Sense College East Safeguarding Statement January 2022
Sense College East endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where everyone is respected and valued. We work with learners, parents and families, carers, staff and visitors to achieve this. To support this the college works with local safeguarding partners (local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and the chief officer of police for the area) to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
The college will be alert for signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures or the Local Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB) procedures / multi agency safeguarding hubs (MASH) as appropriate; to ensure that people accessing Sense College services receive appropriate and effective support and protection.
Parents/carers should know that the law requires college staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about the welfare of a child, young person or adult who may be vulnerable; including risk from neglect, physical, emotional, financial or sexual abuse. The college would like to make parents/carers aware that records of welfare concerns may be kept. College staff will, in general, seek to discuss any concerns with them including referrals to other agencies. However, where the supported person is suspected to be at risk of harm, the law says that the college may take advice from other agencies without informing parents/carers.
In accordance with local Information Sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children, young people and adults are safe and receive the right service.
The college will seek advice from the relevant local authority social care team when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child, young person or adult may be suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.
Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the member of staff in college with the responsibility for child protection and adult protection (known as the Designated Person) was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children, young people and adults receiving a Sense College service.
Under Section 3 (5) of the Children Act 1989, schools, colleges or any person who has care of a child “may…do what is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the child’s welfare”. This means that on rare occasions, a school or college may need to “hold” a child in school whilst Social Care and the police investigate any concerns further.
Parents/carers should further be aware that the college has a responsibility, under the Government counter-terrorism strategy, to be alert to any indications that someone may be at risk of radicalisation. The college will refer any concerns to the local Prevent contact.
If you have any queries relating to Safeguarding or the above statement, please contact any of the college senior management team members below:
Gary Hyndman, Sense College (East) Principal [email protected]
Pat Dyson, Executive Principal [email protected]