¶ Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Version: 3.0 | Status: Active | Last Updated: July 17, 2025 | Next Review: July 1, 2026
Responsible Officer: Designated Safeguarding Lead
Full policy: nsemm.org.uk/policies/safeguarding/safeguarding-policy
¶ 1. Purpose and Scope
NSEMM is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people, and at-risk adults who engage with our services. The welfare of the child is paramount.
This policy applies to all NSEMM staff, volunteers, trustees, and anyone working on behalf of NSEMM, covering all children ages 7-25 who participate in tutoring, mentoring, and educational activities, whether delivered online or in person.
This policy is underpinned by:
- Children Act 1989 and 2004
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
- Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023
- The Education Act 2002
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
- Sexual Offences Act 2003
- Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Equality Act 2010
- Data Protection Act 2018 / UK GDPR
- Online Safety Act 2023
- Child/Young Person: Anyone under the age of 18
- At-risk adult: A person aged 18 or over who may need care and support, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and is unable to protect themselves
- Safeguarding: Protecting children and at-risk adults from maltreatment, preventing impairment of health or development, ensuring safe and effective care, and enabling the best outcomes
- Child Protection: Part of safeguarding that refers to activities undertaken to protect specific children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm
- The welfare of the child is paramount
- All children have the right to protection from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, religion, or belief
- All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to promptly and appropriately
- Staff and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns
- NSEMM will work in partnership with parents, carers, and other agencies to safeguard children
¶ 5. Safeguarding Leadership and Arrangements
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Adrian Angol-Henry
- Email: dsl@nsemm.org.uk
- Responsible for coordinating safeguarding arrangements, managing concerns, liaising with external agencies
Deputy DSL: As appointed by the Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees: Holds ultimate responsibility for safeguarding, ensuring adequate resources, reviewing policy annually, and appointing the DSL.
¶ 6. Risk Assessment and Management
NSEMM conducts comprehensive risk assessments for all activities including:
- Online tutoring and mentoring sessions
- In-person activities at community venues
- Volunteer recruitment and management
- Technology and platform safety
- Travel and transport arrangements
Risk assessments are reviewed annually or when circumstances change significantly.
All concerns are logged and managed through NSEMM Protect (protect.nsemm.org.uk). The system provides:
- Secure concern recording and tracking
- Chronological case management
- Automated keyword detection for safeguarding triggers
- Audit trail of all actions taken
- Information sharing controls
¶ 8. Recognising Abuse and Neglect
Staff and volunteers are trained to recognise the following types of abuse:
Hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.
Persistent emotional maltreatment causing severe and adverse effects on emotional development. This may include conveying worthlessness, imposing inappropriate expectations, causing fear, exploitation, or corruption.
Forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. Includes contact and non-contact activities, grooming, and online sexual abuse.
Persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs likely to result in serious impairment of the child's health or development.
- Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
- Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and County Lines
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
- Radicalisation and Extremism
- Domestic Abuse
- Online Abuse
- Peer-on-Peer / Child-on-Child Abuse
- Honour-Based Abuse
- Modern Slavery and Trafficking
- Self-Harm and Suicide
- Mental Health
Be alert to signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Trust your instincts.
- Listen carefully and take what the child says seriously
- Do not promise confidentiality
- Do not ask leading questions
- Reassure the child that they have done the right thing
Submit a concern through NSEMM Protect (protect.nsemm.org.uk) as soon as possible. Include:
- What was said or observed (using the child's own words)
- Date, time, and location
- Names of those involved
- Any visible injuries or signs of distress
- The DSL will review all concerns within 24 hours (urgent matters faster)
- Emergency situations: Call 999 immediately, then notify NSEMM
The DSL will:
- Review the concern and assess risk level
- Gather additional information if needed
- Decide on appropriate action (internal support, referral to external agencies, or both)
- Make referrals to Children's Social Care, Police, or other agencies as appropriate
- Record all decisions and actions taken
- Monitor ongoing concerns and review regularly
NSEMM follows the seven golden rules of information sharing:
- Remember that GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 are not barriers to justified information sharing
- Be open and honest with individuals about why, what, how, and with whom information will be shared
- Seek advice when in doubt
- Where possible, share information with consent
- Consider safety and well-being
- Information shared should be necessary, proportionate, relevant, adequate, accurate, timely, and secure
- Keep a record of your decision and the reasons for it
NSEMM works in partnership with:
- Local Authority Children's Social Care
- Police (including Child Exploitation Teams)
- NHS and health services
- Schools and educational institutions
- NSPCC
- Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships
- Ofsted (where applicable)
- Channel Programme (Prevent)
¶ 13. Managing Allegations Against Staff and Volunteers
All allegations against staff and volunteers are taken seriously and managed in accordance with statutory guidance. Procedures include:
- Immediate risk assessment
- Suspension or reassignment where necessary
- Referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) within one working day
- Investigation following due process
- Support for the individual subject to allegations
- Record keeping regardless of outcome
A low-level concern is any concern that an adult working with NSEMM may have acted in a way that:
- Is inconsistent with the staff code of conduct
- Does not meet the allegations threshold
- Is not considered serious enough to consider a referral to the LADO
Low-level concerns should still be reported to the DSL, recorded, and reviewed to identify patterns of behaviour.
NSEMM follows safer recruitment practices including:
- Enhanced DBS checks with Children's Barred List for all staff and volunteers in regulated activity
- At least two professional references
- Verification of identity, qualifications, and right to work
- Safeguarding-focused interview questions
- Probationary periods with regular review
See the Safer Recruitment and Volunteer Management Policy for full details.
¶ 16. Training and Development
All staff and volunteers receive:
- Safeguarding induction before commencing duties
- Annual safeguarding refresher training (including online modules)
- Role-specific safeguarding training
- Updates on emerging safeguarding issues and legislation changes
The DSL completes advanced safeguarding training every two years.
Given that NSEMM delivers education primarily online, specific measures include:
- All sessions recorded for safeguarding and quality purposes
- Automated content monitoring and keyword detection
- Secure platforms with appropriate access controls
- Prohibition on private communication channels between staff and students
- Digital safety guidance for students and families
See the Online Safety Policy for full details.
All tutoring and mentoring sessions are recorded for safeguarding and quality assurance purposes:
- Recordings stored securely for minimum 180 days
- Access restricted to DSL and authorised managers
- Under-18s can request recording deletion (with safeguarding exceptions)
- Parents have equivalent deletion rights
- Extended retention for safeguarding investigations
Staff and volunteers who have concerns about safeguarding practices within NSEMM should report them through the whistleblowing procedure. NSEMM protects whistleblowers from retaliation or detriment.
See the Whistleblowing Policy for full details.
¶ 20. Review and Monitoring
This policy is reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees, or more frequently if:
- There are changes in legislation or statutory guidance
- Following a significant safeguarding incident
- As recommended by external review or inspection
| Contact |
Details |
| Designated Safeguarding Lead |
Adrian Angol-Henry, dsl@nsemm.org.uk |
| NSEMM Protect |
protect.nsemm.org.uk |
| Childline |
0800 1111 (free, confidential, 24/7) |
| NSPCC Helpline |
0808 800 5000 |
| Emergency Services |
999 |