Safeguarding and Prevent

Safeguarding Team

Role	Contact Details
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)	Annemarie Schofield · Phone: 0333 224 6589 · Email: safeguarding@io-sphere.io · Available: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead	Lisa Symons · Phone: 0333 224 6589 · Email: safeguarding@io-sphere.io · Available: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Out-of-Hours Emergency	0333 224 6589 · This number is diverted to DSL and Deputy DSL mobile phones · Available: Evenings, weekends, and holidays for urgent safeguarding matters
Board Safeguarding Lead	James Cotton (MD) · For escalation of serious concerns about DSL performance or governance · Email: james@io-sphere.io

1. Introduction

iO-Sphere is committed to safeguarding all learners and apprentices. We have both a statutory duty and a moral duty to ensure that we safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk of harm. Our duty under the Prevent strategy to protect learners and apprentices from radicalisation is included in this policy.

This policy reflects the importance of our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all learners, apprentices, and staff by protecting them from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, bullying, and exploitation. We are committed to providing a caring, friendly, and safe environment for all learners and apprentices so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. All staff; learners, visitors, contractors, and partners have a duty to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns.

This policy applies to all staff, learners, apprentices, visitors, contractors, volunteers, service providers, and subcontractors who work with or encounter children (those under 18), young adults (those aged 18-24), and vulnerable adults (persons aged 18 and over who by reason of mental or other disability, age, or illness are or may be unable to look after themselves or protect themselves against harm or exploitation) through any iO-Sphere programmes.

2. Purpose

This policy aims to:

• Identify the expectations of staff in relation to safeguarding
• Ensure relevant and effective safeguarding practices are in place
• Ensure the right of every learner and apprentice to learn within a safe environment
• Promote awareness that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility
• Ensure the fundamental rights and needs of learners and apprentices are observed
• Prevent abuse through pastoral support and early intervention
• Raise awareness of different types of abuse and safeguarding concerns
• Provide clear procedures for handling matters relating to actual or suspected abuse
• Ensure staff act professionally and within clear boundaries
• Deter unsuitable individuals through rigorous safer recruitment practices
• Comply with all statutory safeguarding requirements including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025

3. Key Definitions

1.  **Children and Young People**

Throughout this policy, reference to 'children and young people' means those under the age of 18. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children's health or development; ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes (KCSIE 2025).

• 1. Adults at Risk of Harm

Adults at risk of harm are people aged 18 years or over who may need or receive community care services by reason of mental health or other disability, age, or illness, and who may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation (No Secrets, Department of Health 2000).

4. Legal Framework and Guidance

This policy has been developed with reference to:

• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
• Counter-terrorism and Security Act 2015
• Counter Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST) 2018
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• Serious Crime Act 2015
• Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
• Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019
• Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
• Equality Act 2010
• Local Safeguarding Partnership procedures

5. Types of Abuse and Safeguarding Concerns

iO-Sphere operates a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse. The following definitions guide our understanding and response to safeguarding concerns.

• 1. Physical Abuse

Physical abuse involves hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm. It may also occur when a parent or carer fabricates symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child or vulnerable adult.

• 1. Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is persistent emotional maltreatment causing severe and persistent adverse effects on emotional development. It may involve conveying that someone is worthless, unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet another person's needs. It includes deliberate silencing, humiliation, age-inappropriate expectations, overprotection, limitation of exploration and learning, preventing participation in normal social interaction, seeing or hearing ill-treatment of others, serious bullying (including cyberbullying), and exploitation or corruption. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment.

• 1. Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child, young person, or adult at risk to take part in sexual activities, whether or not they are aware of what is happening. Activities may involve physical contact (assault by penetration such as rape or oral sex, or non-penetrative acts) or non-contact activities (involving children in viewing or producing sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging sexually inappropriate behaviour, or grooming in preparation for abuse including via the internet).

Sexual harassment refers to unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that violates dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment. It includes sexual comments, jokes, taunts, physical behaviour such as deliberately brushing against someone, and displaying or sharing sexual images.

• 1. Neglect

Neglect is persistent failure to meet basic physical and psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of health or development. For children, this includes failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, protection from harm, adequate supervision, or access to medical care. For adults at risk, neglect includes failure to provide care, assistance, or guidance, and unresponsiveness to basic needs.

• 1. Child-on-Child Abuse (Peer-on-Peer Abuse)

Child-on-child abuse includes physical abuse, sexual violence and sexual harassment, emotional harm, online and offline bullying, relationship abuse, and abuse motivated by perceived differences (race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability). It can result in significant, long-lasting, and traumatic harm. All concerns will be taken seriously and investigated, with support provided to both victims and alleged perpetrators. iO-Sphere recognises that victims of child-on-child abuse may not report abuse due to fear, shame, or normalisation of harmful behaviour.

• 1. Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

CSE is a form of sexual abuse involving manipulation or coercion of young people under 18 into sexual activity in exchange for money, gifts, accommodation, affection, or status. The manipulation often involves befriending children, gaining trust, and grooming over time before abuse begins. No child under 18 can consent to exploitation, even if they believe they are in a consensual relationship.

• 1. Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and County Lines

CCE occurs when an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate, or deceive a child into criminal activity in exchange for something they need or want, or for the financial or other advantage of the perpetrator. County lines is a form of CCE where urban gangs persuade, coerce, or force children to transport and store drugs and money to suburban areas, market towns, and coastal towns. Children may be criminally exploited through gang involvement, knife crime, drug dealing, and other criminal activity.

• 1. Serious Violence

Staff should be aware of indicators which may signal children are at risk from, or involved with, serious violent crime. Indicators include increased absence, changes in friendships or relationships with older individuals or groups, significant decline in performance, signs of self-harm or significant change in wellbeing, signs of assault or unexplained injuries, and unexplained gifts or new possessions.

• 1. Online Safety

Online abuse includes cyberbullying, grooming, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, emotional abuse, and identity theft. Specific online concerns include:

• Youth-produced sexual imagery (sexting): Creation, sharing, and forwarding of sexually suggestive or explicit images
• Cyberbullying: Use of electronic devices to bully via social media, messaging, or gaming platforms
• Online grooming: Building emotional connections with children for sexual exploitation or radicalisation
• Inappropriate content: Exposure to pornography, violence, extremism, or harmful content

iO-Sphere implements filtering and monitoring systems and provides online safety education to all learners during induction and throughout their programme.

• 1. Upskirting

Upskirting is a criminal offence under the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019. It involves taking a photograph under a person's clothing without consent, with the intention of viewing genitals or buttocks for sexual gratification or to cause humiliation, distress, or alarm.

• 1. Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of controlling, coercive, or threatening behaviour, violence, or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. It includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse. Children who live in households where domestic abuse occurs are highly vulnerable and considered victims in their own right.

• 1. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

FGM comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. FGM is illegal in England and Wales under the FGM Act 2003. Staff have a mandatory duty to report known cases of FGM in under-18s to the police (see Section 10).

• 1. Forced Marriage

Forced marriage involves a young person or adult at risk being forced into marriage against their will. It is a form of abuse and a violation of human rights.

• 1. Honour-Based Abuse (HBA)

HBA encompasses incidents or crimes committed to protect or defend the honour of the family or community, including FGM, forced marriage, and physical or emotional abuse. Victims may be at significant risk of serious harm or murder.

5.15 Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

Modern slavery is a serious crime under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

What is Modern Slavery

• Slavery and servitude
• Forced and compulsory labour
• Human trafficking
• Child exploitation (including county lines)

Be alert to these potential indicators:

Employment-related:

• Learner appears controlled by employer
• Not allowed to keep wages or documents
• Working excessive hours without breaks
• Employer threatens deportation or reporting to authorities

Personal indicators:

• Appears frightened, withdrawn, or unwilling to interact
• Has few or no personal possessions
• Appears malnourished or unkempt
• Doesn't know their home or work address
• Unable to move freely or has travel documents held by someone else

What to do if you suspect modern slavery

• Report immediately to the DSL on 0333 224 6589
• DSL will contact police and/or Modern Slavery Helpline (0800 0121 700)
• Do not attempt to investigate or confront potential perpetrators
• Support the potential victim but do not promise confidentiality

5.16 Contextual Safeguarding

What is Contextual Safeguarding

Contextual safeguarding recognises that young people can be vulnerable to abuse or exploitation from outside their family. Staff should consider the wider environmental factors in a young person's life that may be a threat to their safety or welfare.

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

Key Context to consider

Peer groups

Key Context to consider

• Gang involvement or association
• Negative peer influences
• Bullying or exploitation by peers

Workplace

• Exploitation by employer
• Inappropriate relationships with colleagues
• Unsafe working conditions

Neighbourhood

• Crime or anti-social behaviour in local area
• Association with adults of concern
• Frequenting areas known for exploitation risks

Online

• Online grooming or exploitation
• Exposure to harmful content
• Cyberbullying

Applying Contextual Safeguarding

When assessing safeguarding concerns:

Applying Contextual Safeguarding

• Look beyond the family home
• Consider all environments where the learner spends time
• Identify who has influence over the learner
• Assess risks from peers, workplace, neighbourhood, and online
• Share concerns with DSL who will coordinate multi-agency response

6. Prevent Duty and Radicalisation

iO-Sphere is fully committed to the Prevent duty under the Counter-terrorism and Security Act 2015. Radicalisation is defined as the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism. Extremism is vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

British Values: All staff are expected to uphold and promote:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
  1. Potential Indicators of Radicalisation
• Use of inappropriate or extreme language
• Possession of violent extremist literature or symbols
• Behavioural changes or withdrawal from friends and activities
• Expression of extremist views
• Advocating violent actions or means
• Association with known extremists
• Seeking to recruit others to an extremist ideology
  1. Channel Referral Process

Channel is an early intervention multi-agency process designed to safeguard vulnerable people from being drawn into violent extremist or terrorist behaviour. It works with individuals of any age who are at risk of exploitation by extremist ideologies.

How to refer to Channel:

• Report concerns to the DSL immediately
• DSL will assess the concern and consult with local Prevent coordinator
• DSL will make referral to Channel if appropriate
• Channel panel (chaired by local authority) will assess risk and develop support package if needed
• Participation is voluntary and requires the individual's consent

Designated Prevent leads: Lisa Symons and Annemarie Schofield (safeguarding@io-sphere.io)

7. Roles and Responsibilities

1.  **Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)**

DSL: Annemarie Schofield (safeguarding@io-sphere.io)

The DSL has lead responsibility for:

• Acting as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns
• Managing referrals to local authority children's social care, police, and Channel
• Working with external agencies including local safeguarding partnerships
• Ensuring all staff receive appropriate safeguarding and Prevent training
• Maintaining secure, accurate safeguarding records
• Ensuring this policy is reviewed annually and kept up to date
• Providing regular reports to senior leadership and the Board on safeguarding matters
• Liaising with Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) regarding allegations against staff
• Undertaking DSL training every two years with annual updates
  1. Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Deputy DSL: Lisa Symons (safeguarding@io-sphere.io)

The Deputy DSL is trained to the same level as the DSL and acts in the DSL's absence. The Deputy DSL provides additional capacity for safeguarding work and ensures continuity when the DSL is unavailable.

Out-of-hours emergency safeguarding contact: [03332246589]

• 1. All Staff Responsibilities

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. All staff must:

• Be vigilant and recognise signs of abuse, neglect, or radicalisation
• Report any safeguarding concerns immediately to the DSL
• Record concerns accurately and promptly using the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Form
• Maintain confidentiality and share information only on a need-to-know basis
• Attend mandatory annual safeguarding and Prevent training
• Read and understand this policy and Part One of KCSIE 2025
• Maintain professional boundaries with learners at all times
• Report low-level concerns about staff conduct that do not meet the harm threshold
• Consider contextual safeguarding and wider environmental factors
• Never promise confidentiality when a learner discloses abuse

8. Staff Training Requirements

All staff will receive appropriate safeguarding training to enable them to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. Training requirements are as follows:

• Induction: All new staff receive safeguarding training during induction, including reading Part One of KCSIE 2025, this policy, staff code of conduct, and the identity of the DSL and Deputy DSL
• All Staff Annual Training: Level 2 safeguarding and Prevent training updated annually
• DSL Training: Formal DSL training every two years with annual updates on changes in legislation and local safeguarding procedures
• Safer Recruitment: At least one member of every recruitment panel must have completed safer recruitment training
• Specialist Training: Staff with specific responsibilities (e.g., mental health first aiders) receive additional training as appropriate
• Ad-hoc Updates: All staff receive regular bulletins and briefings on emerging safeguarding concerns and changes to procedures

Training records are maintained by the DSL and reviewed annually to ensure compliance. All staff currently hold Safeguarding and Prevent qualification and some staff are trained mental health first aiders.

Allegations Against Staff Procedure

What Constitutes an Allegation

An allegation is any information suggesting that a member of staff, volunteer, or contractor has:

• Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child or adult at risk
• Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child or adult at risk
• Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm
• Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children or adults at risk (transferable risk)

Reporting Procedure

Step 1 Report Immediately

• If the allegation is about the DSL, report to the Deputy DSL or MD (James Cotton)
• If the allegation is about any other staff member, report to the DSL immediately
• Call 0333 224 6589 or email safeguarding@io-sphere.io marked "URGENT - ALLEGATION"

Step 2: Preserve Information

• Do not investigate yourself
• Do not discuss with the person against whom the allegation is made
• Do not discuss with other staff members
• Write down exactly what was said or observed

Step 3: DSL Actions (within 24 hours)

• Contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
• Discuss whether the allegation meets the threshold for LADO involvement
• If threshold is met, LADO will coordinate investigation with police/social care as needed
• If threshold is not met, manage as a low-level concern or HR matter

Step 4: Ongoing Management

DSL will inform the Managing Director

Risk assessment completed to determine if suspension or redeployment is necessary

Support offered to the person making the allegation and to the person subject to the allegation

Regular updates provided to all parties as appropriate

Timescales

Action	Timescale
Initial report to DSL/LADO	Within 24 hours
LADO initial discussion	Within 3 working days
Investigation completion	Aim for 1 month, max 3 months

9. Safer Recruitment and Vetting

iO-Sphere is committed to safer recruitment practices to ensure unsuitable individuals are prevented from working with learners and apprentices.

• 1. DBS Checks and Barred List Checks

All staff, consultants, and trainers working with children, young people, or vulnerable adults must have:

• An enhanced DBS check with barred list check completed before starting work
• Registration with the DBS Update Service to enable annual checks without new applications
• Where staff are not registered with the Update Service, a new enhanced DBS check will be obtained every three years as a minimum, or sooner if concerns arise.

It is a criminal offence to knowingly employ someone who is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults in regulated activity. Where someone is barred but the role is 'controlled activity' rather than 'regulated activity', a decision on employment will be made by iO-Sphere Directors with appropriate safeguards in place.

• 1. References and Employment History
• Two professional references are required for all staff, consultants, and trainers
• References are verified directly with the referee
• Employment history gaps are explored and documented
• Previous employers are asked specifically about suitability to work with children and any disciplinary matters
  1. Interview and Selection
• At least one member of every interview panel has completed safer recruitment training
• Face-to-face interviews explore candidates' suitability to work with learners
• Values-based questions assess alignment with safeguarding and British Values
• Candidates' online presence is reviewed as part of due diligence checks (KCSIE 2025 requirement)
• Any concerns about suitability result in rejection at interview stage
  1. Single Central Record (SCR)

iO-Sphere maintains a Single Central Record of all recruitment and vetting checks. The SCR includes:

• Identity checks
• Right to work in the UK
• Enhanced DBS check with barred list check
• Qualifications relevant to the role
• Professional references
• Safeguarding and Prevent training completion
• Prohibition from teaching checks (where applicable)

The SCR is audited regularly and reviewed by senior management. Further details on recruitment and selection are in the Recruitment and Selection Policy.

10. Responding to Disclosures and Concerns

Abused children, young people, and vulnerable adults are more likely to disclose details of abuse to someone they trust and feel safe with. By listening and taking seriously what they say, you are already helping the situation.

Response Times

Urgency Level	Response Time	Examples
IMMEDIATE(Red)	Contact immediatelySame day response required	• Immediate risk• Disclosure of current abuse• FGM disclosure (under 18)• Suicidal ideation• Witnessing harm
URGENT(Amber)	Within 24 hours	• Concerns about wellbeing• Potential radicalisation indicators• Unexplained injuries• Significant behaviour changes• Disclosure of historical abuse
ROUTINE(Green)	Within 3 working days	• Low-level concerns• General wellbeing check-ins• Policy queries• Training questions

Mental Health First Aiders

iO-Sphere has trained Mental Health First Aiders who can provide initial support to learners experiencing mental health difficulties. These staff members have completed Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) training.

How to access Mental Health First Aid support:

• Contact the DSL or Deputy DSL who will connect you with an available Mental Health First Aider
  1. If Someone Discloses Abuse to You

DO:

• React calmly and listen carefully
• Take what they say seriously and reassure them they were right to tell someone
• Tell them it is not their fault
• Explain that you need to share this information with the DSL to keep them safe
• Ask only clarifying questions to ensure you understand what has been said
• Record what was said in their own words immediately on the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Form
• Note any physical signs of abuse using a body map if appropriate
• Report to the DSL immediately (same day)

DO NOT:

• Promise confidentiality - explain you must share to keep them safe
• Ask leading questions or put words in their mouth
• Investigate yourself - this is the role of statutory agencies
• Discuss the disclosure with anyone other than the DSL
• Contact parents/carers yourself (the DSL will decide on appropriate action)
• Make judgements about whether abuse has occurred - report concerns, don't investigate
  1. Mandatory Reporting: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

FGM is illegal in England and Wales under the FGM Act 2003. There is a mandatory reporting duty for regulated professionals.

If you:

• Are informed by a girl under 18 that FGM has been carried out on her, OR
• Observe physical signs that FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under 18

You must report to the police by the close of the next working day. This is a personal duty and cannot be transferred (though you should also inform the DSL). Failure to report is a criminal offence.

Call 101 (non-emergency police) or the FGM helpline: 0800 028 3550. The DSL will support you through this process.

Note: This duty applies to girls under 18 at the time of disclosure. For adults who disclose historical FGM, report to the DSL who will follow safeguarding procedures but police reporting is not mandatory.

11. Record Keeping and Information Sharing

Accurate and timely record-keeping is essential for effective safeguarding. All safeguarding concerns must be recorded, even if they do not lead to referral.

• 1. Recording Requirements
• All concerns must be recorded on the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Form immediately
• Records must be factual, accurate, and dated
• Use the learner's own words where possible, especially for disclosures
• Distinguish between fact, observation, allegation, and opinion
• Include dates, times, and details of any witnesses
• Record the learner's demeanour and emotional state
• Note any visible injuries using a body map
  1. Record Retention
• Safeguarding records for children and young people are retained until the learner's 25th birthday (in line with GDPR and statutory guidance)
• Records for adults at risk are retained for 7 years after the case closes, or longer if serious harm occurred
• Records are stored securely with access limited to the DSL, Deputy DSL, and senior management as appropriate
• When a learner transfers, safeguarding records are transferred securely to the receiving organisation with appropriate consent
  1. Information Sharing

Safeguarding requires effective information sharing between professionals and agencies. Information sharing is governed by:

• Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR: Safeguarding is a lawful basis for processing personal data, including special category data
• Seven Golden Rules of Information Sharing (HM Government): Remember that GDPR and data protection legislation are not barriers to sharing information where it is necessary to safeguard a child or vulnerable adult
• Need to know basis: Information is shared only with those who need it to protect the learner

The DSL will:

• Decide what information to share with external agencies
• Seek consent where appropriate (though consent is not always required if sharing is necessary to protect from harm)
• Record all information sharing decisions and rationale
• Inform learners when information is shared, unless doing so would place them or others at increased risk

12. Whistle Blowing

12.1 What is Whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing is raising a concern about wrongdoing, risk, or malpractice within the organisation. Staff have a duty to raise concerns about:

Safeguarding practice that puts learners at risk

• Failure to follow safeguarding procedures
• Covering up poor practice
• Failure to act on safeguarding concerns
• Criminal activity
• Serious breaches of policy or law

12.2 How to Raise a Whistleblowing Concern

Internal Routes (use first):

1. Report to your line manager or the DSL

2. If concern is about the DSL, report to the Managing Director (James Cotton)

3. If concern is about the Managing Director, report to the Board Safeguarding Lead or external agencies

External Routes (if internal routes are inappropriate or have failed):

• NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline: 0800 028 0285 (help@nspcc.org.uk)
• Ofsted: 0300 123 1231 (whistleblowing@ofsted.gov.uk)
• Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
• Police (if criminal activity suspected)

12.3 Protection for Whistleblowers

iO-Sphere is committed to protecting staff who raise genuine concerns:

• You will not face disciplinary action for raising concerns in good faith
• You will be protected from victimisation or detriment
• Your concerns will be taken seriously and investigated appropriately
• You will receive feedback on the outcome where possible

IMPORTANT: If you are unsure whether to raise a concern, on the side of caution and report it. It is always better to raise a concern that turns out to be unfounded than to remain silent about a serious issue.

13 Governance and Oversight

In line with KCSIE 2025, safeguarding and Prevent are overseen by the iO-Sphere Board. The Board has designated responsibility for challenging and supporting safeguarding arrangements to ensure effectiveness.

• Designated Board Member for Safeguarding: James Cotton provides scrutiny and oversight
• Quarterly Safeguarding Reports: The DSL provides reports to the Board including anonymised case numbers, trends, training compliance, and policy updates
• Annual Safeguarding Audit: The DSL conducts an annual audit of safeguarding practice, including case file reviews, training compliance, and policy effectiveness
• Policy Review: The Board ensures this policy is reviewed at least annually, or sooner if legislation or local safeguarding arrangements change

Annex 1: National and Regional Contacts

Service	Contact
NSPCC Helpline	0808 800 5000
Childline	0800 1111
FGM Helpline	0800 028 3550
Police (non-emergency)	101
Police (emergency)	999
City of London LADO	LADO@cityoflondon.gov.ukTel: 07795 090649
City of London Prevent	prevent@cityoflondon.police.ukTel: 020 7601 2442

For learners outside London: Staff should contact the local LADO and Prevent coordinator for the area where the learner is located. Contact details can be found via the local authority website or by contacting the DSL for assistance.

The 8 Step Safeguarding Referral Process

When a learner reports safeguarding or welfare concern, follow these steps:

The 8 Step Safeguarding Referral Process

1	Identify & Document (Coach)As soon as you become aware of a safeguarding or wellbeing concern:• Listen carefully to the learner without judgment• Take the concern seriously• Do NOT promise confidentiality• Record what the learner says in their own words• Note date, time, location, and any witnesses• Use the Safeguarding Referral Form

2	Submit Referral (Coach)Email completed Safeguarding Referral Form to:safeguarding@io-sphere.ioFor urgent concerns, also call:0333 224 6589Submit within 24 hours of the concern arisingFor immediate risks, call FIRST then submit form

3	DSL Receipt & AssessmentThe Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) will:• Acknowledge receipt of referral within 24 hours• Review all information provided• Contact the coach for any clarification needed• Assess the urgency and nature of concern

4	Categorize & Risk Assess (DSL)DSL determines:• Is this a SAFEGUARDING concern (risk of harm)?• Or a WELLBEING concern (support needed)?• What is the level of risk? (Red/Amber/Green)• Does this require external agency involvement?

5	DSL Creates Action Plan & GuidanceBased on assessment, DSL will:• Develop appropriate action plan• Determine if external referral needed (social care, police, etc.)• Provide clear guidance to coach on next steps• Identify support services needed• Set review dates and milestones

6	Coach Implementation & Follow-ThroughCoach implements DSL guidance with DSL/Deputy DSL support:• Follow action plan as directed• Provide ongoing support to learner• Maintain professional boundaries• Document all interactions and progress• Report any changes or new concerns immediately• Liaise regularly with DSL

7	DSL Monitoring & ReviewDSL maintains oversight:• Regular check-ins with coach and learner (as appropriate)• Monitor progress against action plan• Coordinate with external agencies where involved• Adjust plan as needed based on developments• Ensure safeguarding remains paramount

8	DSL ClosureDSL determines next steps:CLOSE CASE when:• Risk has been mitigated• Learner is safe and supported• All actions completed successfully• No ongoing concernsCONTINUE MONITORING when:• Situation is improving but not yet resolved• Ongoing support needed• External agencies still involvedESCALATE when:• Risk increases• New concerns emerge• External intervention required