Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults & Children
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of vulnerable adults & children and protect them from harm.
All children and vulnerable adults have the right to be protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults is everybody’s responsibility, doing nothing is not acceptable.
Safeguarding means:
Child/Adult protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children/vulnerable adults identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child/adult protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns.
It’s the responsibility of all staff support the academies commitment to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and attend training as required. It’s the responsibility of the program director to ensure compliance and the effectiveness of the procedure accompanying this policy
Prevent Duty
All schools and registered training providers are required to “have due regard for the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This is called the Prevent duty.
At Smart Dental Academy, as Program Director, it is my responsibility to put in place robust procedures to protect our learner’s radicalisation and extremism.
The responsibility lies with me as Program Director for the review and evaluation of these procedures, and making sure they are effective.
Protecting the children in our care against extremism and radicalisation should be treated in the same way as protecting them from other harms such as drugs, gangs, neglect and sexual exploitation, whether these come from within their family or are the product of outside influences.
The Prevent Agenda was set up in 2006 by the Labour government as part of the wider counter-terrorism strategy called CONTEST.
It is a UK-wide strategy that aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
The strategy’s three objectives are:
All staff complete Prevent Duty training on an annual basis, this is recorded and certified for audit purposes.
Radicalisation and extremism are topics that are integrated into lessons at Smart Dental Academy.
Policy Purpose/Statement
At Smart Dental Academy we are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The team accepts and recognises responsibilities to develop awareness of the issues which may cause children or vulnerable adult's harm.
As a team we endeavour to safeguard children and vulnerable adults by:
Within the academy Nickie Thompson (Program Director) is our designated Safeguarding Officer and responsible for ensuring our procedures for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults are kept up to date and is our point of contact for raising concerns.
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice standards at regular intervals.
Other academy policies relevant to this safeguarding policy include:
Policy Development
It is important not only to let staff know of your company’s safeguarding expectations but to ensure that visitors to your organisation are also aware of your standards and procedures when safeguarding. This enables them to adopt the same approach and mindset when it comes to the seriousness of safeguarding people under your care. In developing this policy, we took into account information and guidance from the following legislation.
Working Together to Safeguard Children Act 2018
Working Together 2018 is statutory guidance for multi-agency working. It exists to highlight the expectations of working with agencies in your local area, and on a national level, to keep children safe.
Keeping children safe in education 2021
Keeping Children Safe in Education is statutory guidance that schools and colleges in England must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. are asked to ensure that all staff in their school or college read at least Part one of the guidance.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
This Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (SVGA) 2006 was passed to help avoid harm, or risk of harm, by preventing people who are deemed unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable adults from gaining access to them through their work. The Independent Safeguarding Authority was established as a result of this Act.
Counter Terrorism & Security Act 2015
The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act contains powers to help the UK respond to the threat of terrorism. It received Royal Assent on 12 February 2015. The act will: ... enhance the ability of operational agencies to monitor and control the actions of those who pose a threat.
Education Inspection Framework - Ofsted 2019
This framework sets out Ofsted's inspection principles and the main judgements that inspectors make.
Roles and Responsibilities
Designated Safeguarding Officers have a number of responsibilities, including:
The Role of Tutors and Academy Staff
The Teacher Standards 2012 state that tutors should safeguard children’s wellbeing and maintain public trust in the teaching profession as part of their professional duties. All college staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which vulnerable adults & children can learn. All college staff have a responsibility to identify vulnerable adults & children who may need extra help or who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm. All staff then have a responsibility to take appropriate action, working with other services as needed. In addition to working with the designated safeguarding officer staff members should be aware that they may be asked to support social workers to take decisions about individuals.
At Smart Dental Academy, learners are encouraged to speak to a member of our team, should they have any safeguarding issues. We recognise the importance of learners having someone impartial to turn to for help and support. Learners are specifically asked at each progress review, if they are anyone around them have any safeguarding concerns.
Effective Communication
Effective communication requires a culture of listening and engaging in dialogue within and across agencies. It is essential that all communication is as accurate and complete as possible, and that it is clearly recorded.
Accuracy is key; without this, effective decisions cannot be made. Equally, inaccurate accounts can lead to vulnerable adults & children remaining unsafe, or to the possibility of wrongful actions being taken that affect children and adults.
Safeguarding training is provided to all learners, to help them to understand the different types of abuse, how to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse and who to contact should they have any concerns.
All learners have access to the academy Safeguarding file.
Training
Learners should be kept safe from harm and danger. All members of the team should know what to do to keep learners safe and what action to take if they think that someone is being harmed.
By all staff being appropriately trained in Safeguarding, and enabled to explore and understand the contribution they make to safeguarding, individuals can make a significant difference to outcomes, for adults at risk of abuse or neglect.
Safeguarding training is completed annually by all members of staff at the academy, certificates are stored at the Manchester Academy / Head Office. This is monitored by the Program Director.
The ultimate outcome is to ensure that team members involved in the lives of adults at risk are able to access high quality relevant and appropriate training to ensure safe and effective services. This policy shows Smart Dental Academy’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable adults & children..
This policy is underpinned by the following principals:
Administering First Aid or Medication
Some children/adults may have an accident or injury at the academy that requires First Aid treatment or feel unwell. All academy staff are trained to administer First Aid, training is recorded, certified and monitored.
Photographs and Filming
It’s important that learners feel happy with their achievements and have photographs and films of their special moments.
However, we appreciate and accept that some children, parents or carers may not be comfortable with images of their children being shared. For example:
It’s important to be aware of protection and safeguarding issues when taking photos of or filming children and young people. The potential for misuse of images can be reduced if organisations are aware of the potential dangers and put appropriate measures in place.
Smart Dental Academy have a written photography policy statement that sets out your overall approach to images taken of children and young people during events and activities.
Staff Recruitment
Due to the roles often involving unsupervised work with children or adults in a vulnerable position, all staff are required to complete an Enhanced DBS - Disclosure and Barring Service check.
This level of check reveals information from the applicant’s criminal record including:
Staff code of professional Standards
The General Dental Council sets the standards of conduct, performance and ethics that govern dental professionals.
This document sets out the standards of conduct, performance and ethics that govern us as dental professionals. It specifies the principles, standards and guidance which apply to all members of the dental team. It also sets out what patients can expect from their dental professionals.
The academy Program Director and all tutors are registered with the General Dental Council and therefore are bound by its code of conduct.
Signs of Abuse
The Care Act 2014 introduced legislation mainly for vulnerable adults, introducing regulations for local authorities with the requirement to set up a local Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB).
Members of the team may observe the signs of abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult. Adults at risk tend to be elderly, suffering from a disability or mental illness. It is important as a team we understand the more vulnerable groups.
Abuse or neglect may present to the academy in a number of different ways:
Non-Accidental Injuries
Vulnerable adult abuse
Physical abuse including: Hitting, Slapping, Pushing, Kicking, Burning, giving a person medicine that may harm them, Restraining, and Disciplining a person in an inappropriate way.
Possible Signs
Psychological abuse including: Emotional abuse, Verbal abuse, Humiliation, Bullying, The use of threats.
Possible Signs
Financial or Material abuse including: Stealing from the person. Cheating them or using them for financial gain. Putting pressure on them about wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions. Misusing or stealing their property, possessions or benefits.
Possible Signs
Sexual abuse including: Direct or indirect sexual activity where the vulnerable adult cannot or does not agree to it.
Possible Signs
Neglect or Acts of Omission including: Withdrawing or not giving the help that a vulnerable adult need, so causing them to suffer.
Possible Signs
Discriminatory abuse including: abusing a person because of their ethnic origin, religion, language, age, sexuality, gender or disability.
Possible Signs
If abuse or neglect is suspected
Where the team have concerns about a learner who may have been abused and there is no satisfactory explanation, prompt action is important.
Abuse:
Members of the team may observe the signs of abuse or neglect or hear something that causes them concern about a vulnerable adult/child. They are not responsible for making a diagnosis of abuse or neglect, just for sharing concerns appropriately. Each team member should be aware of the local procedures for safeguarding protection.
It is an offence for a person over 18 to have a sexual relationship with a young person under 18 where that person is in a position of trust in respect of that young person even if the relationship is consensual. This also applies where the young person is in full-time education and the responsible adult is regularly involved in caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of such persons
Abuse or neglect may present to the team in a number of different ways:
Identifying abuse
Abuse occurs in all socio-economic groups and can be identified as a single event or more often, a number of events, both acute and long-standing which interrupt, change or damage the physical and psychological development. There are 4 commonly recognisable categories of abuse: physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. Someone may abuse or neglect not just by inflicting harm but by failing to prevent it.
Signs and Symptoms of Abuse
Physical Abuse:
Sexual Abuse:
Emotional Abuse:
Neglect:
Note an individual may be subjected to a combination of different kinds of abuse. It is also possible that a child may show no outward signs and hide what is happening from everyone.
Peer on peer abuse
Peer on peer abuse occurs when a young person is exploited, bullied and / or harmed by their peers who are the same or similar age; everyone directly involved in peer-on-peer abuse is under the age of 18. ‘Peer-on-peer’ abuse can relate to various forms of abuse (not just sexual abuse and exploitation), and crucially it does not capture the fact that the behaviour in question is harmful to the perpetrator as well as the victim. This should be reported to a member of the academy staff, who will take the necessary action, following the safeguarding guidance.
Forced Marriage
A forced marriage is where one or both people do not (or in cases of people with learning disabilities or reduced capacity, cannot) consent to the marriage as they are pressurised, or abuse is used, to force them to do so. It is recognised in the UK as a form of domestic or abuse and a serious abuse of human rights.
The pressure put on people to marry against their will may be:
physical – for example, threats, physical violence or sexual violence
emotional and psychological – for example, making someone feel like they are bringing ‘shame’ on their family
Further advice and guidance is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/forced-marriage
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited, they're given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they're in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming. They may trust their abuser and not understand that they're being abused.
Further advice and guidance is available at:
If Abuse or Neglect is Suspected
It is uncommon that you would see vulnerable adults/ children with signs of abuse, but where you have concerns about an individual who may have been abused and there is no satisfactory explanation, prompt action is important.
If a learner decides to speak with you about a personal and sensitive situation:
Listen carefully, stay calm and try not to show signs of shock or surprise. Recognise what is being said to you. Do not ask probing questions which may affect proof. Do not promise the learner you will keep the information provided to you a secret. Seek consent from the learner to share information if they have capacity and if this does not place you, them or others at any danger. You may share information without consent if it is in the public interest in order to prevent a crime or protect others from harm.
Next step if you feel an individual’s at any risk:
The LADO works within Children’s Services and should be alerted to all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children or is a member of the team has:
Seek advice and guidance from the above contacts and if your need to report a matter (refer), contact adult or child social services.
Safeguarding compliance includes:
When not to discuss your suspicions with the parent or carer
Allegations against a team member who works with children or vulnerable adults
If there are allegations about a team member, the program director will carry out an investigation and decide whether to use the internal grievance and disciplinary procedure and/or report the allegations externally. It is advisable to discuss all concerns with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) if concerning a child, or the Lead Person for Safeguarding Adults (LPSA) for general advice and in particular to find out if further actions are required and whether the police need to be involved.
In case of serious injury
Barred lists - the requirement to refer people who work with children and vulnerable adults
If an employee or contractor at the academy has been found to be unsuitable to work with children or vulnerable adults, there is a statutory duty to make a referral to the appropriate organisation. These are:
In summary the team must
Informing ESFA about serious safeguarding incidents
The circumstances in which ESFA funded providers should inform ESFA of safeguarding referrals/concerns:
Information to be provided to ESFA about Prevent referrals to Channel panels
The Mental Capacity Act
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (“MCA”) provides a legal framework for making decisions on behalf of people who lack the mental capacity to make particular decisions for them. Everyone working with and/or caring for adults and young people aged over 16 who may lack capacity to make specific decisions must comply with the MCA.
The starting point is that everyone aged 16 or over should be presumed to have capacity to make their own decisions unless it can be shown that they lack capacity to make a particular decision at the time it needs to be made. If you think that someone lacks capacity to make a decision, you need to make a decision in the person’s best interests.
The Five Key Principles of the Mental Capacity Act
Following the 5 principles underpinning the MCA is essential to ensure not only that appropriate action is taken in individual cases, but also will clarify solutions in difficult or uncertain situations:
A person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity
A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision unless all practicable steps to help them to do so have been taken without success
An act done or decision made, under the MCA for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done, or made, in their best interests
Before the act is done, or the decision is made, regard must be had as to whether the purpose for which it is needed can be as effectively achieved in a way that is less restrictive of the person’s rights and freedom of action
Action Plan for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
The Program Director is the Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Lead and safeguarding champion for adults
The Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Lead is the Program Director
The program director takes responsibility for regular team training
The team to be updated with policies on safeguarding and adapt the relevant academy policies
The team to be aware of the Important Safeguarding Contacts
Provide safeguarding training to all staff
Make sure that appropriate DBS checks have been carried out
Section 11 of Children’s Act 2004: All staff to be presented with Part 1 of Keeping Children Safe to show commitment to safeguard
Fitness to Practise
When we say that someone is 'fit to practise' we mean that they have the appropriate skills, knowledge, character and health to practise their profession safely and effectively. However, performance can be affected, as a result of abuse, neglect, bullying etc. At smart Dental Academy all learners are closely monitored for any signs of the above, to ensure that should be unfit to practice, this is investigated and additional support put in place.
Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but there's no medical reason for this to be done. It's also known as female circumcision or cutting, and by other terms, such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others.
FGM is usually carried out on young girls between infancy and the age of 15, most commonly before puberty starts.
It's illegal in the UK and is abuse.
It's very painful and can seriously harm the health of women and girls.
It can also cause long-term problems with sex, childbirth and mental health.
All women and girls have the right to control what happens to their bodies and the right to say no to FGM.
Help is available if you have had FGM or you're worried that you or someone you know is at risk.
If someone is in immediate danger, contact the police immediately by dialling 999.
If you're concerned that someone may be at risk, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0800 028 3550 or fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk.
Guidance and resources about FGM for healthcare staff are available on the GOV.UK website.
Internet Safety
Internet safety is achieved by embedding e-safety within the academy’s framework of effective policies and procedures for reporting concerns such as cyberbullying. As well as helping learners to stay safe online. Staff also need to protect their own online reputation, particularly when using social networking sites. Further information is available in our staff codes of conduct, learner handbook, safeguarding and bullying and harassment policy.
The aim of this policy is to:
The academy uses a recognised internet service provider, actively monitors and filters content and manages personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act (2018)
Cyber bullying
As more and more people use mobile phones and the use of social media such as increases, so too does the reports of Cyber bullying. This has become a very serious issue and has even resulted in victims taking their own life. At Smart Dental Academy this topic is taught and discussed on a regular basis, at every opportunity.
In a recent national bullying survey, 56% of young people said they have seen others be bullied online and 42% have felt unsafe online. Cyber bullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week and it can go viral very fast.
There are many ways of bullying someone online and for some it can take shape in more ways than one.
rumours and gossip. This can be on any site online or on apps. We even hear about people
altering photos of others and posting in online for the purpose of bullying.
common place and it can be difficult to get them closed down.
messages, online apps, gaming sites and other online engagement. This is also a form of
social bullying and a very common.
Help and Support
There are now several organisations set up to help young people, deal with this ever increasing
Problem.
Other Resources:
Reporting an e-safety incident
How to protect learners from online abuse
All learners are provided with individual usernames and passwords for their online portfolios, learners must not share their credentials with another person.
The use of mobile phones is not permitted during classroom sessions, unless this has been authorised prior by the tutor. Consequences and the sanctions for misuse of mobile phones can be found in our Prevent Policy.
Useful links for areas we cover:
Blackburn
Guidance for safer working practice
https://www.lscb.org.uk/guidance-for-safer-working-practice-may-2019/
https://panlancashirescb.proceduresonline.com/chapters/contents.html#policy
Children’s social care
Local social security services for children
(The local authority)
Tel: 01254 666400
Address: Town Hall, King William St, Blackburn, BB1 7DY
Email: CYPReferrals@blackburn.gov.uk
Lead Person for Safeguarding Adults (LPSA)
Name: Adult social services, Town Hall, King William Street, Blackburn. BB1 7DY
Tel: 01254 587547
Email: clo@blackburn.gov.uk
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
If there are concerns about a member of staff who works with children
Tel: 01254585184
Email: Megan.dumpleton@blackburn.gov.uk
Name: Megan Dumpleton
Manchester
Manchester Children and Young People’s Multi-agency Teams
https://www.manchester.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/878/cypmat_glossary.pdf
https://greatermanchesterscb.proceduresonline.com/chapters/contents.html
Children’s social care.
Local social security services for children
(The local authority)
Tel: 0161 603 4500
Address: Salford City Council
Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton
M27 5FJ
Email: CSDBusinessSupport@salford.gov.uk
Lead Person for Safeguarding Adults (LPSA)
Name: Salford Safeguarding
Tel: 0161 794 8888 / 0161 603 4500
Email: worriedaboutachild@salford.gov.uk
Children’s social care.
Local social security services for children
(The local authority)
Tel: 0161 603 4500
Address: Salford City Council
Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton
M27 5FJ
Email: CSDBusinessSupport@salford.gov.uk
C
Liverpool
Liverpool Safeguarding children’s partnership
Jacqui Taylor
LSCB Administrator
Liverpool Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB)
5th Floor
Cunard Building
Water Street
Liverpool
L3 1DS
Tel: 0151 233 0493/0510
Email: Jacquelyn.taylor@liverpool.gov.uk
Relevant to all North West
Keeping children safe in education
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2
The Prevent duty Departmental advice for schools and childcare providers
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-children-from-radicalisation-the-prevent-duty
Mental capacity act information
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mental-capacity-act-making-decisions
Children’s Act 2004
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/contents
Sexual Offences Act 2003
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/contents
No Secrets: guidance on protecting vulnerable adults in care
Child maltreatment: when to suspect maltreatment in under 18s
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg89
Care Act fact sheets
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-2014-part-1-factsheets/care-act-factsheets
Working together to safeguard children
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2
sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-and-safer-recruitment-in-education
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-to-do-if-youre-worried-a-child-is-being-abused--2
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2
Any adult concerned about the safety of a child
National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
Helpline:
0808 800 5000
For parents and carers to Find out what steps or measures they can take to keep children safe.
A child who has concerns:
Childline
0800 1111
If the carer, parent or you are concerned about something which has happened to a child on the internet:
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre
www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre
Action on Elder Abuse
0808 808 8141
Age UK
