Safeguarding & Prevent Duty Policy

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:

  • protecting vulnerable adults/children from abuse and maltreatment
  • preventing harm to vulnerable adults/children’s health or development
  • ensuring vulnerable adults/children have the provision of safe and effective care
  • taking action to enable all children, young people & vulnerable adults to have the best outcomes.

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:

  • To challenge the ideology that supports terrorism.
  • To protect vulnerable people.
  • To support sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation.

 

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:

  • Providing a safe environment for all staff and learners (including apprentices).
  • An awareness of and adopting safeguarding guidelines through our academy procedures and policies.
  • A code of conduct for the team
  • Making staff and learners aware that we take child and vulnerable adult protection seriously and respond to all concerns.
  • Sharing information about concerns and involving parents and children appropriately.
  • Following carefully the procedures for staff recruitment and selection and, where appropriate, requesting enhanced criminal records checks.
  • Providing effective management for staff by ensuring access to supervision, support and training.
  • Ensuring all staff are up to date with safeguarding training.
  • Being responsible to safeguard and promote the welfare of all young people and vulnerable adults is of paramount importance.
  • To work in partnership with other agencies to promote the welfare of young people and keep young people safe.

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: 

  • Confidentiality policy
  • Equal opportunities policy
  • Equality and diversity policy


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

The role of the Designated Safeguarding Officer

Designated Safeguarding Officers have a number of responsibilities, including:

  • Drawing up and enforcing the company’s safeguarding policy.
  • Being alert to and recognising welfare issues, being sure to challenge poor practice.
  • Sharing appropriate information with relevant people.
  • Checking the List of Children to see who is subject to a Child Protection Plan.
  • Gathering any other relevant information and evidence.
  • Consulting local safeguarding children board procedures for additional information and guidance if needed.
  • Making referrals to social services when appropriate.
  • Continue working with the family, sharing information and contributing to plans if the concern is investigated.
  • Ensuring that all staff having contact with children, vulnerable adults and/or their families have received appropriate training on safeguarding issues.
  • Being the first point-of-call for all staff who have safeguarding concerns.


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:

  • Information held at the academy regarding learners is managed appropriately and the team all understand the need for confidentiality.
  • The individual needs of each learner are respected.
  • The background and culture of all learners is respected.
  • Academy procedures ensure the safety of learners at all times.


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: 

  • if an individual and/or their family have experienced abuse they may worry about the perpetrator tracing them online
  • Individuals who choose not to have contact with some members of their family may decide to minimise their online presence
  • families may have religious or cultural reasons for choosing not to be photographed.

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:

  • Cautions
  • Warnings
  • Reprimands
  • Convictions
  • Check if the applicant is on the barred list for children and/or adults
  • Information disclosed from the applicant’s local police station


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.

Safeguarding Definitions


  • A child is anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday.
  • A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who is, or may be, in need of community care services or is resident in a continuing care facility by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness or who is, or may be, unable to take care of him or herself or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.
  • Parent refers to birth parents and other adults who are in a parenting role, for example step-parents, foster carers and adoptive parents or legal guardian 
  • DSL refers to the nominated Designated Safeguarding Lead who acts as a source of support and expertise to the Smart Dental Academy community for safeguarding and Prevent matters 
  • DO refers to the appropriately trained Designated Officers and, in the absence of the designated person, carries out those functions necessary to ensure the ongoing safety and protection of young peoples 
  • LSCB refers to the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board(s) 
  • LSAB refers to the Local Safeguarding Adult’s Board(s) 
  • LADO refers to the Local Authority Designated Officer 
  • Prevent is a government strategy aimed at stopping people being drawn into terrorism; the duty in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 on specified authorities, including Smart Dental Academy, is to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism 
  • Channel is part of the Prevent strategy. The process is a multi-agency approach to identify and provide support to individuals who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism 


 

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:


  • through a direct allegation (sometimes termed a ‘disclosure’) made by the child, vulnerable adult, a parent or some other person
  • through signs and symptoms which are suggestive of physical abuse or neglect
  • or through observations of child behaviour or parent-child interaction; or observation of the vulnerable adult and the relationship they have with their carer.


Non-Accidental Injuries

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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

  • Fractures
  • Bruising 
  • Burns 
  • Pain
  • Marks
  • Not wanting to be touched

Psychological abuse including: Emotional abuse, Verbal abuse, Humiliation, Bullying, The use of threats.

Possible Signs

  • Being withdrawn
  • Too eager to do everything they are asked
  • Showing compulsive behaviour
  • Not being able to do things they used to
  • Not being able to concentrate or focus

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 

  • Having unusual difficulty with finances
  • Not having enough money
  • Being too protective of money and things they own
  • Not paying bills not having normal home comforts

Sexual abuse including: Direct or indirect sexual activity where the vulnerable adult cannot or does not agree to it.

Possible Signs

  • Physical symptoms include genital itching or soreness or having a sexually transmitted disease
  • Using bad language
  • Not wanting to be touched
  • Behaving in a sexually inappropriate way
  • Changes in appearance


Neglect or Acts of Omission including: Withdrawing or not giving the help that a vulnerable adult need, so causing them to suffer.

Possible Signs

  • Having pain or discomfort
  • Being very hungry, thirsty or untidy
  • Failing health
  • Changes in behaviour

Discriminatory abuse including: abusing a person because of their ethnic origin, religion, language, age, sexuality, gender or disability.


Possible Signs

  • The person is not receiving the care services they require
  • Their carer is overly critical or makes insulting remarks about the person
  • The person is made to dress differently from how they wish

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.

  • The team will discuss their concerns with the program director who will then make a decision to contact Social Services seeking the learner’s permission to refer-unless doing so would put the learner at greater risk. (If the carer is abusive or violent, or sexual abuse by a family member is suspected)

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:

  • Unexplained recurrent injuries or burns
  • Improbable excuses or refusal to explain injuries
  • Wearing clothes to cover injuries even in hot weather
  • Bald patches
  • Self-destructive tendencies
  • Aggression towards others
  • Fear of physical contact – shrinking back if touched
  • Admitting that they are punished, but the punishment is excessive (such as a child being beaten every night to make him study)
  • Fear of suspected abuser being contacted


Sexual Abuse:

  • Being overly affectionate or knowledgeable in a sexual way
  • Other extreme reactions, such as depression, self-mutilation, suicide attempts, running away, overdoses, anorexia
  • Personality changes such as becoming insecure or clinging
  • Regressing to younger behaviour such as thumb sucking
  • Being isolated or withdrawn
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Lack of trust or fear in someone they know well

Emotional Abuse:

  • Physical, mental and emotional development lags
  • Sudden speech disorders
  • Continual self-depreciation (I'm stupid ugly worthless etc)
  • Overreaction to mistakes
  • Extreme fear of any new situation
  • Inappropriate response to pain (I deserve this)
  • Neurotic behaviour (rocking, hair twisting, self-mutilation)
  • Extremes of passivity or aggression

Neglect:

  • Constant hunger
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Constant tiredness
  • Poor state of clothing
  • Emaciation
  • Untreated medical problems
  • No social relationships
  • Compulsive scavenging
  • Destructive tendencies

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:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-sexual-exploitation-definition-and-guide-for-practitioners

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:

  • Discuss your concerns with the Program Director who will then refer this on to the appropriate Social Services in the area: 
  • LCSB – the local Child Safeguarding Board, who are responsible for child safeguarding. Every local authority has a Local Safeguarding Children Board. LSCBs are responsible for the arrangements for protecting children and young people. 
  • SAB – the local Safeguarding Adults Board, who are responsible for adult safeguarding. Every local authority has a Local Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB), which is responsible for local arrangements for safeguarding vulnerable adults living in the area. If you think that a vulnerable adult has suffered from or may be at risk of suffering from harm you should contact the SAB. If the patient has mental capacity, obtain consent before discussing their situation with any third party. 
  • LADO – the local Authority Designated Officer, is consulted if there are safeguarding concerns about a member of the team or somebody who works with children. If you need to contact your Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), contact your Social Services.

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:

  • Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child
  • Possibly committed a criminal offence against children, or related to a child
  • Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates s/he is unsuitable to work with children


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:

  • Appointing at least one Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Lead (also called the Designated Person, safeguarding lead or Safeguarding Champion)
  • Adopting a policy and procedure on safeguarding and safety of children and vulnerable adults.
  • Regular team training
  • Carrying out appropriate team checks with DBS 



When not to discuss your suspicions with the parent or carer

  • If the discussion may increase the risk to the child or vulnerable adult
  • If the discussion could hinder a police or social services investigation
  • If the parent or carer is violent or difficult and the discussion may put yourself or others at risk
  • If you suspect sexual abuse
  • If you suspect Munchausen's syndrome, now known as fabricated or induced illness. When a parent or carer, exaggerates or deliberately causes symptoms of illness in an individual.


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

  • Refer the person to A&E, with the consent of the parent or carer, telephone A&E to explain that the patient is being referred by you
  • If you cannot obtain consent, contact social services and if necessary, the police.



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 England the DBS referral helpline: 01325 953795
  • Local police


In summary the team must

  • Be must be observant 
  • Record any concerns, with time, date and signature, do not ask probing or leading questions
  • Do not waste time, act quickly
  • Discuss concerns with the local social care services as necessary, anonymously until you have decided to make a referral
  • Dial 999 for the police in an emergency, refer to A&E for any emergency treatment
  • Observe confidentiality and do not discuss matters with your family and friends
  • Keep full and accurate contemporaneous records including the factors leading to the suspicions, the details of any injury or any other sign and the actions taken by the team


Informing ESFA about serious safeguarding incidents 

  • The ESFA includes safeguarding clauses in the funding agreements and contract. Whilst the local authority and the institution have primary duties in respect of safeguarding, the Secretary of State (SoS) has a general duty to promote the wellbeing of children in England under section 7 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008. 
  • The ESFA’s role is to provide assurance to the SoS, in meeting this general duty, that the right organisations are taking action to keep all learners safe. For this reason, the Smart Dental Academy program director/contractor must inform the ESFA when Smart Dental Academy is the subject of an investigation by the local authority or the police. 
  • In such circumstances, the program director/contractor must email Enquiries.EFA@education.gov.uk. ESFA will need to know the name of the institution, the nature of the incident and confirmation that it is, or is scheduled to be investigated by the local authority and/or the police. 
  • The ESFA will not ask for, or require any information that could be used to identify individuals or any information that will impact on our data protection duties.

The circumstances in which ESFA funded providers should inform ESFA of safeguarding referrals/concerns: 

  • The main issues/referrals ESFA want to be notified about, where any funded learners are concerned, are those that result in police investigations. ESFA needs to be sighted on these cases and satisfied the right action is in hand by responsible bodies. 
  • Once ESFA has been alerted that a serious safeguarding incident has taken place at an ESFA funded institution, ESFA will ensure the SoS is made aware. ESFA will then liaise with the organisations that have the primary duty. ESFA will take the action they deem necessary in accordance with the funding agreement.

Information to be provided to ESFA about Prevent referrals to Channel panels 

  • The ESFA will only require institutions to inform them when we, or our contractor, are the subject of an investigation by the local authority or the police in connection with a Prevent issue. In such circumstances, the program director/contactor must email Enquiries.EFA@education.gov.uk.


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:

  1. Presumption of capacity

A person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity

  1. Right to all practical assistance and support

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

  1. Right to make unwise decisions
  2. A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision merely because they make an unwise decision


  1. Act only in a person’s best interests

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

  1. Least restrictive alternative


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:

  • Educate staff and learners about e- safety issues and appropriate behaviours so that they remain safe
  • Help learners develop critical thinking skills to reflect and enable them to keep themselves safe
  • Keep any personal data and information secure
  • Minimise the risks of handling sensitive information

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.

  • Harassment - This is the act of sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages and being abusive. Nasty or humiliating comments on posts, photos and in chat rooms. Being explicitly offensive on gaming sites.


  • Denigration - This is when someone may send information about another person that is fake, damaging and untrue. Sharing photos of someone for the purpose to ridicule, spreading fake 

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.


  • Impersonation - This is when someone will hack into someone’s email or social networking account and use the person's online identity to send or post vicious or embarrassing material to/about others. The making up of fake profiles on social network sites, apps and online are 

common place and it can be difficult to get them closed down.


  • Outing and Trickery - This is when someone may share personal information about another or trick someone into revealing secrets and forward it to others. They may also do this with private images and videos too.


  • Cyberstalking - This is the act of repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm, harassment, intimidating messages, or engaging in other online activities that make a person afraid for his or her safety. The actions may be illegal too depending on what they are doing.


  • Exclusion - This is when others intentionally leave someone out of a group such as group

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.


www.fixers.org.uk

www.bullying.co.uk

www.internetmatters.org

www.kidpower.org

 Cyberbullying


Other Resources:

 

Reporting an e-safety incident

How to protect learners from online abuse

Sexual exploitation

 

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

http://www.lscb.org.uk/

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

 

https://liverpool.gov.uk/council/strategies-plans-and-policies/children-and-families/safeguarding-childrens-procedure/


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

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/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/sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-between-children-in-schools-and-colleges

prevent duty guidance: for further education institutions in england and wales


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance

safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-and-safer-recruitment-in-education

child abuse concerns: guide for practitioners

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-to-do-if-youre-worried-a-child-is-being-abused--2

working together to safeguard children

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


www.nspcc.org.uk


For parents and carers to Find out what steps or measures they can take to keep children safe.

www.safenetwork.org.uk

A child who has concerns:

Childline

0800 1111

www.childline.org.uk


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

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs78_safeguarding_older_people_from_abuse_fcs.pdf