Safeguarding Policy

Open Academy London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone involved in our activities. We aim to provide a safe and secure environment, and to respond appropriately whenever there is a concern that a child, young person or vulnerable adult may be at risk of harm.

Our approach is proportionate and based on common sense, and applies to all staff (including agency and temporary staff), volunteers, subcontractors, and learners.

• Children and young people – anyone under the age of 18.
• Vulnerable adults – adults aged 18 and over who may, because of age, disability, illness or other circumstance, be less able to protect themselves from harm or exploitation.

This policy also reflects our duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to help protect people from being drawn into terrorism (see section 8, "The Prevent duty").

We have a designated Safeguarding Lead with overall responsibility for safeguarding matters, supported by nominated staff who receive additional training in this area. Safeguarding and promoting welfare is everyone's responsibility – all staff who come into contact with learners have a role to play, and a duty to report and refer any concern, however minor it may seem.

It is not the role of our staff to investigate a concern themselves; our role is to listen, record, and pass concerns to the right people so that they can be dealt with properly, involving external agencies such as social services or the police where appropriate.

• Safer recruitment – we operate safe recruitment procedures, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for staff and volunteers working directly with children or vulnerable adults.
• An open culture – one that respects everyone's rights, discourages bullying and discrimination of all kinds, and does not accept the expression of violent extremist views.
• Training – staff receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role, refreshed regularly, so they recognise the signs of possible abuse or neglect and know what to do.
• Risk assessment – activities involving children or vulnerable adults are risk-assessed, with reasonable, proportionate adjustments made to protect their wellbeing.

If you are worried about your own safety, or that of another learner, please tell any member of staff, or contact us directly using the details in section 12. You do not need to be certain that something is wrong – any concern, however small it may seem, will be taken seriously.

Once a concern is raised with a member of staff, they are required to pass it to our Safeguarding Lead as a matter of urgency. The Safeguarding Lead will assess the concern and, where necessary, involve the relevant external agencies, such as social services or the police, to decide what action is needed.

If you tell a member of staff something that suggests you or someone else may be at risk, they are required to pass this on to our Safeguarding Lead, even if you have asked them not to. They will not make promises they cannot keep, but they will treat what you tell them sensitively and explain what happens next wherever possible.

Where a learner discloses a concern to a member of staff, our staff are trained to:

• Listen without displaying shock or disbelief, and without promising confidentiality.
• Reassure the person that they are not to blame, and acknowledge their courage in speaking up.
• Respond without delay, asking only open, non-leading questions to clarify what is being said.
• Record what was said as accurately as possible, and pass this promptly to our Safeguarding Lead.

It is not the responsibility of our staff to investigate a concern – that is the role of the appropriate statutory agency, which our Safeguarding Lead will involve as needed.

Under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, we have a duty to help protect learners from being drawn into terrorism, whether violent or non-violent extremism. This is treated as part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities. Staff are trained to recognise possible signs of vulnerability – such as exposure to extremist material, or expressing views that promote hatred or intolerance of others – and to raise concerns with our Safeguarding Lead, who can seek advice from the relevant regional Prevent co-ordinator where needed.

All staff and volunteers should feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice, and know these will be taken seriously. Where someone feels unable to raise an issue with us directly, general guidance on whistleblowing is available at gov.uk/whistleblowing, and the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line is available for anyone who does not feel able to raise a child protection concern internally.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, always call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101. You can also contact the following independent organisations at any time:

This Safeguarding Policy is reviewed annually and updated whenever necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance or good practice. It should be read alongside our Learning Agreement and Terms & Conditions.

To speak to our Safeguarding Lead, contact us at info@openacademylondon.co.uk or +44 7579 779644, or write to us at 111, Cumberland House, 80 Scrubs Lane, London NW10 6RF.