Safeguarding

Safeguarding' relates to the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Safeguarding legislation requires policy, procedure, and preventative measures to be in place to protect young people and vulnerable adults from risk of harm.  

All providers of post-16 learning, and skills have responsibilities to ensure the safety of children, young people and those adults deemed 'vulnerable'. A vulnerable adult is defined as a person 'who is or may need community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation' (Care Act 2014).

We will also support you and find and contact agencies who can provide further help if needed. You might, for example, be concerned about

• Physical abuse.
• FGM (female genital mutilation)
• Domestic violence or abuse.
• Sexual abuse.
• Psychological or emotional abuse.
• Financial or material abuse.
• Modern slavery.
• Discriminatory abuse.
• Organisational or institutional abuse.

If you feel you are in immediate danger, please call 999.

Safeguarding contacts: 

Police - 999 (In an emergency) - Cumbria Police 

Support links:

Adult Social Care - getting help and support | Westmorland and Furness Council

Adult Social Care - getting help and support | Cumberland Council

Victim Support in Cumbria - Cumbria - Victim Support or 0300 303 0157

Citizens Advice - Citizens Advice

First Step - North Cumbria

First Step - South Cumbria

Samaritans - Samaritans

Mindline - Mindline Cumbria

CALM Campaign Against Living Miserably

CALM Campaign Against Living Miserably

Shout - TEXT 85258

Every Life Matters - Cumbria 

CADAS - Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service 

Gambling Therapy in Cumbria - Gambling Therapy in Cumbria

Step Change Debt Recovery help - Step Change Debt Recovery help

Not all of our teaching is carried out in the classroom with some courses delivered over Zoom and research carried over the internet, therefore safeguarding is still important.  We must all be aware of what to do if we are worried about our safety as there are many opportunities for people to be abused online.

Ensure you have: 

• A strong password
• You log out when you have finished on social media
• Check your privacy settings regularly
• Be careful about what you post as you could reveal important personal details about yourself which could be misused
• Also be careful about opening emails and clicking links from organisations you have not first contacted yourself.

Visit Get Safe Online for advice about internet security, how to stay safe online and cyberbullying.

Remember:

• It is important that you avoid scams by never giving out your password and when shopping online, look for the padlock symbol next to the website address.
• It is also a good idea to go back to a well-known Internet browser such as Google or Bing regularly rather than click lots of links
• Remember that you can never be sure about those you meet online.

Online Safety Act 2023 (the Act) is a new set of laws that protects children and adults online.  You can find out in the below link the range of new duties on social media companies and search services, making them more responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms.

Online Safety Act: explainer - GOV.UK

To view our Online Safety Policy for Learners, click on the following link:

Mis/Disinformation

Misinformation is false information spread unintentionally, disinformation is deliberate falsehoods spread intentionally to deceive, and malinformation is true information deliberately taken out of context to mislead. 

Whilst the online world is a great resource for research, news, and connecting with the world around you, it is important to be aware of potential misinformation, disinformation – commonly known as ‘fake news.’ 

For more information: Mis/Disinformation

Adult Learning prevent strategy this is designed to prevent people from being radicalised and drawn into extremism.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that our learners are protected from being drawn into radicalisation, violent extremism and terrorism, therefore as a service, we actively promote these values of openness and tolerance and we embed British values in all our courses.

Extremism is where someone has beliefs that most other people think are not reasonable or acceptable.

Radicalization is the process where someone starts to have those extreme political social or religious ideas and the Internet is widely used to radicalise with some sites promoting false news to try to encourage people to join them. We expect everyone to be open to debate and be prepared to consider different points of view even if they do not end up agreeing with them. 

You can find more information from the above Prevent leaflet.

Our tutors have undertaken CPD to enable them to communicate and work with learners to ensure that they understand the ways that extremism can present itself. They will also ensure you know the current emerging threats both locally and within our county, so that you are well informed and able to recognise key signs of potential radicalisation.

Please also refer to the posters in your classrooms and your learner handbook which also has information about these values.

Our learner agreement tells you what we value, what we ask of you and what you should expect from us. It outlines our commitment to equality and promoting British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs to all our learners as part of their learning experience.

In your class your tutor will make sure that individual views are heard and valued; discussion and debate is encouraged, and opportunities are taken to explain rights and responsibilities. We encourage and support all our tutors to use every opportunity to make sure that all learners respect and reinforce British values whilst creating a safe space for debate and conversations.

Adult Learning actively promotes British values, which is defined by the government as:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

This includes challenging learners, staff, volunteers and other service users if they may express opinions that are contrary to these values including extremist views. It is all of our responsibilities to ensure all within our service are safe. 

By actively promoting these values, we aim to:

• Keep you safe; all members of our staff and our volunteers are required to complete Safeguarding training including training on radicalisation;
• Promote respect and tolerance, regardless of background;
• Celebrate difference and promote diversity;
• Encourage an understanding of the difficulties other cultures face where such values are not respected.

In order to do this we will continue to ensure we:

• Provide staff development and training throughout the academic year;
• Ensure learners have a voice that is listened to and valued;
• Update our web page with recent and relevant information;
• Encourage learners to become responsible learners, critical thinkers and to actively participate in their own learning and development;
• Promote British values in everything we do.

Every member of our staff has a responsibility to help ensure your safety and welfare. If you are concerned in any way about the safety or wellbeing of yourself or someone else, please contact one of our designated Safeguarding Officers as soon as possible or speak to your centre manager and / or tutor.

Please see below some of the ways in which we promote British values:

Democracy:

• Learner and partner satisfaction questionnaires
• End of course evaluations
• Learning activities during your course
• Group discussion in class
• Learner handbooks

Rule of law:

• Staff and volunteer ID badges
• Policies in place: e.g. Safeguarding policy; 
• Observation of Teaching Learning & Assessment guidelines and policies

Individual liberty:

• Health and Wellbeing Safeguarding
• Prevent Duty
• Information, Advice and Guidance embedded in courses

Mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs:

• Learner Agreement
• Annual calendar of events to celebrate difference and diversity

Cumbria Constabulary has a proven track record of successfully targeting organised crime groups who conduct this exploitative drug supply activity.  The following information includes details on what County Lines is, the signs to look out for, and how to report it.

What is County Lines?

County Lines describes an organised crime group (OCG), which traffics drugs using dedicated mobile phone lines. Drug users ring a number to place orders - and local street dealers deliver. OCGs may exploit children and vulnerable adults, using them to move and store drugs and cash travelling across areas.  A short, 10-minute, video produced by the National County Lines Coordination Centre describes how county lines works and explores how this can impact on children, vulnerable adults and the wider society. The video also identifies how you can play your part in identifying and reporting.

Spotting the signs

The following information is supplied by Cumbria Police and is being communicated to members of the public. These are the signs that people should look out for in relation to county lines activity.  

County lines: spot the signs on your street

• Lots of different & regular visitors to a house on your street.
• Increase in obvious drug-related activity. 

County lines: spot the signs in vulnerable people

• Regular visitors to their home.
• New, unexplained visitors or support network.
• Becoming cut-off or estranged from family or existing friends/support network.
• New risk-taking behaviour.
• Substance abuse.

Cuckooing

‘Cuckooing’ is a form of criminal exploitation and the term used when criminals use or take over a person's home for criminal purposes, usually as a site to supply, store or produce drugs, often as part of county lines networks. OCGs may initially approach the vulnerable person offering free drugs or other things they may need; however, this may progress to threats of violence, and/or the victim being made to pay off drug debts through use of their home, and to assist in drug dealing. Victims may be forced to stay in their bedroom or are prevented from freely using rooms in their home such as their kitchen or living room. They are usually intimidated and left with little choice but to cooperate. Sexual assaults or other exploitation may also take place.

• Cuckooing - Advice from West Yorkshire Police
• Steven's Story-The experiences of a victim of cuckooing: Short Film 

County Lines- How to report information

If a crime is in progress, call 999. 

You can call police on 101.

You can report information online at Report | Cumbria Police.

You can speak to a police officer or PCSO operating in your community. 

If you wish to report information anonymously, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

The safe and fair recruitment of employees is the first step to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Relevant pre-employment checks for a role are obtained and will be verified before the individual starts work, this includes a DBS check. Arrangements are in place to review these policies and procedures regularly.  

All staff and volunteers must complete regular safeguarding (including Prevent duty) training so that they are aware of their roles and responsibilities.