VQ Solutions is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our apprentices, learners, and staff by providing a caring, friendly and safe environment, free from harm, abuse, and bullying. We believe every apprentice and learner has the right to participate in all activities in a safe and enjoyable environment and be protected from harm, whether in person or online.
We recognise our statutory duties under relevant legislation, including the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the Care Act 2014, the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Prevent Duty), and the latest statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2024 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. We will comply with all other relevant guidance and update our policy accordingly as changes to statutory requirements occur.
Scope
This policy applies to all apprentices, learners, and staff at VQ Solutions, as well as to all activities, events, and learning environments, including those conducted online.
Aims and Objectives
- To ensure all staff are trained and vigilant in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk.
- To provide clear reporting routes and escalation procedures for concerns or disclosures, including access to a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
- To maintain adequate procedures for safer recruitment, staff training, whistleblowing, and online safety.
- To encourage a culture where all learners and staff feel safe, included, valued, and confident to report concerns
- To work closely with external agencies and professional bodies to protect learners and staff from harm, including from risks of radicalisation and extremism as outlined in the Prevent Duty.
Policy Review
- This policy will be reviewed annually, or earlier if there are significant changes to statutory guidance or local safeguarding arrangements
Why is Safeguarding Necessary
VQ Solutions Ltd has a common law and ‘Education Inspection Framework’ duty of care to take such steps that in the circumstances of an educational institution are reasonable to ensure that the child, young person or vulnerable adult, is safe and seen to have an enhanced duty of care.
Policy Statement
VQ Solutions Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, engaged in the breadth of its activities.
As a consequence VQ Solutions Ltd has taken the view that in the interests of good practice there should be a clear policy and associated procedures to guide work with under-18 year olds and vulnerable adults.
VQ Solutions Ltd recognises that it has a duty to help staff and learners recognise their responsibilities (through guidance, support and training), minimise risk and avoid situations (where possible) where abuse or neglect might be alleged.
Safeguarding Structure and Responsibilities
VQ Solutions Ltd has an organisational structure to ensure the practical safeguarding of children, young people, and adults at risk. The organisation appoints a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), supported by nominated deputy DSLs and the Quality Manager, who has responsibility for monitoring safeguarding practices across the organisation.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Holds overall responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, ensuring staff are trained, procedures are followed, and concerns are acted upon promptly.
Quality Manager: Responsible for monitoring, auditing, and reviewing safeguarding processes.
Managers in delivery areas: Responsible for ensuring that safeguarding is embedded in their teams and that staff understand and implement the safeguarding policy in all activities.
All staff, apprentices, and learners share responsibility for safeguarding the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. All are required to comply with VQ Solutions Ltd’s Codes of Practice and Safeguarding Policy.
Safer Recruitment and DBS Checks
VQ Solutions Ltd is committed to safe recruitment practices. All employees, volunteers, and contractors in regulated activity with children or adults at risk are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check with barred list check. For others, a risk-based approach determines whether a DBS check is appropriate. Employment will be denied where checks indicate a safeguarding risk, and ongoing suitability will be monitored throughout the employment period.
Rights and Welfare of Learners
VQ Solutions Ltd believes that all children, young people, and adults at risk have rights as individuals and should be treated with dignity and respect. We aim to provide a safe, supportive environment for all learners, staff, and visitors, both on our premises and during VQ Solutions Ltd activities. Where activities involve children or adults at risk, appropriate risk assessments and reasonable adjustments, in line with the Equality Act 2010, will be made to ensure their safety and participation.
Where it is not possible to provide a reasonable and proportionate adaptation to safeguard an individual’s wellbeing, VQ Solutions Ltd reserves the right to refuse admission to a programme or activity.
Control Measures and Ongoing Review
Control measures to protect children and adults at risk are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure their effectiveness. Staff are required to remain vigilant, and all concerns regarding the safety or welfare of any learner or staff member should be reported promptly to the DSL or a deputy, in line with the organisation’s procedures.
Staff Conduct and Allegations Management
All staff, contractors, and volunteers must maintain professional boundaries and minimise physical contact with learners, except where necessary for health and safety, or as part of an agreed learning activity. All concerns about the behaviour of staff or others must be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and will be managed following the organisation’s Managing Allegations Policy and relevant employment procedures.
Training and Awareness
All staff must complete safeguarding training appropriate to their role and participate in regular updates to ensure they are aware of current safeguarding guidance, indicators of abuse, and how to respond to and report concerns.
Other Groups (Parents, Guardians, Organisers, Visitors)
Parents or guardians who bring children onto VQ Solutions Ltd premises or activities remain responsible for their supervision, except when the child is formally enrolled as a learner or participating in a managed activity. Organisers of any event involving children or adults at risk on VQ Solutions Ltd premises or satellite centres are responsible for ensuring the safeguarding and well-being of participants. They must comply with this policy and all health and safety requirements.
Definitions
Physical abuse
Is defined as the use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairment. Physical abuse may include but is not limited to such acts of violence striking, hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, shaking, kicking, pinching and burning.
Emotional/psychological abuse
A person subjecting another to behaviour that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Financial abuse
A tactic used by abusers to limit and restrict their victims’ access to their finances. For example, a young adult having their benefits taken away from them.
Neglect by others
Where a parent, carer or guardian will actively and knowingly fail to care for or attend to the basic needs of a child or vulnerable adult. For example, not feeding a child and/or leaving them in the same clothes and not helping them wash for days on end.
Self-neglect
Is any failure of an adult to take care of themselves? It could be a result of poor health, depression, cognitive problems or being physically unable to care for themselves. In this situation, family and carers would be expected to pick up on these signs and give or apply for appropriate care.
Discriminatory abuse
Is when you are picked out deliberately for unfair treatment because of a protected characteristic. For example, a vulnerable adult is picked on by an employer because of their disability.
Organisational abuse
Is where an institution fails to provide basic care for its residents. It is also related to gang culture where an individual is forced into committing a crime for the financial gain of gang leaders.
IT Usage
Apprentices and staff are briefed during induction about how to stay safe when using the Internet and are encouraged to recognise that people are not always who they say they are online. They are taught to seek help if they are upset or concerned about anything they read or see on the Internet. Inappropriate websites are banned and cannot be accessed from VQ Solutions premises.