Safeguarding

Policy Principles
Purpose of this Policy
Policy Scope
Policy Application
What is Safeguarding
Recruitment practices
Induction & Training practices
Volunteers
Working with schools & colleges
Work experience placements
Online working practices and Remote Delivery
Recognising possible signs of abuse
Prevent duty
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Procedure to deal with concerns Within a school/college

15.2 Outside a school/college – Talentino
15.3 Talking & listening to a young persons concerns
15.4 Recording a disclosure

16. Further Guidance

1. Policy Principles

Talentino is committed to ensuring a culture of safety is engrained within the organisation. At Talentino, we strongly believe that all individuals have the right to receive equal protection from harm.

The organisation recognises that it has both a legal and moral duty to protect individuals from harm, and to play its part in ensuring that all people feel safe in any given situation. Talentino therefore sets out to build a culture of safety within its working practices, policies and procedures.

The Company also takes steps to regularly review its policies and procedures in response to changes in legislation.

2. Purpose of this Policy

The purpose of this Policy is to outline to all stakeholders the policies, procedures and practices that are in place across Talentino Ltd in order to ensure safeguarding principles are adhered to across the Company. The policy outlines what is meant by safeguarding in the context of working with children, young people, and vulnerable adults and describes ways in which abuse can be recognised.

This policy also outlines the expected behaviours of Talentino’s employees, associates and volunteers in ensuring the safe working practices when working with all young people, as well as outlining how to report any safeguarding concerns.

3. Policy Scope

The Policy sets out to ensure safeguarding principles are followed in any aspect of Talentino’s business. This policy therefore sets out to ensure all individuals are protected from harm, and in particular covers children, young adults and vulnerable adults. Vulnerable adults are defined as someone aged 18 or above who may need community care services for reasons like mental health issues, disability, age or illness. They may not be able to take care of themselves or protect themselves from harm or exploitation.

4. Policy Application

Talentino’s business is in the education sector, which means at times it works directly with young people, young adults and vulnerable young people and adults in schools, colleges and other environments. It is therefore of utmost importance that any individual working for Talentino, or representing Talentino, ensures that they are aware of, and adhere to, appropriate practices when working with children and young people and vulnerable adults.

This Policy is therefore applicable to all employees, associates and volunteers of Talentino Ltd. In the context of this policy, ‘volunteer’ means an individual involved in any volunteer work on behalf of Talentino Ltd, either on a short term (‘e.g. ‘one off’ basis), on a regular basis, or any volunteer supporting The Talentino Foundation, including the Charity’s trustees.

5. What is Safeguarding

Safeguarding means the measures that are in place to protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals which allow individuals to be protected from abuse, harm, neglect and exploitation.

There are a number of policies, legislation and guidance documents provided by the Department for Education covering safeguarding, see Further Guidance below.

6. Recruitment practices

Talentino’s recruitment practices are designed to ensure individuals are protected. The Company ensures employees (and associates) are carefully screened, selected and trained.

In particular, before appointing any employee, associate or volunteer Talentino will carry out the following safeguarding checks: –

a. Talentino will obtain, and take up, at least two references for all employee vacant roles prior to appointment.
b. Carry out a Right to Work in the UK identity check for all employees and associates to confirm that applicants are who they claim to be (through birth certificate, passport, driving licence check etc),
c. Carry out a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for any positions that will require the role holder to work with young people,
d. During the selection process, Talentino will examine candidate employment history, and request that the applicant accounts for any gaps identified,
e. Where applicable, check academic qualifications to ensure stated qualifications are genuine.

7. Induction & Training practices

Talentino induction and training practices set out to promote an awareness of the importance of safeguarding. The Company provides safeguarding awareness and guidance within its induction practices for all new employees, associates, and volunteers, enabling all Talentino colleagues to undertake their roles safely, effectively, and confidently. All Talentino colleagues will be provided with a copy of this Safeguarding policy and will make themselves familiar with this and any other relevant Safeguarding policies. The induction highlights everyones obligation in implementing the principles of this Policy.

8. Volunteers

All volunteers working with Talentino are expected to follow the same principles as other Talentino colleagues. Any volunteer whose role will required them to have a DBS check when working closely with children/young people in schools/colleges will be asked to carry out an enhanced DBS check prior to commencement of their volunteering activities. Volunteers will be provided with a copy of this policy and asked to make themselves familiar with it, along with making themselves familiar with the Safeguarding policy and/or procedures of the School/College they are working with.

9. Working with Schools & Colleges

Talentino appreciates that every school, college or educational agency has its own set of safeguarding procedures. It is therefore important that any individual representing Talentino makes themselves aware of (and obtains a copy of) the specific Safeguarding policies and/or procedures that are applicable to the particular organisation they are visiting.

It is important that this happens every time a Talentino colleague visits a new school/college and has contact with students.

Any Talentino colleague visiting a school or college should also make themselves aware of that school’s own Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and the procedure to follow should they need to report an issue to the DSL.

10. Work Experience Placements

Where Talentino works with employers and providers of work experience placements, it will ensure that appropriate safeguarding procedures that are in place in the School or College are followed prior to any individual commencing work experience. If the employer or setting does not have its own set of Safeguarding procedures, then it is expected that the safeguarding policies and procedures of the school/college with which the student is registered will apply and will be shared (& explained) to the employer/work experience provider by the school/college.

11. Online Working Practices & Remote Delivery

When working with a school or college on a virtual basis, all Talentino colleagues should ensure they follow appropriate, safe, working practices.

Some practical points to consider when arranging and conducting virtual sessions with young people include: –

• Not taking photographs, video or electronic images of pupils and employees. This is classed as personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998,
• Ensuring online and virtual sessions are NOT recorded,
• Not delivering sessions independently. These should always take place with a member of school staff or another Talentino colleague,
• Taking care when asking students to visit websites as part of any session – check the security and appropriateness of the website prior to your session,
• Not disclosing your contact details to students in online sessions. Liaise directly with the setting as to any detail you want to pass onto students.

The increase of remote delivery to students during the covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of ensuring safeguarding measures are planned and adhered to for all sessions that are planned to be delivered virtually. If more guidance and advice, Talentino colleagues should discuss this with the management team.

12. Recognising possible signs of abuse

Talentino colleagues should be alert that abuse can be in many forms, and be aware that the following are some of the signs associated with particular types of abuse and neglect:

• Physical abuse – a form of abuse that may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, burning/scalding or other acts causing physical harm.
• Emotional abuse – is the persistent emotional maltreatment so as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects to the young person’s emotional development;
• Sexual abuse – involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities;
• Neglect – is the persistent failure to meet a young person’s basic physical and emotional needs. Neglect can involve a failure to: provide adequate food, clothing, shelter; protect a child from physical/emotional harm; ensure adequate supervison; allow access to medical treatment.
• Financial abuse (more prevalent in vulnerable young adults) – such as stealing, spending someone else’s money inappropriately when appointed to look after it on their behalf, forcing someone to spend their money on things they don’t want, internet, email, phone, postal and doorstep scams.

It is important to recognise that vulnerable adults may suffer from abuse just as much as a young person or child. Vulnerable adults may not be in a position to take care of themselves or protect themselves from harm/exploitation and Talentino colleagues should be mindful of this when working with any individual.

Talentino colleagues should also be alert to the signs and symptoms that may be an indication that an individual has suffered or is suffering abuse. Below are listed some of the signs or symptoms that may be of concern. Many of these could be caused from an alternative reason, but may be of concern (especially if more than one or several occur);

• Untreated injuries
• Unexplained injuries such as bruises – may appear to be inconsistent with the explanation given for them
• Withdrawal from physical contact
• Seeking attention or being over compliant
• Aggression towards others
• Self-harm
• Eating disorders
• Poor peer relationships
• Low self-esteem
• Lying, stealing, delinquency
• Poor personal hygiene
• Inappropriate response to painful situations
• Over-reacting to mistakes
• Reluctant to go home
• Fear of parents or carers being contacted

13. Prevent duty

The UK Goverment sets outs in the Counter-terrorism and Security Act 2015. The strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including extreme right wing views and violent groups.
Section 26 of the Act outlines the duty of all schools to have ‘duty regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’.

All Talentino colleagues should be aware of importance of protecting young people from risk of radicalisation as part of their safeguarding duties.

Signs of radicalisation could include;

• Being involved with groups with strong ideologies
• Viewing websites which contain extremist ideologies or symbols
• Becoming isolated from friends and/or peers
• Adopting styles of clothes associated with groups with whom they previously had no connection
• Discussing or possessing extremist material

Further information can be obtained from The Prevent Duty – departmental advice for schools & childcare providers (June 2015), see contact information below.

14. Designated Safeguarding Lead

Talentino’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Jenny Connick, Founder & Managing Director. In her absence, the deputy DSL is Helen Dutton, Performance & HR Manager. The DSL will be available to address all employees, associates and volunteers concerns or complaints regarding the safety, well-being of young persons or the conduct of clients, employees, volunteers or staff.

The DSL is important in ensuring that correct and appropriate procedures and policies are in place, and are adhered to, with regards to child safeguarding issues.

Talentino’s DSL and deputy DSL can be contacted on: –

jenny@talentinocareers.co.uk
helend@talentinocareers.co.uk

15. Procedure to deal with concerns

It is important that if a Talentino colleague has concerns about a young person, and/or if an individual makes a disclosure to you regarding abuse, that they should talk to the DSL.

It is important that Talentino colleagues do not attempt to try and resolve any concerns or investigate any suspicions themselves. If an individual has a concern they must refer such concerns to the DSL. The DSL will refer the matter to the appropriate agencies as required.

15.1 Within a School or College
Any concern should be raised with the DSL of that particular school/college. Refer to the school or college’s own Safeguarding procedure for the correct process to follow.

15.2 Outside a school – Talentino
Contact the Talentino DSL for any concerns that occur in any other environment you are working.

If a Talentino colleague is in any doubt as to the appropriate process to follow, they should, in the first instance, contact the Talentino DSL.

15.3 Talking & listening to a young persons concerns

It is important for Talentino colleagues to be aware, that if a child or young person wants to confide in them, that they;

o Be accessible and receptive
o listen carefully
o offer reassurance that it is all right to tell
o explain that you must pass the information on
o Make a record of what is said
o Only gather information that you need to know to report it

If a disclosure is made to a Talentino colleague from a young person, they must take care and attention not to;

• Make promises to keep information confidential
• Investigate
• Assume someone else will take the action
• Confront another person allegedly involved
• Offer opinions
• Discuss what you have been told with other colleagues

15.4 Recording what has been disclosed to you

If an individual discloses to a Talentino colleague that they have been or are being abused, they should make a written record. This should include;

• Time, date and place of the disclosure
• information written in the young persons words as much as possible
• information which is factual only

This should then be passed to the DHL as soon as possible.

16 Further Guidance

Further guidance and information regarding safeguarding can be found in the following policies, legislation and guidance documents;

• The Childrens Act 1989 Children Act 1989 (legislation.gov.uk)
• The Children & Social Work Act 2017 Children and Social Work Act 2017 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Working together to Safeguard Children 2018 Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
• Keeping children safe in Education 2022 Keeping children safe in education – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• The Prevent Duty – departmental advice for schools & childcare providers (June 2015) Advice template (publishing.service.gov.uk)
• The Counter-Terrorism & Security Act 2015 Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (legislation.gov.uk)

Policy approved & authorised by:
Name: Jenny Connick
Position: Managing Director, Talentino Ltd
Version Number: Version 3
Date: February 2023
Next Review: February 2024