Policy Owner: Skills Street
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): James Beighton (Development Manager)
Policy Oversight: John Barber (Director)
Policy Review Date: March 2025
Next Review Due: March 2026
Local Authority: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

1. Purpose and Scope

Skills Street is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We recognise our responsibility to ensure a safe, secure and respectful environment for everyone who visits or participates in activities at our centre.

This policy outlines the procedures, responsibilities and behaviours expected of all Skills Street staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors. It also sets out how safeguarding concerns must be reported and handled.

As a ‘world of work’ learning venue, working in collaboration with education specialists this policy is based on the Department for Education’s statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (2024) and ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2023). We comply with this guidance and the arrangements agreed and published by our local safeguarding partners (Skills Street operates within the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council local authority area). This policy has been devised in accordance with (but not limited to) the following legislation and statutory guidance:

• Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE, 2024)

• Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE, 2023)

• Education Act 2002

• The Children Act 1989 and 2004

• DfE (2016) ‘Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006’

• The Care Act 2014

• The Prevent Duty (Counter Terrorism & Security Act) 2015

• Equality Act 2020

• Human Rights Act 1988

• Domestic Abuse Act 2021

• FGM Act 2003

• UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018

We follow the Rotherham Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements and refer to statutory and non-statutory DfE guidance on topics including CSE, online safety, forced marriage, and mental health as detailed in the following legislation:

·        DfE (2021) Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education

·        HM Government (2014) ‘Multi-agency practice guidelines: Handling cases of Forced Marriage

·        The Equality Act 2020 Non-statutory guidance: DfE (2018) ‘Information sharing’

·        DfE (2017) ‘Child sexual exploitation’

·        DfE (2016) ‘Children missing education’

·        DfE (2018) ‘Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools’

·        DfE (2019) ‘Teaching Online Safety in Schools’

·        DfE (2024) ‘Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people’

This safeguarding policy is written in compliance with locally agreed multi-agency procedures that have been put in place by the statutory, safeguarding partners:

·        The Local Authority (LA) March 2025 - Integrated Care Boards (previously known as Clinical Commissioning Groups)

·        The Chief Officer of Police for a South Yorkshire Statutory guidance

This policy applies to:

• All Skills Street employees, contractors and volunteers

• All educational or group bookings and their related staff

• All adults interacting with children or young people at Skills Street

2. Safeguarding Principles

The purpose of our safeguarding policy is to ensure that all children, young people and vulnerable adults that visit our site are safe and protected from harm or misconduct. All Skills Street staff are expected to share this commitment. Skills Street takes welfare concerns extremely seriously and ensure that we always act in the best interests of our children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone working with children and young people to follow the following guidelines at all times and take every possible precaution to avoid situations that could be misunderstood or make anyone feel uncomfortable or vulnerable.

 We believe that:

• All children, young people and vulnerable adults have the right to protection from harm, abuse, exploitation or danger regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, gender, gender reassignment and trans* identity, or beliefs.

• Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

• A culture of openness, awareness and professional conduct underpins effective safeguarding and is lived by all Skills Street staff and visitors to our centre.

• Concerns must always be acted upon and never ignored.

• Any concerns must be reported to the Safeguarding Lead.

We aim to:

• Promote a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

• Ensure that all staff understand safeguarding procedures and their responsibilities.

• Prevent harm through our clear policies, procedures and ongoing training.

• Respond swiftly and appropriately to concerns or incidents.

• Work with the educational staff and families bringing their children to the centre.

• Work with appropriate agencies and organisations.

3. Definitions

• Child or Young Person: Anyone under 18 years old.

• Vulnerable Adult: An adult aged 18+ who may need additional support due to age, disability, mental health or illness.

• DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead): The named staff member responsible for safeguarding concerns and referrals.

4. Roles and Responsibilities

All Staff, Volunteers and Contractors Must:

• Maintain professional boundaries and appropriate conduct.

• Report all safeguarding concerns immediately to the DSL or a Duty Manager.

• Write up their report at their earliest opportunity to ensure details are correct.

• Complete all safeguarding training required for their role.

DSL Responsibilities:

• Lead on safeguarding issues and referrals to statutory services.

• Maintain secure and confidential records of safeguarding concerns.

• Ensure staff are trained and supported in their safeguarding duties.

• Liaise appropriately with relevant organisations as needed.

• Ensure all safeguarding and enhanced safeguarding training is completed.

• Make relevant referrals to the LADO or statutory services when required.

Group Leaders / Teachers / Accompanying Adults Must:

• Supervise children and young people in public/shared spaces (e.g. toilets).

• Ensure appropriate adult-to-child ratios in line with DfE or LA guidance for all visits.

• Make children aware of who to speak to at Skills Street if they feel unsafe.

5. Code of Conduct for Skills Street Staff and Representatives

All Skills Street staff, contractors and volunteers must:

• Act professionally and respectfully with children and vulnerable adults.

• Avoid being alone with a child or vulnerable adult whenever possible.

• Ensure that the relevant educational colleague or parent is present during sessions or when not possible, that another adult is in the room.

• Avoid unnecessary physical contact.

• Report any safeguarding concern, disclosure or suspicion immediately.

• Keep communication appropriate and avoid suggestive comments or behaviour.

• Not give out personal contact details or connect with children on social media.

• Follow the Skills Street “Lost Child” procedure.

Prohibited Conduct Includes:

• Rough play, horseplay or physical discipline.

• Making inappropriate jokes, comments or gestures.

• Failing to report a concern or disclosure.

• Providing personal care tasks that can be done by the child or their parent/carer.

6. Shared Public Facilities and Responsibilities

Skills Street is a public-access facility. Toilet facilities (including accessible toilets) are shared by all visitors, including adults and children.

• Teachers, parents and guardians are responsible for the supervision and safety of children in these shared spaces.

• Skills Street will ensure toilets are clean, accessible and monitored at regular intervals.

• All staff are trained to be alert to safeguarding risks and intervene or report if concerns arise in shared spaces.

7. If a Child or Vulnerable Adult Discloses a Concern

If a child or adult shares something that concerns you:

1. Listen calmly and attentively — do not lead and do not ask any leading questions.

2. Reassure them they’ve done the right thing by telling you but explain that you cannot keep this to yourself and will need to tell the safeguarding lead.

3. Record what was said using their exact words as soon as possible.

4. Report it to the DSL or Duty Manager immediately — do not investigate.

Remember: It is not your role to decide whether abuse has occurred, only to pass on the concern to the DSL. Also whilst the DSL will confirm that this has been passed on/ reported/ dealt with, please be aware that it is likely that no other information will be given.

8. Reporting Concerns

All safeguarding concerns must be reported immediately to the DSL or Duty Manager. A written report must be completed using a Safeguarding Incident Report Form.

If the concern involves a member of staff, it must be referred directly to the DSL, who will consult with the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) as required.

9. Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing concerns about safeguarding can be raised anonymously using the Skills Street Whistleblowing Policy or by contacting the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line: 0800 028 0285

10. Safer Recruitment

Skills Street implements safer recruitment procedures including:

• Enhanced DBS checks for roles involving children or vulnerable adults.

• Identity, right to work and reference checks.

• Safeguarding questions in interviews.

• Induction and probation procedures aligned with safeguarding responsibilities.

11. Multi-Agency Cooperation

Skills Street will:

• Work in partnership with schools, local authorities, police and social care services.

• Share relevant safeguarding information on a need-to-know basis, in line with GDPR.

• Refer serious concerns to statutory agencies without delay.

12. Training and Awareness

All staff and volunteers will receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role, including:

• Safeguarding induction for new starters

• Refresher training at least every 3 years

• Annual safeguarding updates

• Enhanced DSL and Duty Officer training every 2 years

13. Record Keeping and Confidentiality

• Safeguarding records will be kept securely and confidentially.

• Only the DSL and appropriate senior staff will have access.

• Records will be stored in line with data protection laws and local authority guidelines.

14. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or following:

• A major safeguarding incident

• A change in statutory guidance

• Feedback from inspections or audits

15. Key Contacts

• DSL (Skills Street): James Beighton – james.beighton@skills-street.co.uk (07301215566)

• Director: John Barber

• Rotherham LADO / Safeguarding Team: 01709 336 080

• NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline: 0800 028 0285

• NSPCC Helpline: 0800 800 5000

• Childline: 0800 1111