Accelerate International Academy (AIA)

Safeguarding Policy

Policy Owner: Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Deputy DSL(s): Kimberley Hatherall
Approved by: Senior Leadership Team
Version: 1.0
Review Cycle: Annual or following statutory updates
Effective From: 1st June 2025

1. Policy Statement

Accelerate International Academy (AIA) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners. We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and is at the core of safe, effective, and inclusive education and training delivery.

While AIA’s core delivery is designed for individuals aged 18–24, we recognise that this cohort may include individuals in vulnerable circumstances. As such, AIA operates under an adult safeguarding framework, supported by clear escalation procedures and appropriately trained staff.

On occasion, AIA may deliver services to individuals aged 16–17. In these instances, a child safeguarding framework will be applied in line with relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

AIA takes a zero-tolerance approach to harm, abuse, exploitation, radicalisation, harassment, and neglect.

We are committed to ensuring that:

  • All learners are protected from harm
  • Safeguarding concerns are identified early and acted upon appropriately
  • Staff are trained, vetted, and supported to fulfil safeguarding responsibilities
  • Online learning environments are safe, monitored, and appropriately supervised
  • Legislative and statutory safeguarding duties are fully met

This policy applies to all learners, including adults (18+) and those aged 16–17 where applicable.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All learners (including 16–17 and 18–24 cohorts)
  • All staff, contractors, freelancers, volunteers
  • Subcontractors and delivery partners
  • All online and in-person delivery environments
  • All digital platforms used by AIA (including Zoom, LMS systems, messaging tools)

3. Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy is informed by:

  • Children Act 1989 and 2004
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) (principles applied where under-18 learners are present)
  • Prevent Duty Guidance (Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015)
  • Equality Act 2010
  • Data Protection Act 2018 / UK GDPR
  • ESFA funding and subcontracting safeguarding requirements
  • Local Safeguarding Partnership procedures

Where learners are aged 18+, safeguarding duties are applied in relation to adult safeguarding principles, including protection from exploitation, coercion, and harm.

5. Definition of an Adult at Risk

For the purposes of this policy, an adult at risk is defined as a person aged 18 or over who:

  • Has needs for care and support (whether or not these are being met), and
  • Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
  • Is unable to protect themselves against the abuse or neglect due to those needs

5.1 Types of Abuse

AIA recognises that adults may be at risk from a range of harms, including but not limited to:

  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional or psychological abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Financial or economic abuse
  • Neglect or acts of omission
  • Discriminatory abuse
  • Domestic abuse
  • Exploitation (including criminal or labour exploitation)

Adult Safeguarding Principles

AIA’s approach to adult safeguarding is guided by the following principles:

  • Empowerment – supporting individuals to make their own decisions and give informed consent
  • Prevention – reducing risks before harm occurs
  • Proportionality – appropriate response based on risk
  • Protection – responding effectively to concerns
  • Partnership – working with relevant agencies and services
  • Accountability – clear governance and reporting structures

6. Designated Safeguarding Roles

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

The DSL is responsible for:

  • Overall safeguarding oversight
  • Managing safeguarding referrals
  • Liaising with external safeguarding partners
  • Ensuring staff training compliance
  • Maintaining safeguarding records

Deputy DSL(s)

Deputies support the DSL and provide cover during absence.

All Staff

All staff are responsible for:

  • Recognising safeguarding concerns
  • Reporting concerns immediately
  • Maintaining professional boundaries
  • Completing safeguarding training

7. Safer Recruitment and Vetting

AIA ensures:

  • Enhanced DBS checks for all staff and contractors
  • DBS checks updated in line with risk assessment and role requirements
  • Verification of identity, qualifications, and right to work
  • Risk assessments for any staff awaiting DBS clearance (if applicable)

8. Safeguarding in Online Learning Environments

As a digital-first provider, AIA implements enhanced online safeguarding controls:

7.1 Platform Controls (Zoom / LMS / Digital Systems)

  • Use of secure online sessions accessible by invite only
  • Waiting rooms enabled for all live sessions
  • Host-controlled admission to sessions
  • Disabled private chat where appropriate (risk-based)
  • Session recording where appropriate and proportionate
  • Use of breakout room monitoring software to track engagement and interactions
  • Ability for staff to move between breakout rooms unannounced

7.2 Breakout Room Safeguarding Controls (Critical for 16–17 learners)

Where under-18 learners are present:

  • Breakout rooms are actively monitored using software and facilitator rotation
  • No learner is left unsupervised with a single adult unless risk assessed and justified
  • Group allocation is controlled by staff only (not learner-selected)
  • Staff rotate regularly between rooms
  • Sessions are structured to minimise unobserved interactions
  • Any concerning behaviour is escalated immediately to DSL

7.3 Communication Safeguards

  • Professional boundaries enforced in all communication channels
  • Staff must not use personal accounts to contact learners
  • All communication must occur via approved platforms
  • No one-to-one unsupervised communication with under-18s without documented safeguarding justification

9. Safeguarding for 16–17 Year Old Learners (Additional Controls)

Where AIA delivers to learners under 18, the following enhanced safeguards apply:

  • Parental/guardian consent (where required by programme design)
  • Clear escalation routes explained to learners
  • Additional monitoring in breakout rooms
  • Immediate escalation to DSL for any concern

AIA applies safeguarding standards aligned with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) principles for this cohort.

10. Types of Safeguarding Concerns

Staff are trained to identify and respond to:

  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Sexual abuse or exploitation
  • Neglect
  • Domestic abuse
  • Online abuse or grooming
  • Radicalisation (Prevent Duty)
  • Self-harm or suicidal ideation
  • Financial exploitation
  • Modern slavery or trafficking concerns
  • Peer-on-peer abuse (including online harassment)

11. Reporting Procedures

Immediate Action

If a learner is at immediate risk:

  • Contact emergency services (if necessary)
  • Inform DSL immediately

Non-immediate concerns

Staff must:

  1. Listen and respond appropriately to the individual, without judgement
  2. Record concern factually and promptly
  3. Submit safeguarding report to DSL
  4. Maintain confidentiality
  5. Avoid investigation themselves

DSL Responsibilities

The DSL will:

  • Review all referrals
  • Assess the level of risk and determine appropriate action
  • Decide on escalation to external agencies
  • Record actions taken
  • Maintain safeguarding logs securely

Key Agencies a DSL May Escalate To

1. Emergency Services (Immediate Risk)

  • Police / Ambulance
  • When to escalate:
    • Immediate danger to the young person or others
    • Serious injury or threat of harm
    • Active suicidal intent or attempt

👉 Call 999 (UK) immediately

  1. Children’s Social Care (Local Authority)
  • For anyone under 18
  • This is the primary safeguarding referral route
  • When to escalate:
    • Suspected abuse (physical, emotional, sexual)
    • Neglect
    • Risk at home
    • Ongoing safeguarding concerns

👉 Referral goes to:

  • Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) or equivalent local team
  1. Adult Social Care
  • For 18+ individuals with care/support needs
  • When to escalate:
    • Risk of abuse or neglect
    • Vulnerability due to disability, mental health, or circumstance
  1. Police (Non-Emergency Safeguarding)
  • Via 101 (UK)
  • When to escalate:
    • Criminal activity (assault, exploitation, grooming)
    • Missing persons
    • Online exploitation
    • Immediate concern but not life-threatening
  1. Mental Health Crisis Services
  • Examples:
    • NHS Crisis Teams
    • CAMHS (for under 18s)
  • When to escalate:
    • Suicidal ideation
    • Self-harm
    • Severe mental health deterioration
  1. Educational / Partner Safeguarding Leads
  • If the young person is linked to:
    • A school or college
    • Job centre / employability provider / local authority programme
    • Another programme

👉 DSL should liaise with their DSL or safeguarding contact

  1. NSPCC Helpline (Advice & Escalation Support)
  • NSPCC
  • Useful when:
    • DSL is unsure whether to refer
    • Needs guidance on thresholds

👉 Helpline: 0808 800 5000

  1. Online Safety / Exploitation Agencies
  • CEOP
  • When to escalate:
    • Grooming
    • Sexual exploitation online
    • Inappropriate contact with minors
  1. Local Safeguarding Partnerships
  • Usually called:
    • Safeguarding Children Partnership
    • Safeguarding Adults Board

👉 Provide:

  • Local procedures
  • Threshold guidance
  • Referral pathways

How a DSL Decides Where to Escalate

A DSL should always consider:

  • Is the person in immediate danger? → Emergency services
  • Is this a safeguarding issue? → Social care referral
  • Is a crime suspected? → Police
  • Is mental health the primary risk? → Crisis services
  • Unsure? → NSPCC or local safeguarding partnership

Important Practice Points

  • Escalate the same day for any safeguarding concern
  • Do not investigate — refer instead
  • Keep clear written records
  • Consent is not required if there is risk of harm
  • When in doubt: escalate, don’t delay

12. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

AIA recognises that safeguarding overrides confidentiality.

Information may be shared with:

  • Local Safeguarding Partnerships
  • Police
  • Social services
  • Prevent coordinators

in line with UK GDPR and “need to know” principles.

13. Prevent Duty (Radicalisation and Extremism)

AIA complies fully with the Prevent Duty by:

  • Delivering staff training on identifying radicalisation risks
  • Ensuring safe online spaces free from extremist content
  • Monitoring safeguarding concerns related to radicalisation
  • Referring concerns to Prevent partners where appropriate

14. Whistleblowing

AIA ensures that:

  • Staff can report concerns safely
  • Whistleblowers are protected from retaliation
  • Concerns about colleagues are escalated to DSL or external safeguarding authorities if required

15. Training and Awareness

AIA provides:

  • Mandatory safeguarding induction for all staff
  • Annual safeguarding refresher training
  • Prevent Duty training
  • Role-specific safeguarding training for DSL and deputies
  • Additional training for staff working with under-18 learners

16. Record Keeping

AIA maintains:

  • Secure safeguarding logs
  • Incident reports
  • Referral records
  • Training records

All records are stored securely and accessed only by authorised personnel.

17. Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

AIA will:

  • Review safeguarding policy annually
  • Update in line with legislation or statutory guidance changes
  • Conduct internal safeguarding audits
  • Review incidents and identify trends
  • Improve digital safeguarding controls continuously

18. Policy Approval

This policy is approved by the Senior Leadership Team and reflects AIA’s commitment to safeguarding all learners in a safe, inclusive, and professionally managed digital learning environment.