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Safeguarding Policy

Our commitment to protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults. Designated Safeguarding Lead: Ian Gall.

Summary: Arena Training Centre is committed to promoting the health, safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This policy outlines our safeguarding commitments, the categories of abuse we recognise, how we respond to concerns, and the responsibilities of staff at all levels. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Ian Gall, reachable on 0114 256 2007.

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Ian Gall Safeguarding & Prevent number: 0114 256 2007

Commitment Statement

Arena Training Centre will:

  • Promote the health, safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults by providing opportunities for them to undertake their training/employment safely.
  • Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Promote and implement appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Protect children, young people and vulnerable adults from abuse, harm and neglect.
  • Recruit, train and support staff to adopt good practice to safeguard and protect children, young people and vulnerable adults from abuse, harm and neglect, and to minimise the risk to themselves.
  • Require staff to adopt and abide by this policy statement and the procedures set within.
  • Respond to any allegations of misconduct or abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults in line with this policy and the procedures set within, as well as implementing, where appropriate, the relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures.
  • Ensure through safer recruitment and the Arena Training Centre selection processes, that references and other information will be checked to confirm that staff with substantial access to children, young people and vulnerable adults are taken up for all appropriate posts.

Policy Aim

Arena Training Centre recognises its responsibility to take all reasonable steps to promote safe practice and to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults from abuse, harm and neglect. Arena Training Centre also acknowledges that the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults is everyone's responsibility, particularly when it comes to protecting them from abuse, harm and neglect.

This policy will be updated regularly to take account of national legislative changes. In addition, it will be reviewed following any organisational changes. This policy and the procedures set within are based on the following principles:

  • The welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults is a primary concern.
  • All children, young people and vulnerable adults, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, social-economic status, religious belief, and/or sexual identity etc. have the right to be protected from abuse, harm and neglect.
  • It is everyone's responsibility to report abuse, harm and neglect. In such instances, Arena Training Centre will act responsibly and where applicable report concerns to the appropriate authorities.
  • All incidents of alleged poor practice, misconduct or abuse, whether reported via the whistle-blowing policy or otherwise, will be taken seriously and dealt with appropriately.
  • All personal data will be processed in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Inclusion

Arena Training Centre expects all staff, learners and visitors to operate in an inclusive manner; no person should be excluded on the grounds of race, sex, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassessment, pregnancy and maternity, disability, age etc. No person should receive more or less favourable treatment than another, unless justified on the grounds of merit.

Definitions

  • Children and Young People: Anyone under the age of 18 years.
  • Vulnerable adult: Anyone over 18 who is or may be in need of community care services, unable to care for themselves, unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation, physically or mentally ill, or vulnerable due to another factor not noted above. For this reason we class all Arena Training Centre learners as being potentially vulnerable adults, and offer safeguarding support to all learners.
  • Employee: Anyone working for, or on behalf of Arena Training Centre, whether paid or voluntary.
  • Substantial Access: Where an individual is regularly training or supervising a child, young person or vulnerable adult, or where an individual has sole charge of children, young people or vulnerable adults.

What is Defined as Abuse?

Abuse occurs when a person or group of people harms a child, young person or vulnerable adult. The following are viewed by Arena Training Centre as being the main categories of abuse:

  • Neglect: Where a responsible adult (e.g. a parent or carer) fails to meet an individual's basic physical needs such as food, warmth, clothing, attention and affection.
  • Physical abuse: Where a child, young person or vulnerable adult is hit, shaken or injured in some way, or where a responsible adult (e.g. a parent/carer) fails to prevent such activities from happening.
  • Sexual abuse: Where a child, young person or vulnerable adult is forced to take part in sexual activity. Such activity can include any form of sexual behaviour e.g. inappropriate touching, penetrative and non-penetrative acts, exposure to pornographic material or to its production, prostitution, the use of explicit sexual language, and encouraging a child, young person or vulnerable adult to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
  • Emotional abuse: Where a child, young person or vulnerable adult is subjected to frequent threatening, taunting or sarcastic behaviour, bullying, the persistent withholding of affection, or extreme over-protection. Racist or sexist conduct and certain inappropriate initiation ceremonies fall within this category.
  • Financial abuse: Where a child, young person or vulnerable adult is exploited for the financial gain of an individual or organisation. Examples include identity theft and money laundering.

Communicating the Policy

The Managing Director has overall responsibility for safeguarding at Arena Training Centre and is the nominated safeguarding lead. The Directors will assist in overseeing the implementation of Safeguarding and for managing the performance of safeguarding activities. All staff are responsible for reporting any safeguarding issues or concerns.

This policy will be communicated to all staff on appointment to the organisation, and ongoing updates will be disseminated via team meetings and training. Relevant aspects of this policy will be explored with learners via both activities and the learner induction.

Responding to Suspicions and Allegations

Safeguarding is the responsibility of every member of staff. There is a further responsibility to recognise, respond, report and record all suspicions of abuse, harm and neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Arena Training Centre is committed to responding to and reporting safeguarding concerns appropriately, and trains its staff in accordance with this.

Any member of staff is expected to respond appropriately and report any suspicion or allegation of abuse, harm or neglect to the safeguarding officer. The responsibility to seek advice and decide whether to refer suspicions of abuse, harm and neglect to a local authority children's service or any other applicable agency is only that of the safeguarding lead (designated person), and not that of any other member of staff. In extenuating circumstances however, a member of the senior management team might need to make a referral.

Arena Training Centre recognises that information received about a child, young person or vulnerable adult might fall into one of the categories below:

  • Suspicion/allegation of abuse, harm or neglect where an Arena Training Centre member of staff is the alleged perpetrator.
  • Suspicion/allegation of abuse, harm or neglect where a child, young person or vulnerable adult is the alleged perpetrator.
  • Suspicion or allegation of abuse, harm or neglect where a third party is the alleged perpetrator.
  • Suspicion/allegation of inappropriate conduct (e.g. accessing pornographic images of under-18s).

The Learner Journey

Arena Training Centre will endeavour to involve children, young people and vulnerable adults in review and future planning of safeguarding activity. It will ensure that learners are briefed and supported in all areas of the following stages:

  • Pre-induction
  • Induction
  • Progression throughout programme

Responsibilities

Senior Safeguarding Lead

Ian Gall is the Senior Safeguarding Lead and will have responsibility for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults for Arena Training Centre. They will also have responsibility for:

  • Implementing and promoting Arena Training Centre's safeguarding policy and its procedures.
  • Acting as the main contact within Arena Training Centre for the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Providing information and advice on the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Supporting and raising awareness of the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Ensuring all relevant information is communicated to all designated persons.
  • Keeping abreast of developments and understanding the latest information on data protection, confidentiality and other legal issues that impact on the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Encouraging good practice and supporting procedures to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Establishing and maintaining contact with local statutory agencies including the police and social services.
  • Working to maintain confidential records of reported cases and actions taken, and liaising with the statutory agencies to ensure they have access to all necessary information.
  • Taking the lead with specific allegations where there are suspicions of abuse, harm or neglect of a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

Recruitment

The Administration Team is responsible for the safer recruitment of staff. This also includes ensuring the appropriate checks are made and records kept. They will also deal with any staff safeguarding/welfare issues, as appropriate. They:

  • Will ensure that safeguarding training is part of the induction programme for all new employees.
  • Will, through safer recruitment and selection processes, ensure that appropriate vetting and checks take place and references that refer to candidates' suitability to have substantial access to children, young people and vulnerable adults are taken up before commencement of post, where appropriate.

Directors

Directors need to monitor staff in order to ensure that the Arena Training Centre safeguarding policy and procedures are adhered to. They:

  • Are responsible for making sure that their staff are aware of, understand and act in accordance with this policy and related guidance, regardless of the hours their staff work.
  • Must make sure that any contractors, agents or other representatives whom they engage to undertake duties on their behalf which involve contact with learners and young people, understand and comply with this policy.
  • Will through safer recruitment and selection processes, ensure suitable checks are taken up for all appropriate posts.

All Employees (including sub-contractors)

  • Should complete any training provided in safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults training if their role involves substantial access to children, young people or vulnerable adults. This training will form part of the overall staff training plan.
  • Should be aware of what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate conduct for those employees in charge of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Should know who the Safeguarding Officer is and how to contact them.
  • Have a responsibility to inform a Safeguarding Officer of any allegation of abuse, harm or neglect.

Recognising and Recording Signs of Abuse

How to React to a Concern, Allegation or Disclosure

In line with the 5 Rs approach, the ability to recognise signs that might indicate abuse is of fundamental importance. Whether the abuse occurs on Arena Training Centre premises, in the home, or in any other setting, all those involved in meeting learners' needs should be aware of the 5 Rs. Possible abuse can then be recognised, investigated, and acted upon seamlessly and effectively.

Signs and symptoms of abuse of children, young people or vulnerable adults can include an abuse disclosure. Arena Training Centre will train those staff with regular contact with apprentices to understand signs of possible abuse, and to know how/to whom to report concerns.

1. Recognise

Staff who work with children, young people and vulnerable adults are trained to recognise that the following might indicate that abuse has taken place: excessive tiredness, external injuries, tearfulness, changes in appearance, excessive gifts, STIs, pregnancy, unusual aggression, emotional withdrawal and homelessness. This is not an exhaustive list.

2. Respond

Arena Training Centre recognises that an appropriate response is vital. No report of or concern about possible abuse should ever be ignored. In order to determine the most appropriate response, it must be determined whether an allegation involves a member of staff, a fellow learner, or another. Clarity is vital.

In the event of a disclosure, do not lead or probe with questions:

  • Remain calm.
  • Demonstrate attentiveness and concern.
  • Listen well.
  • Inform the person sharing the disclosure with you that the concern they have raised must be recorded and passed on.
  • Inform the person that this will be done on a limited 'need to know' basis, with as few persons as possible knowing the identity of the complainant.
  • Also mention that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, for example, if the alleged victim is under 18.
  • Reassure the person they have done the right thing in reporting their concerns and state that you will do everything you possibly can to support them. Do not make unrealistic promises.

It is vital to listen carefully to any information that a child, young person or vulnerable adult discloses with reference to abuse, harm or neglect. Whilst listening, the following good practice is essential:

DO:

  • React calmly: try not to show disbelief or project other emotional reactions.
  • Avoid saying 'I believe you'. Instead, tell the child, young person or vulnerable adult that victims are never to blame for abuse/harm/neglect and that any victim has the right to make a disclosure.
  • Take the information seriously, recognising the difficulties in interpreting what a child, young person or vulnerable adult says.
  • Keep questioning to a minimum, to ensure clear and accurate understanding of what has been said.
  • Inform a Safeguarding Officer immediately.
  • Make a full record of what has been said, heard or seen. Do this as soon as possible, noting down the individual's own words.

DO NOT:

  • Ask leading questions (for legal reasons, amongst others).
  • Verbally speculate about what might have happened.
  • Introduce personal information from your own experiences.
  • Apportion blame or pass judgment.
  • Approach an alleged abuser or make comments about him/her to the learner.
  • Guarantee confidentiality.
  • Tell the learner that 'everything will be alright'.

3. Report

Report your concerns by telephone to the Safeguarding Officer that working day. In the event of this not being possible, report your concerns to your line manager. In all cases, s/he who receives your report should, without delay and having carefully recorded the information, report this him/herself to the Safeguarding Officer. Once you have reported concerns about abuse to any of the colleagues mentioned above, the responsibility for taking any further decisions and/or actions resides with them.

4. Record

Once you have spoken to a Safeguarding Officer, make notes using the Arena Training Centre abuse disclosure form.

5. Refer (i.e. to external authorities)

This is the responsibility of the Safeguarding Officer only – or of a director in extenuating circumstances.

Other Related Policies

  • Prevent Policy

Reviewed: August 2026 · Next review: September 2027