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Application of this Policy

We have adopted this safeguarding policy, and we expect every adult working with us or helping us support us to comply with it. Consequently, this policy shall apply to all staff, managers, tutors, subcontractors, directors, volunteers, students or anyone working for us.

Purpose of this Policy

This policy is intended to protect everyone who receive any service from us, including those who are the children of adults who may receive services from us. Under this policy, the term children shall mean any person who is under eighteen years of age.

We believe that no child, young person and vulnerable adult should experience abuse or harm, and we are committed to the protection of them. This policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding.

The Risks to Children

Children can be vulnerable to different forms of abuse and harm. It is important to recognise that abuse and harm to children can cover a wide range of circumstances and behaviours. Examples of risks to children include:

 

• physical or emotional abuse

• neglect

• sexual abuse

• female genital mutilation (FGM)

• grooming and exploitation

• trafficking and modern slavery

• exposure to or infliction of domestic abuse

• bullying or cyberbullying

• exposure to other inappropriate content or behaviour, such as violence or criminal behaviour

• self-harm

• physical harm when engaging in activities without adequate supervision

 

The causal factors of any such harm and/or abuse can also be wide-ranging. For example, children can be placed at risk by family members or by members of the community.

 

Safeguarding Principles

 

Safeguarding children from harm and abuse is an important responsibility. We are committed to ensuring that everyone who comes into contact with our services is properly safeguarded. Every person under this policy must ensure that they play an active role in ensuring that children and vulnerable adults are properly safeguarded.

 

Every person under this policy holds responsibility for:

 

• remaining alert and aware of possible safeguarding risks to children

• guarding children against harmful environments with appropriate actions (for example, adequate supervision or ensuring safe environments)

• taking positive steps to maintain the safety and wellbeing of children engaging with us

• reporting concerns expeditiously and appropriately, in line with child protection procedures

• understanding the duty to report specific concerns (and understanding how this interplays with confidentiality)

• challenging any inappropriate or harmful behaviour of any other adult and reporting this accordingly

• acting appropriately in the presence of children

• not taking any inappropriate risks

• not smoking, drinking or taking any form of illicit substances in the presence of children.

Safeguarding Officer

 

Any question, report or concern about the welfare of children and vulnerable adult should be shared with our Safeguarding Officer:

 

Name: VALERIA JANOSIK-ROSZKOS

Email: valeria@cmsinstitute.co.uk

Telephone: 01753656168 or 07307380798

Confidentiality and Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR

 

All personal information we may process relating to children and vulnerable adults shall be processed and stored in accordance with our data protection privacy policy.

Responding to a Safeguarding Concern

 

In addition, for learners enrolled through our college partner Buckinghamshire College Group (BCG), safeguarding concerns will also be reported to BCG’s Designated Safeguarding Lead. Concerns raised with CMS Institute’s DSL will be securely shared with BCG Safeguarding Team, and serious matters will be jointly managed with the local authority and/or police. BCG Safeguarding Contact (2025): safeguarding@buckscollegegroup.ac.uk, 01895 853 333.

 

Where someone is at immediate risk of serious harm, any adult present should call 999. Thereafter, the Safeguarding Officer should be contacted as soon as reasonably practicable.

Where there is a safeguarding concern but no immediate risk of serious harm, the adult who has heard or witnessed this concern should consult with the Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable and by no later than the end of that same day.

 

Where any child makes a disclosure relating to harm or abuse to an adult, it is important for that adult to:

 

• listen calmly and carefully, to show that their views are taken seriously

• provide an appropriate and honest level of reassurance

• avoid interrogating children and asking probing, intrusive and/or leading questions

• avoid making false promises regarding secrets and confidentiality with the child (because any concern of abuse/harm must be shared with the Safeguarding Officer and any subsequent safeguarding referral)

• make a confidential written record of the discussion either during the discussion or immediately afterwards. The record should include the key details of the disclosure together with any relevant times, dates, places and people concerned. Audio and video recordings of children making disclosures should be avoided

• refer all relevant information to the Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable afterwards, and by no later than the end of the day

 

Upon receipt of any safeguarding concern, the Safeguarding Officer shall consult with any other relevant persons and will make any appropriate referrals to the relevant authorities, such as the applicable Local Authority Children’s Services department.

Reporting Concerns About Other Adults

 

If there is a concern that another adult staff is or may be:

 

• harming a child either physically or emotionally

• exposing a child to behaviour which may cause physical or emotional harm

• engaging in criminal activity concerning a child

 

This must be raised in the first instance with the Safeguarding Officer (or where this is not appropriate, a different senior member of the organisation) so that the next appropriate steps may be agreed and actioned. We recognise that there could be circumstances where a person may need to report a matter that has taken place in a setting outside of the person's engagement with us.Usually, any appropriate steps following a safeguarding referral in respect of an individual connected to us will include either:

 

• further initial enquiries

• escalation to the applicable Local Authority Children's Services department for assessment and/or the police for investigation

• instigation of any appropriate disciplinary, formal investigation processes and suspension of the individual concerned

• a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service, or any other relevant regulatory bodies

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Any person working for us who has allegations made against them shall be informed properly in a formal meeting of the particulars of the allegations and the relevant next steps which shall be taken. Such a meeting should ordinarily be held by the Safeguarding Officer. On certain occasions, such a meeting may not be convened until this has been approved by any authorities involved (such as the police or the relevant Local Authority).

 

Any person who has had allegations made against them shall be treated fairly. All enquiries, investigations and decisions taken shall be just and fair, with the safety of any child concerned at the heart of the process.

 

Any person who makes an allegation against another person shall be listened to, taken seriously and shall be treated fairly and justly throughout the process of enquiries, investigations and decision making.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks and Reporting

 

Enhanced DBS checks with barred list, as required under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and KCSIE 2025 should be undertaken wherever required for any position of paid or unpaid work for us.

 

Wherever we deem it is necessary and appropriate to remove any individual from a position of work in an activity that is regulated under the relevant legislation, we shall also be obliged to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Safeguarding Children

 

Responsibilities and Planning

 

Although the Safeguarding Officer will hold ultimate responsibility for overseeing the safety of children, all individuals under this policy must also play an active role in ensuring the safety of children at all times.

 

Where a certain type of event, activity or trip is taking place, we may issue an additional code of conduct, policy, or some specific other requirements which is specific to that occasion. Any such additional documentation will be made available to all those concerned (staff members, parents, guardians etc.) in advance. They should be read carefully and adhered to.

 

Appropriate background checks shall be undertaken in relation to any adult who is engaged by us, wherever we are legally required to do so (see the relevant section above).

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Venues

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We have carried out a health and safety risk assessment in relation to the premises, in reference to its safety and suitability for children. Where any events, activities or trips are to take place at other locations, we shall also carry out a further risk assessment.

The location for any events, activities and trips which are held by us shall always be risk-assessed properly in reference to the suitability and safety of children. Fire and safety procedures and precautions shall be made clear to all those involved.

 

First Aid

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Any accident or injury concerning a child should:

- be dealt with in accordance with usual first aid procedures

- be brought to the attention of the nearest first aider and should thereafter be formally reported to the Safeguarding Officer.

 

Consent Forms

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We will always obtain written consent from a parent or guardian where appropriate.

Consent forms will include emergency contact details and will set out any specific safety needs/requirements for children.

All consent forms will be kept secure and shall be stored in accordance with our data protection privacy policy.

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Supervision

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Parents, guardians or responsible adults must attend all events and activities with their children. They should ensure that children are properly supervised at all times.

Managing the Behaviour of Children Generally

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Whenever any adult engaged by us is faced with challenging or inappropriate behaviour from a child or with conflict between children, they must:

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• treat each child fairly and equally

• approach the situation in a calm and neutral manner

• only ever use physical restraint/intervention in order to protect the immediate safety of a person, for example, to prevent an injury or harm either to the child or others

• wherever it is justified to physically restrain a child or to physically intervene, the amount of force used should be kept to the absolute minimum taking into account the risk posed

• make a written record of the incident and ensure this is reported appropriately to the Safeguarding Officer

 

Managing Risks Posed by Other Children

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It is important for all adults engaged by us to recognise that children can face harm from their peers. This can commonly take the form of bullying. Bullying can be defined as any behaviour which is:

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• repeated; and

• has the intention of hurting somebody either physically or emotionally.

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Bullying can sometimes be motivated by prejudices based on certain groups, for example, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. Bullying can often include:

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• physical harm perpetrated against another child

• name calling and threats

• cyberbullying (threats and abusive comments made via technology)

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Any instance of bullying or concern relating to possible bullying between children at any event or activities arranged by us will usually be treated seriously. We will conduct an investigation into the relevant facts before any conclusions or recommendations can be made.

All steps in relation to the prevention or management of bullying should be taken in consultation with the Safeguarding Officer.

Photography

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Whenever we are taking photographs, everyone present will be asked to fill out a photography consent form.

 

Prevent Duty

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Creative Media Skills Group Ltd (CMS Institute) is committed to providing students with the necessary skills and knowledge to keep themselves and others safe. Governing Bodies/Heads/Designated Safeguarding Leads/Prevent Duty Leads should work to:

 

• Promote fundamental British Values as part of the settings values and curriculum.

• Ensure settings are a “safe space” for children to understand and discuss sensitive topics, including those linked to terrorism and extremism, and learn how to challenge these ideas in a politically balanced way.

• Conduct a risk assessment of how children and staff may be susceptible to being radicalised into terrorism, including online, drawing on the potential risk in the local area.

• Ensure the setting’s filtering and monitoring systems are informed by the risk assessment above (see )

• Ensuring policies outline how the setting safeguards learners who are susceptible to radicalisation into terrorism and align with local safeguarding arrangements.

• Ensure all staff are trained to safeguard children who are susceptible to radicalisation into terrorism (concerns should be reported to the DSL).

 

The aim of Prevent Duty is to:

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• tackle the causes of radicalisation

• respond to the challenges that terrorist ideology may present

• safeguard and support those most at risk of radicalisation through early intervention

• support those who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate

3. Definitions

Definitions

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Child / Young Person: Anyone under the age of 18

Adult at Risk (Vulnerable Adult): A person aged 18 or over who has care and support needs and, as a result, may be unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. This includes (but is not limited to) adults with disabilities, long-term illnesses, mental health difficulties, or those in vulnerable circumstances.

Safeguarding: Protecting people’s health, wellbeing, and human rights; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or radicalisation.

Abuse: May be physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglect, discriminatory, organisational, domestic abuse, modern slavery, bullying (including cyber), self-harm, FGM, exploitation, or radicalisation.

Radicalisation: is a process by which an individual or group comes to adopt increasingly extreme political, social, or religious ideals and aspirations that reject or undermine the status quo.

Terrorism: an act of terror/ violence based on a political objective, whether that means the politics of nationalism, ethnicity, or religion.

Extremism: an ideology that is far outside the mainstream attitudes of society, including 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. This also includes calls for the death of members of the British armed forces.

2. Legal and Statutory Framework

This policy is underpinned by the following legislation and statutory guidance:

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For children and young people (under 18):

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• Children Act 1989 & 2004 (including duty to cooperate to safeguard children)

• Education Act 2002 (s175/s157: duty to safeguard learners)

• Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government, 2023)

• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025

 

For adults (18+):

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• Care Act 2014 (statutory adult safeguarding framework, including local Safeguarding Adults Boards and duty to protect 'adults at risk')

• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (regulated activity, DBS requirements)

 

For all learners (children and adults):

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• Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Prevent duty, s26)

• Equality Act 2010

• Human Rights Act 1998

• Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR

• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

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This policy has been drawn up in accordance with all relevant and applicable legislation and guidance available to us in the jurisdictions we operate within.