Safeguarding

All of our staff are trained and have continued professional development to make sure that we can
safeguard the most vulnerable young people in our communities. We operate an open-door policy,
and each student has a key worker with whom they can make contact whenever necessary.
Our induction process covers all areas of working with young people, including Poles APart ethos
and processes.
To promote a safe and secure environment all of our staff have been through a strict recruitment
process which includes the interview panel being trained in safer recruitment and applicant
references being obtained. All staff are subject to the Enhanced DBS (disclosure and barring
service) checks.
Our experienced DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) works across the sites and communicates
with staff, students, parents, guardians, carers and outside agencies, keeping clear lines of
communication. Our DSL is supported by the assistant DSL and safeguarding team.
Each one of our sites has a safeguarding team, trained in safeguarding children, to a minimum
level three.
Key safeguarding areas are (but not limited to):
● protecting children from abuse
● radicalisation
● children missing from care or education
● bullying and cyber-bullying and the misuse of social media
● county lines and criminal exploitation
● domestic abuse
● child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
● female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
All of our incidents and safeguarding concerns are logged on My Concern. A safe and secure
system which is highly regulated.