HomeSafeguarding policy
Safe people clear procedures and prompt action.
Elevate is committed to protecting children young people and adults at risk from harm. Our key controls are safer recruitment role-appropriate enhanced DBS checks safeguarding training professional boundaries clear supervision prompt reporting and working with schools families local safeguarding partners and emergency services when needed.
DBS checked
Staff working directly with children require an enhanced check appropriate to their role
Trained staff
Safeguarding induction and clear reporting routes are mandatory
Listen and act
Concerns are recorded and passed on without staff investigating
Inclusive practice
Communication and support are adapted so concerns can be heard
Purpose and scope
This policy applies to directors employees sessional workers volunteers contractors and anyone representing Elevate. A child is anyone under eighteen. We also apply appropriate safeguarding principles when working with adults who may be at risk. The welfare and voice of the person at risk come first.
Safer recruitment and DBS
Roles are risk assessed before recruitment. Identity references employment history qualifications and right to work are checked as appropriate. Everyone deployed to work directly with children must hold an enhanced DBS check appropriate to the role. Children’s Barred List information is requested where the role is legally eligible and requires it. No check is treated as a substitute for supervision safe practice and ongoing vigilance.
Training and responsibilities
All staff working with children receive safeguarding induction understand this policy know how to recognise possible abuse neglect exploitation or peer-on-peer harm and know how to report a concern. Training is refreshed and practice is reviewed. A designated safeguarding lead is identified for delivery and service agreements set out the relevant reporting contacts.
Professional conduct
Staff must maintain clear professional boundaries use appropriate language avoid favouritism and follow agreed supervision and collection arrangements. One-to-one work is planned to remain observable and accountable. Physical contact must be necessary proportionate and appropriate to the activity or immediate safety need.
Responding to a disclosure or concern
Staff listen calmly do not promise secrecy do not investigate and record the person’s own words as soon as possible. Concerns are passed immediately to the designated safeguarding lead or the safeguarding contact for the host setting. Where a child may be at immediate risk the police or emergency services are contacted without delay.
Allegations about staff or volunteers
Any allegation or concern about someone working with children is reported immediately to the designated safeguarding lead and senior responsible person. Elevate will follow local authority designated officer procedures and make referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service or other bodies where the legal criteria are met.
Information sharing and records
Safeguarding information is factual relevant accurate securely stored and shared only with people who need it to protect a child or adult at risk. Consent is considered but is not required where seeking it may increase risk or prevent necessary safeguarding action. Records are kept separately from routine programme information.
Photography online safety and communication
Images are only taken used or shared with appropriate permission and in line with the host setting’s arrangements. Personal devices are not used for programme photography unless specifically authorised. Staff do not use private social media accounts to communicate with children and young people.
Inclusion and additional vulnerability
Children with SEND communication differences care experience or other vulnerabilities may face additional barriers to being heard. Staff use accessible communication notice changes in behaviour and work with trusted adults and professionals while avoiding assumptions about the cause of a concern.
Review and accountability
The directors are responsible for keeping this policy effective. It is reviewed at least annually and sooner following a serious incident relevant legal or guidance change or learning from a concern. Last reviewed thirty September twenty twenty six.
Report a safeguarding concern
If someone is in immediate danger call nine nine nine. For a non-emergency concern email us with safeguarding concern in the subject line. Do not send highly sensitive personal information unless it is necessary to explain the immediate concern.