Safeguarding​

NEOEDU is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students and staff. We have robust policies and procedures in place to protect individuals from harm, abuse, and neglect, promoting a safe and supportive learning environment.

Safeguarding Policy

NeoEdu recognises that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility, and the best interests of the child are paramount, as set out in legislation. EVERYONE who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all staff and agency workers will make sure that their approach is child-centred. This means that they will consider at all times what is in the best interest of the child.

We are committed to keeping children safe and protecting their welfare from all forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual harm.

The purpose of this policy is to provide protection for children and young people who receive NeoEdu services and to provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing or be at risk of harm.

We ensure that all NeoEdu staff being placed into educational establishments are vetted fully in accordance with our Vetting Policy to provide a safe, secure, and comfortable environment for children who come into contact with NeoEdu personnel.

At registration, all agency workers will be instructed to read the statutory guidance “Keeping Children Safe in Education” published by the Department of Education. They are also required to provide evidence of safeguarding training within the last 3 years. If they are unable to provide this, they can access safeguarding training through NeoEdu via the following link: Link to Safeguarding Training

We recognise that:

  • The welfare of the child/young person is paramount.
  • All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
  • Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers, and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

NeoEdu will seek to safeguard children and young people by:

  • Valuing them, listening to them, and respecting them.
  • Adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and agency workers.
  • Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
  • Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, staff, and agency workers.
  • Sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know and involving outside organisations appropriately.
  • Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, and training.

If we are advised that a teacher/worker registered with our agency has behaved in an unacceptable way, we would liaise with the school to establish the circumstances. The school can decide to cease using the teacher based on unacceptable behaviour, but it must be determined if that behaviour amounts to a safeguarding concern or a low-level concern.

Low-Level Concern (LLC)

The behaviour of a teacher/worker during an assignment may not reach the level of a safeguarding concern but is still not acceptable. A low-level concern is any concern that an adult has acted in a way that is inconsistent with the code of conduct but doesn’t meet the threshold of harm or is not considered serious enough for the school to refer to the local authority. The school may wish to continue to use the worker but would like the matter to be addressed. This may be done in the form of a discussion with the worker by the school or a representative of NeoEdu. If the school would like NeoEdu to speak to the worker, the consultant will liaise with the safeguarding officer to determine who is the most appropriate person to do this. It may be more appropriate for the consultant to have the discussion. If this is the case, the consultant must report to the safeguarding officer the date of the discussion and briefly what was said so that it can be recorded as an LLC.

Examples of Low-Level Concern:

  • Poor Attitude
  • Use of inappropriate sexual, intimidating, or offensive language
  • Not following school procedures

Safeguarding Concern

If the conduct amounts to a potential safeguarding concern, the teacher/worker will not be offered any further assignments through the agency until the situation has been resolved to our satisfaction. The safeguarding officer, Mrs. Leonie Sourbutts, will liaise with the school at the earliest opportunity and, in consultation with the school, make a decision as to whether the worker’s assignment is to continue while the investigation is proceeding. If the school decides to terminate the engagement of the worker, the safeguarding officer will contact the worker to establish their version of events.

As part of making enquiries, the agency will hold an investigatory meeting and/or investigatory discussions with the worker. The agency will inform the school of further information they obtain.

If the complaint has escalated to LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer), NeoEdu will provide all necessary information for investigation purposes.

Allegations Against Agency Workers

All agency workers should take care not to place themselves in a vulnerable position with a child. It is always advisable for work or talking with individual children to be conducted in view of other adults.

All agency workers should be aware of the school’s own Behaviour Management policy.

Whilst we hope it is a rare occurrence, we understand a pupil may make an allegation against an agency worker. If such an allegation is made, or information is received which suggests that a person may be unsuitable to work with children, further information is needed to understand what has happened.

Mrs. Léonie Sourbutts, as Designated Safeguarding Officer, is responsible for dealing with these matters and will ensure the following steps are taken:

  1. Log the incident on the system under the “incidents” tab in the main menu / complete an incident report (Appendix 1).
  2. Speak to the appropriate member of staff at the client school where the allegation was made and establish what action has been taken (e.g., internal investigation by the school and/or referral to LADO) unless already done so by one of the consultants.
  3. Discuss with the school the appropriate course of action (e.g., it may be necessary to remove the teacher from the assignment immediately).
  4. Ask the school to send over a statement detailing the allegation.
  5. Speak to the Agency Worker to establish what happened and, if appropriate, advise them that no further assignments will be offered until the allegation is investigated.
  6. Ask the Agency Worker to send over a statement responding to the allegation within 24 hours of being informed of the allegation.
  7. Where appropriate, liaise with the Local Authority Designated Officer.
  8. Attend any strategy meetings.
  9. Advise the agency worker of the outcome.

In circumstances where a referral has been made to LADO, information will be sent to the agency worker advising them of the process of investigating allegations.

NeoEdu understands that if an allegation is made, it will be a difficult time for the agency worker, so they will regularly be updated on progress.