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Child Policy Details (2024)

Introduction

• Every student who participates in a GLECTA course, should be able to do so in a safe and comfortable environment. GLECTA is committed to providing the best possible level of safeguarding and the wellbeing and safety of each student is vital.
• GLECTA has a duty to ensure all service providers of GLECTA courses are given appropriate safeguarding measures and all lessons take place in a safe environment.

Legislative Framework

This safeguarding policy is to ensure all students on a GLECTA course are able to benefit from our services within the remits of the child safeguarding standards of the United Kingdom Law. This policy is derived from a variety of legislative provisions and statutory guidance. In particular, it is based on good practice found in:

• Keeping Children Safe in Education (2023)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
• Governance Handbook

Our safeguarding policy and procedures comply with all of this guidance and is updated with local arrangements agreed and published by the three local safeguarding partners. 2c. The following legislation is also incorporated into this policy:

• The Children Act 1989 (and 2004 amendment), which gives a broad framework for the care and protection of children and includes provisions for Local Authority inquiries, care proceedings, and emergency provisions
• Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 S 5B(11), as inserted by section 74 of the Serious Crime Act 2015
• The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 outlines provisions for when people with criminal convictions can work with children
• ‘Regulated activity’ in relation to children is found in Schedule 4 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

Responsibilities

GLECTA recognises that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their parents or carers has a role to play in safeguarding children.

All GLECTA tutors are required to:

• Observe and comply with the GLECTA code of conduct.
• Attend all relevant training and development provided by GLECTA and be aware of all their responsibilities in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019.
• If a student discloses to a tutor that they are being abused, the tutor should report this to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) as soon as possible. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is responsible for ensuring that children are identified and the appropriate agency involved.
• Know how to deal with a disclosure of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, overdosing or eating disorders. The Designated Safeguarding Lead should be informed.
• Report instances of actual or suspected child abuse or neglect to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, or in their absence, the Deputy, in line with the Child Protection Procedures and legal duty for reporting FGM as set out in this policy.
• Know what to do in the event of an allegation made against someone working with children. If such a disclosure is made, the tutor should report this to the DSL.
• Be alert to the signs of harm and abuse, including issues that can manifest themselves due to peer on peer abuse. This is most likely to include, but not limited to: bullying (including cyber bullying), gender-based violence/sexual assaults and sexting.
• Tutors should follow the Child Protection Procedures with regards to peer on peer abuse as outlined in this policy.
• Know the Designated Safeguarding dept’s name and contact details including telephone numbers and email. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is GLECTA's administration. Their email is [email protected] and phone number is 07942333888.
• Be aware of the early help process. This includes identifying emerging problems, liaising with the Designated Safeguarding Lead, sharing information with other professionals to support early identification and assessment and, in some cases, acting as the lead professional in undertaking an early help assessment.

GLECTA will:

• Assess the impact of this policy in keeping children safe.
• Contribute any local, contextual information that may support children’s safety and welfare.
• Receive and consider regular reports from tutors about the effectiveness of safeguarding and child protection at the company.
• Keep abreast of training to ensure that tutors have the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to keep all children safe.

Child Protection Procedures

All the Tutors will follow the necessary child protection procedures if an incident occurs. They will be made aware that:

• Where a child is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, a referral should be made to the GLECTA's administration immediately.
• Anyone can make a referral.
• Tutors should not assume that somebody else will take action/share information that might be critical in keeping children safe.
• Where referrals are not made by the Designated Safeguarding Lead, the Designated Safeguarding Lead should be informed, as soon as possible, that a referral has been made.
• The reporting of concerns relating to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is mandatory.
• The DSL or deputy DSL will always be available to discuss safeguarding concerns.

When a tutor suspects that any student may have been subject to abuse, or a student has suggested that abuse has taken place either to themselves or another student, the allegation must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The DSL will ensure the allegation is acted on within the same day. It is best practice to ensure that all colleagues who are involved in the allegation are informed of the outcome, so there is closure or continual vigilance as necessary.

Allegations Against GLECTA's Tutors

All allegations of abuse made against tutors must be brought to the attention of the GLECTA administration team immediately. The GLECTA Administrators will act in a co-ordinating role.

Recording of Lessons

All tutors must record all lessons on Skype or Zoom and wherever not possible, should inform the GLECTA team immediately. All recordings are available for playback for up to validity of course and remain the property of GLECTA. GLECTA may review any sessions where a report has been made by an individual using GLECTA with the aim of investigating the report. 6b. When required, GLECTA will share this data with the relevant United Kingdom Law Enforcement where it is reported a criminal offence could have occurred related to a particular tutoring lesson.

Communication between Tutors and Students

All communication between tutor and student must take place on the WhatsApp or Telegram group with the GLECTA team. There must be no outside communication as this breaches GLECTA’s code of conduct.

Compliance

• All tutors and students using GLECTA’s services have a responsibility to familiarise themselves with the Safeguarding Policy.
• ny tutor who is reported for a breach of the Safeguarding Policy will be suspended from GLECTA tutoring effective immediately. The final decision for a minor breach will be the responsibility of GLECTA.
• Any tutor reported for illegal activity whilst using GLECTA services will be reported to policy and appropriate authorities including the General Medical Council and General Dental Council if necessary. This also include tutoring students independently outside of GLECTA contracted hours and sharing of materials without notifying GLECTA.

Review

The GLECTA Safeguarding Policy will be reviewed constantly in order to maintain its adequacy to meet current Safeguarding Standards.