Safeguarding Policy

UPDATED - 19/09/2024

Safeguarding Officer: Steven King

Who we are

We are

INSPIRE DRIVER TRAINING.

Our address is:

8 Argyll Court

130 Birchanger Road

London

SE25 5DF

Email: info@inspire-dt.co.uk

Tel: 07730506824

We have adopted this safeguarding policy and expect all adults who work with us or help support us to comply with it. Accordingly, this policy will apply to all staff, managers, trustees, directors, volunteers, students or anyone who works for us.

Purpose of this policy This policy aims to protect adults and children who receive any services from us, including those who are children of adults who may receive services from us. Under this policy, the term adults will refer to anyone over the age of eighteen and children will refer to anyone who is under the age of eighteen.

We believe that no adult, child or young person should suffer abuse or harm and we are committed to safeguarding adults, children and young people. This policy aims to provide guidance and general principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to adult and child protection and safeguarding.

The Risks to Adults and Children

Adults and Children can be vulnerable to different forms of abuse and harm. It is important to recognise that abuse and harm of adults and children can cover a wide range of circumstances and behaviours.

Examples of risks to adults and children include:

- physical or emotional abuse

- neglect

- sexual abuse

- female genital mutilation (FGM)

- grooming and exploitation

- trafficking and modern slavery

- exposure to or infliction of domestic abuse

- bullying or cyberbullying

- exposure to other inappropriate content or behaviour, such as violence or criminal behaviour

- self-harm

- physical harm when engaging in activities without adequate supervision

The causal factors of any such harm and/or abuse can also be wide-ranging. For example, adults and children can be placed at risk by family members or by members of the community.

Safeguarding Principles

Safeguarding adults and children from harm and abuse is an important responsibility. We are committed to ensuring that any adult or child who comes into contact with our services is properly safeguarded. Every person under this policy must ensure that they play an active role in ensuring that adults and children are properly safeguarded.

Every person under this policy holds responsibility for:

- remaining alert and aware of possible safeguarding risks to adults and children

- guarding children against harmful environments with appropriate actions (for example, adequate supervision or ensuring safe environments)

- taking positive steps to maintain the safety and wellbeing of adults and children engaging with Us

- reporting concerns expeditiously and appropriately, in line with the correctly protection procedures

- understanding the duty to report specific concerns (and understanding how this interplays with confidentiality)

- challenging any inappropriate or harmful behaviour of any other adult or child and reporting this accordingly

- acting appropriately in the presence of adults and children

- not taking any inappropriate risks

- not smoking, drinking or taking any form of illicit substances in the presence of children.

Safeguarding Officer

Any question, report or concern about the welfare of children should be shared with our Safeguarding Officer:

Name: STEVEN KING

Email: info@inspire-dt.co.uk

Telephone: 07730506824

Confidentiality and Data Protection

All personal information we may process relating to children shall be processed and stored in accordance with our data protection privacy policy.

Responding to a Safeguarding Concern

Where a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, any adult present should call 999. Thereafter, the Safeguarding Officer should be contacted as soon as reasonably practicable.

Where there is a safeguarding concern but no immediate risk of serious harm, the adult who has heard or witnessed this concern should consult with the Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable and by no later than the end of that same day.

Where any adult or child makes a disclosure relating to harm or abuse to an adult, it is important for that adult to:

- listen calmly and carefully, showing that their views are taken seriously

- provide an appropriate and honest level of reassurance

- avoid interrogating adults or children and asking probing, intrusive and/or leading questions

- avoid making false promises regarding secrets and confidentiality with the child

- avoid interrogating adults and children and asking probing, intrusive and/or leading questions

- avoid making false promises regarding secrets and confidentiality with the adult or child (because any concern of abuse/harm must be shared with the Safeguarding Officer and any subsequent safeguarding referral)

- make a confidential written record of the discussion either during the discussion or immediately afterwards. The record should include the key details of the disclosure together with any relevant times, dates, places and people concerned. Audio and video recordings of adults or children making disclosures should be avoided

- refer all relevant information to the Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable afterwards, and by no later than the end of the day

Upon receipt of any safeguarding concern, the Safeguarding Officer shall consult with any other relevant persons and will make any appropriate referrals to the relevant authorities, such as the applicable Local Authority or Children's Services department.

Reporting Concerns About Other Adults

If there is a concern that another adult staff is or may be:

- harming an adult or child either physically or emotionally

- exposing an adult or child to behaviour which may cause physical or emotional harm

- engaging in criminal activity concerning an adult or child

this must be raised in the first instance with the Safeguarding Officer (or where this is not appropriate, a different senior member of the organisation) so that the next appropriate steps may be agreed and actioned. We recognise that there could be circumstances where a person may need to report a matter that has taken place in a setting outside of the person's engagement with us.

Usually, any appropriate steps following a safeguarding referral in respect of an individual connected to us will include either:

- further initial enquiries

- escalation to the applicable Local Authority or Children's Services department for assessment and/or the police for investigation

- instigation of any appropriate disciplinary, formal investigation processes and suspension of the individual concerned

- a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service, or any other relevant regulatory bodies

Any person working for us who has allegations made against them shall be informed properly in a formal meeting of the particulars of the allegations and the relevant next steps which shall be taken. Such a meeting should ordinarily be held by the Safeguarding Officer. On certain occasions, such a meeting may not be convened until this has been approved by any authorities involved (such as the police or the relevant Local Authority).

Any person who has had allegations made against them shall be treated fairly. All enquiries, investigations and decisions taken shall be just and fair, with the safety of any child concerned at the heart of the process.

Any person who makes an allegation against another person shall be listened to, taken seriously and shall be treated fairly and justly throughout the process of enquiries, investigations and decision making.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks and Reporting

DBS checks under the appropriate legislation should be undertaken wherever required for any position of paid or unpaid work for us.

Wherever we deem it is necessary and appropriate to remove any individual from a position of work in an activity that is regulated under the relevant legislation, we shall also be obliged to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks and Reporting

DBS checks under the appropriate legislation should be undertaken wherever required for any position of paid or unpaid work for us.

Responsibilities and Planning

Although the Safeguarding Officer will hold ultimate responsibility for overseeing the safety of adults and children, all individuals under this policy must also play an active role in ensuring the safety of adults and children at all times.

Where a certain type of event, activity or trip is taking place, we may issue an additional code of conduct, policy, or some specific other requirements which is specific to that occasion. Any such additional documentation will be made available to all those concerned (staff members, parents, guardians etc.) in advance. They should be read carefully and adhered to.

Appropriate background checks shall be undertaken in relation to any adult who is engaged by us, wherever we are legally required to do so (see the relevant section above)

Venues

We have carried out a health and safety risk assessment in relation to the premises, in reference to its safety and suitability for adults and children.

Where any events, activities or trips are to take place at other locations, we shall also carry out a further risk assessment.

The location for any events, activities and trips which are held by us shall always be risk- assessed properly in reference to the suitability and safety of adults and children.

Fire and safety procedures and precautions shall be made clear to all those involved.

Any accident or injury concerning a child should:

- be dealt with in accordance with usual first aid procedures

- be brought to the attention of the nearest first aider and should thereafter be formally reported to the Safeguarding Officer.

Consent Forms

We shall always obtain written consent from a parent or guardian where appropriate.

Consent forms will include emergency contact details and will set out any specific safety needs/requirements for children.

All consent forms will be kept secure and shall be stored in accordance with our data protection privacy policy.

Supervision

Parents, guardians or responsible adults may attend events and activities with their children. They should ensure that children are properly supervised at all times.

We will always ensure that children are adequately supervised at our events if they are attending without a parent, guardian or responsible adult. We will follow all relevant legal provisions and guidelines in relation to the matter of supervision.

Managing Risks Posed by Others:

It is important for all adults engaged by us to recognise that adults and children can face harm from their peers. This can commonly take the form of bullying. Bullying can be defined as any behaviour which is:

- repeated; and

- has the intention of hurting somebody either physically or emotionally.

Bullying can sometimes be motivated by prejudices based on certain groups, for example, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. Bullying can often include:

- physical harm perpetrated against another child

- name calling and threats

- cyberbullying (threats and abusive comments made via technology)

Any instance of bullying or concern relating to possible bullying between adults and children at any event or activities arranged by us will usually treated seriously.

We will conduct an investigation into the relevant facts before any conclusions or recommendations can be made.

All steps in relation to the prevention or management of bullying should be taken in consultation with the Safeguarding Officer.

Photography

We do not take photographs of children when they are attending our premises, events or activities.

We do however recognise that members of the public may take photographs when they are attending our premises, events or activities.

We ask that any parents, guardians and other members of the public take the following into consideration when taking photos at our premises, events or activities:

- images of other children should not be shared on social media without the permission of any children who feature in the images (where ascertainable), together with the permission of the children's parent/guardian

- images which are shared on social media should be shared cautiously, with the appropriate privacy and security settings in place.

Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up in accordance with all relevant and applicable legislation and guidance available to us in the jurisdictions we operate within.

This Policy will be reviewed regularly and may be updated from time to time.