The Qualified Tutor Safeguarding Policy applies to everybody who is employed by or delivering Qualified Tutor training and services. The Qualified Tutor Safeguarding Policy is available to all Qualified Tutor personnel who will be required to familiarise themselves with it. In addition, when Qualified Tutor enters into a partnership with another organisation relating to work with young people, the partner will be required to observe Qualified Tutor Safeguarding Policy and, in turn, Qualified Tutor will receive a copy of the partner’s policy if there is one. Policy Statement General Principles Qualified Tutor acknowledges it has a responsibility for the safety of young people receiving our training, and as members of our community. It also recognises that good safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures are of benefit to everyone involved with our work, including staff, as they can help protect them from erroneous or malicious allegations. The purpose of the Qualified Tutor Safeguarding Policy is to establish an environment in which the children with whom Qualified Tutor personnel come into direct or indirect contact are protected from abuse, are safe and are treated with dignity and to create an atmosphere in which all members of our community feel able to discuss openly any concerns they may have or any circumstances which may constitute abuse. The Qualified Tutor Safeguarding Policy seeks to achieve this by setting out a series of behavioural guidelines and a management structure to implement the policy. Qualified Tutor is committed to providing a safe environment for children.
Qualified Tutor will endeavour to safeguard children by:
It is Qualified Tutor’s policy that:
Safer Recruitment
The role of the DSL is to:
Procedure for Reporting Concerns In case of any safeguarding concerns arising within the Qualified Tutor training or community space, staff or community members must contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy. They will be asked to fill in a Concern Form (see appendix) noting what their concern is in clear and objective terms. Steps will be taken to fully support anyone who in good faith reports his or her concerns about a colleague and every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality for all parties whilst the allegation is considered. The DSL will either refer this immediately to the authorities or, after taking appropriate advice, decide not to refer the concerns to the authorities but keep a full record of the concerns. This policy was prepared by Julia Silver, NPQH – Founder This policy was reviewed by Adrian Conway – Non-Executive Director This policy was adopted by Qualified Tutor on 27/ 07/20 Date for review – 12 months from date of adoption Appendix A - Definitions of Abuse Domestic Abuse: Witnessing domestic abuse is child abuse, and teenagers can suffer domestic abuse in their relationships. Sexual abuse: A child is sexually abused when they are forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities. This doesn't have to be physical contact, and it can happen online. Neglect: Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child's basic needs. It's dangerous and children can suffer serious and long-term harm. Online abuse: Online abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the web, whether through social networks, playing online games or using mobile phones. Physical abuse: Physical abuse is deliberately hurting a child causing injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns or cuts. Emotional abuse: Children who are emotionally abused suffer emotional maltreatment or neglect. It's sometimes called psychological abuse and can cause children serious harm. Child sexual exploitation: Child sexual exploitation is a type of sexual abuse in which children are sexually exploited for money, power or status. Female genital mutilation (FGM): Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. Bullying and cyberbullying Bullying can happen anywhere – at school, at home or online. It’s usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt a child both physically and emotionally. Child trafficking: Child trafficking is a type of abuse where children are recruited, moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold. Grooming: Children and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know - for example a family member, friend or professional. Harmful sexual behaviour: Children and young people who develop harmful sexual behaviour harm themselves and others. GDPR Qualified Tutor has arrangements in place which set out clearly the processes and the principles for sharing information between each other, with other professionals and with the appropriate child protection agencies. They can be found within the Information Sharing, Child Protection and Data protection policies and are available to everybody who is employed by or delivering Qualified Tutor service.
However, every effort will be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned when an allegation has been made and is being investigated. Further details regarding Information Sharing and Data Protection are held within Qualified Tutor Information Sharing and Data Protection Policies. They are available to staff, tutors and volunteers at all times. Safer Recruitment Procedures Qualified Tutor has adopted appropriate recruitment and selection procedures for staff, tutors and volunteers in the context of safeguarding and child protection and these include the following:
Appendix C - Responding Appropriately to a Child Making an Allegation of Abuse
Appendix D - Form for Reporting Child Protection Concerns THIS DOCUMENT IS PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL Where a referral is made, this form will be sent to the children’s social care services as a written confirmation of the referral with a copy retained by the DSL. This form must be completed and given, or sent in a sealed envelope marked “Private & Confidential”, to Qualified Tutor’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, Julia Silver, or Deputy Adrian Conway. Name of person reporting a concern Position in Qualified Tutor Date of incident Name of child/ young person Age if known Contact details What prompts your concerns? Please be specific and include the dates and times of any incidents Were there any physical or behavioural signs? Any other causes for concern? Have you spoken to the child/ young person? If so, what was said? Has anybody been alleged to be the abuser? If so, give details. Signature: Name: Today’s date: Appendix E: Self-Declaration and Disclosure Form Private and Confidential For roles involving contact with children (under 18 year olds). All information will be treated as confidential and managed in accordance with relevant data protection legislation and guidance. You have a right of access to information held on you under the Data Protection Act 1998. For completion by Qualified Tutor Name: Address and Postcode: Telephone/Mobile No: Date of Birth: Gender: Male / Female Identification (tick box below): I confirm that I have seen identification documents relating to this person, and I confirm to the best of my ability that these are accurate. Either
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Print name: Date: Criminal Record Self Declaration form There is a requirement that staff of Qualified Tutor complete an annual self-declaration relating to criminal convictions incurred since their previous criminal record check/annual self-declaration. These programmes fall under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 which exempts Healthcare and Education Professionals from the original Act’s non disclosure of spent convictions. You must complete all sections. You are then required to sign and date the declaration, and return the form to the Safeguarding Lead. NOTE: If the role you have applied for involves contact with young people (under 18s) you will also be required to provide a valid DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate which will provide details of criminal convictions; this may also include a Barring List check depending on the nature of the role (see organisational guidance about eligibility for DBS checks). Section 1 Name (please print) ………………………………………….. Section 2 Circle appropriate response Have you received a conviction, caution, reprimand or a warning which has been recorded on a police central record, (includes ‘spent’ and ‘unspent’ convictions) or has any information been held locally by police forces that are grounds to be considered relevant, since your last declaration? This also includes any information that may be held on the DBS’s children and adults barred list. No If ‘No’ go to Section 3 Yes If ‘Yes’ provide the relevant information in the following grids: Date of offence Offence Conviction/Pending Date of caution Reason for caution Section 3 Circle appropriate response Do you wish to provide further information? No If ‘No’ go to Section 4 and complete the declaration Yes If ‘Yes’ provide the relevant information in the following grid Additional information: Proceed to Section 4 and complete the declaration Section 4 Declaration I declare that the information I have provided in relation to criminal convictions, prosecutions pending and cautions is accurate. I agree that further enquiries that are considered necessary may be undertaken, including a full Disclosure Barring Service check (formerly CRB Criminal Record Bureau). NAME (please print) ………………………………………….. Signature ………………………………………….. Current address ………………………………………….. Date …………………………………………..
Appendix F: Zoom Safeguarding Policies In addition to the improved safeguarding measures embedded within zoom: We don’t use a personal meeting ID We don’t allow attendees to join before host We mute attendees upon joining We disable screen sharing upon joining We set up a ‘waiting room’ We don’t publicise our meeting’s link on social media We have someone whose job it is to ‘manage the room’
This policy was approved by the Qualified Tutor Company Founder Julia Silver
July 2020 Review Frequency: ANNUAL |