Safeguarding Policy

1. Why this policy matters

We build and support websites and platforms for organisations in care, faith, education and community work. Some of these platforms hold information about children and adults at risk. Our team may see this information while we build, maintain and support those platforms.

This policy sets out how we protect children and adults at risk, and what we do if we have a concern.

2. Who this policy applies to

This policy applies to everyone who works for or on behalf of UT Innovation, a trading name of Unique Tenders Limited. This includes directors, employees, contractors, freelancers and volunteers.

In this policy:

• a child is anyone under 18; and
• an adult at risk is anyone aged 18 or over who has care and support needs, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and cannot protect themselves because of those needs.

3. Our principles

• The welfare of children and adults at risk always comes first.
• Everyone has the right to be protected from abuse and neglect, whatever their age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
• We take every concern seriously and act on it quickly.
• We share information appropriately and lawfully when it is needed to keep someone safe.
• We work with our clients and the relevant authorities, not in isolation.

This policy follows the principles of the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the Care Act 2014, Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education, where they apply to our work.

4. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Kieron Bygraves. You can contact Kieron at kieron@utinnovation.co.uk.

The DSL is responsible for:

• receiving and acting on safeguarding concerns;
• deciding whether to refer concerns to our client's safeguarding lead, the local authority or the police;
• keeping secure records of concerns and the action taken;
• making sure our team understand this policy and know how to raise a concern; and
• reviewing this policy every year.

If the DSL is not available and the concern cannot wait, follow the steps in section 7 and contact the local authority or the police directly.

5. Safer working practices

• DBS checks. Members of our team who can access client systems holding information about children or adults at risk are DBS checked.
• Least access. Team members only access the client systems and data they need for the task in hand.
• Confidentiality. We keep everything we see on client platforms confidential. We only share it in line with this policy and the law.
• No direct contact. Our team do not contact our clients' service users, pupils or members, unless the client has asked us to as part of agreed work.
• Secure systems. We use secure logins, access controls and encrypted connections. We report any data breach in line with our Privacy Policy.
• Safe by design. When we build safeguarding portals and similar tools, we design them with the right access controls, so sensitive information is only seen by people who need it.

6. Recognising a concern

Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglect, discriminatory, organisational, or modern slavery. It can also happen online.

In our work, a concern might come from something we see on a client's platform, something a person tells us, or something we notice during a call. Examples include content that suggests someone is being harmed, messages that suggest grooming or exploitation, or signs that sensitive information is being misused.

You do not need to be certain that abuse is happening to raise a concern.

7. What to do if you have a concern

1. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
2. Do not investigate. Do not question the person involved, confront anyone, or try to find out more yourself.
3. Record what you saw or heard. Write down the facts as soon as possible: the date, the time, what you saw or heard, and where. Use the person's own words where you can. Do not add opinions.
4. Tell the DSL the same day. Contact Kieron Bygraves at kieron@utinnovation.co.uk.
5. Keep it confidential. Only share the concern with the DSL and the people they involve.

If someone tells you they are being harmed, listen calmly. Reassure them that they have done the right thing by telling you. Do not promise to keep it a secret. Explain that you will need to share it with people who can help.

8. What the DSL will do

The DSL will review the concern and decide what action to take. This may include:

• telling our client's safeguarding lead, where the concern relates to their organisation;
• making a referral to the local authority children's services or adult social care team;
• contacting the police; or
• reporting illegal online content to the Internet Watch Foundation.

We will act in the best interests of the person at risk. Where it is safe and appropriate, we will share information in line with data protection law, which allows information to be shared to keep people safe.

9. Concerns about our own team

If a concern is about a member of our team, tell the DSL straight away. If the concern is about the DSL, contact the local authority or the police directly. Where a concern involves someone who works with children, we will contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) as required.

10. Speaking up

Anyone can raise a safeguarding concern without fear. We will support anyone who raises a concern in good faith, even if it turns out to be unfounded. If you feel a concern has not been dealt with properly, you can contact the local authority, the police or the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line on 0800 028 0285.

11. Records

We keep records of safeguarding concerns securely, separate from other records, and only the DSL and people they authorise can access them. We keep them for as long as needed to protect the people involved and meet our legal obligations.

12. Training and review

Everyone covered by this policy reads it when they join us. Team members who work with clients holding information about children or adults at risk receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role.

We review this policy at least once a year, and after any serious safeguarding incident.

13. Useful contacts

• Emergency: 999
• Non-emergency police: 101
• NSPCC helpline for adults worried about a child: 0808 800 5000
• Childline for children and young people: 0800 1111
• Local authority safeguarding: contact the children's services or adult social care team for the area where the person lives