Our approach to safeguarding
The safety of our tutors and learners is our first priority. We all have a part to play in keeping ourselves and others safe and free from harm.
The sections below outlines our approach to safeguarding.
Our commitment to your safety
We are committed to ensuring we have the right procedures in place to promote a safe and welcoming environment so that:
- students can thrive and achieve
- staff, volunteers and visitors can feel secure
- everyone is assured that their welfare is a high priority
Safeguarding issues
If you have a safeguarding issue you would like to discuss, then in the first instance please contact us using the below contact details. Or use the message form at the bottom of this page to quickly send us a message.
What to do if you are concerned about someone you know
- Listen calmly and carefully to them
- Reassure them by saying they have done the right thing talking about it
- Support them to tell a staff member. See the “who to contact” section above
- If they don’t want to speak to a staff member, but you are worried about their safety, you MUST tell someone you are concerned.
- All Staffordshire Community Learning staff and appointed providers will do their best to ensure everyone is safe and not at risk of harm
External Support Organisations
The Samaritans 116 123
Victim Support 08 08 16 89 111
Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321
Police 101 (or 999 if an emergency)
Health and Safety
Help us to ensure we have a safe, healthy and secure learning environment by being aware of our processes for:
- evacuating the building or premises
- reporting accidents, incidents and hazards
- not smoking or vaping in learning environments
- using IT responsibly
Please speak to your course tutor if you have any health and safety concerns.
Staying safe online
As we now offer more online learning opportunities and more learning delivery is made available online, it is important to remember how to stay safe online.
We have created an entire section to help you stay safe online.
Our definition of abuse
Abuse is the violation of an individual’s human rights by another person or persons.
Examples of types of abuse:
- Physical
Hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking and misusing medication - Sexual
Rape, sexual assault or forcing someone to look at pornographic images - Emotional
Threats of harm, humiliation, intimidation, harassment, bullying or verbal abuse - Financial
Theft, fraud or misusing someone’s possessions - Discrimination
Racist or sexist abuse that is based on a person’s disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or age. It also includes other forms of harassment like slurs and Hate Crime - Modern day slavery and human trafficking
People deceived, coerced or forced into something which leads to exploitation
Safeguarding against extremism
We have a duty to prevent people from being drawn into extremism or terrorism.
We aim to protect people against messages of violent extremism from different groups who seek to undermine fundamental British Values.
- Extremism is doing something extreme against British Values e.g. participating in violence or terrorism
- Radicalisation is recruiting or being recruited into an organisation which plans to commit extremism
We all have a responsibility to support and demonstrate British Values.
These are:
- democracy
- rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
If you think you, or someone else, has been hurt, abused or is at risk of radicalisation, please report this as soon as possible.
Our safeguarding and prevent policies
This webpage summarises our approach to safeguarding. Below are full links to our safeguarding policies and procedures in further detail.
Safeguarding overview (link to Staffordshire County Council pages)
Guidance and advice
Please also see below for all the latest documents you need on safeguarding and the prevent duty to keep yourself and others safe:
- Safeguarding Policy PDF (902 KB)
- Prevent Policy PDF (355 KB)
Further help and advice
Worried about yourself or somebody else? Speak to your tutor or Designated Safeguarding Lead
Or contact
Amanda Darlington : Head of Adult Learning and Skills
Staffordshire County Council, 2 Staffordshire Place, Stafford, ST16 2DH