Safeguarding Policy

Version	Review Date	Review Expiry	Author
1.1	15/05/2023	15/05/2024	Rushab Shah	Bapi Indrakumaran
1.2	15/05/2024	15/05/2025	Preet Joshi	Rushab Shah
1.3	15/05/2025	15/05/2026	Michaela Johnson	Rushab Shah

Designated Safeguarding Officer: Michaela Johnson
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer: Rushab Shah
Data Protection Officer: Naveed Sheikh

1. Introduction

OneHive is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all individuals involved in our programs and services. This Safeguarding Policy outlines our approach to safeguarding and protecting those in our care, including children, young people, and vulnerable adults, in accordance with UK legislation and best practices. This policy also extends to all those associated with OneHive, including staff, volunteers, members, Board Members or anyone working on behalf of the organisation.

2. Policy Statement

Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind and all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.

Everyone working for OneHive has the responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them. Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.

3. Parties Involved

Employees: Direct staff members of OneHive
Contractors: Individuals operating on behalf of OneHive
Volunteers: Those who are supporting the initiatives pioneered by OneHive
Partners: Organisations that work with OneHive in formal or informal structures
Children and Young People: Anyone under the age of 18
Vulnerable Adult: An adult who may be at risk of harm due to factors such as age, disability, mental health issues, or other circumstances

4. Safeguarding Principles

OneHive is committed to assuring robust safeguarding principles are followed throughout every facet of the platform and operations of the business. User safety is of the utmost priority and is reviewed regularly along with internal compliance to the policy and following safeguarding principles:

Awareness: Ensuring that all stakeholders are aware of the safeguarding processes
Prevention: Taking proactive measures to ensure a safe environment and minimise risks.
Protection: Ensuring that individuals are protected from harm and abuse.
Partnership: Working collaboratively with other agencies and organisations to promote safeguarding.
Accountability: Ensuring transparency and accountability in all safeguarding practices.

6. Digital Safeguarding

OneHive is a digital platform, and recognises that in today's digital world, safeguarding extends beyond physical environments to the online spaces where children, young people, and vulnerable adults engage. We are committed to ensuring the safety of all users on our platform, including protecting them from online risks. This section outlines our approach to digital safeguarding and staying safe online.

Online Safety Measures
○ Secure Access: All users will have secure logins to the platform, ensuring their data is protected and accessible only to authorised individuals.

○ Content Monitoring: The content on the platform will be monitored to ensure it is age-appropriate, non-offensive, and free from any harmful materials.

○ Safe Communication Channels: All communications between users, teachers, and mentors will be conducted through OneHive’s secure platform, avoiding personal contact details or external social media use.

Cyberbullying Prevention

○ OneHive has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of cyberbullying or harassment. All users are encouraged to report any inappropriate behaviour, and action will be taken promptly by the Safeguarding Lead.

○ The platform will include tools such as reporting and blocking features to empower users to manage their online interactions safely.

Data Protection and Privacy

○ OneHive ensures all personal data is handled in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR regulations. Users' personal information will be kept confidential, and any breaches will be reported following our established procedures.

○ Regular audits will be conducted to ensure the platform’s security measures are up-to-date and effective in protecting sensitive information.

6. Legal Framework

This policy is based on the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, Keeping children safe in education 2024, Working together to safeguard children 2023(2018) and Governance Handbook (2020). It is also based on relevant legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. This includes:

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
Human Rights Act 1998
Section 175 of the Education Act (2002)
Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
OneHive’s duty under the Children Act 2004 to co-operate with other organisations and agencies [more information about this is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk/for organisations]
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Equality Act 2010
Public Sector Equality Duty
Education Regulations (2014)
Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales (2015)
Information sharing advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services for children, young people, parents and carers 2024
Data Protection Act (2018)
Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings (2022)
What To Do If You Are Worried A Child Is Being Abused (2015)
Recommendations from national and local Serious Case Reviews
DfE guidance relating to COVID 19

7. Responsibilities

Safeguarding within OneHive is a shared responsibility across all levels of the organisation, with key roles assigned to ensure effective implementation and oversight. The following outlines the specific responsibilities:

Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO):

○ Role: Oversees the implementation of safeguarding practices across OneHive, ensures all staff receive appropriate training, and handles any safeguarding concerns that arise. Acts as the primary point of contact for safeguarding concerns, particularly in educational or similar settings, and ensures safeguarding measures are properly followed.

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO):

○ Role: Fulfills the role of the DSO when the DSO is unavailable.

Data Protection Officer (DPO):

○ Role: Ensures the secure collection, storage, and use of personal data in line our Information Security Policy that contains GDPR, data protection legislation and guidelines from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

Employees and Volunteers:

○ Role: All employees and volunteers are required to follow safeguarding policies, report concerns promptly, and participate in safeguarding training to maintain awareness and vigilance.

8. Recruitment and Training

OneHive adheres to the DfE Keeping Safe in Education 2024 Act and the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012; the Childcare (Disqualification) and Childcare (Early Years Provision Free of Charge) (Extended Entitlement (Amendment) Regulations 2018 under S75 of the Childcare Act 2006.

We follow all elements of KCSiE on checking volunteers and contractors on checking host families for educational visits and work experience providers. Extending this further with:

All recruited members of staff, contractors, partners and volunteers are thoroughly vetted - All stakeholders listed will undergo a thorough recruitment process, including enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks, and reference checks.
People working for us are suitable and supported to promote the safeguarding of children in their work – All those who work for or on behalf of the OneHive, staff, and volunteers, are required to abide by the organisation’s Safeguarding policies.
Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to safeguard children through ongoing learning and training – All staff and volunteers are required to complete mandatory safeguarding training. Additional safeguarding training is undertaken commensurate with people's roles.

9. Code of Conduct

All staff and volunteers are expected to adhere to the following code of conduct:

Prioritise Child and Vulnerable User Safety
Always place the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, and vulnerable individuals above all other considerations.
Respect and Listen to Children
Treat all children and vulnerable users with respect, listen to their concerns, and involve them in decisions that affect them, ensuring their voices are heard and taken seriously.
Maintain Professional Boundaries
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Avoid any personal or intimate interactions, and ensure all communication is through corporate channels.
Confidentiality and Information Sharing
Protect the confidentiality of all users. Only share sensitive information when necessary for their safety or when required by law, and avoid sharing private contact information with vulnerable users.
Recognise and Report Abuse
Be vigilant in recognising signs of abuse or neglect. Promptly report any concerns, suspicions, or incidents in line with OneHive’s safeguarding procedures.
Ensure a Safe Environment
Create a safe physical and virtual space for children and vulnerable users, ensuring that all programs are appropriate, inclusive, and accessible. Where possible, avoid being in a one-to-one environment with vulnerable users to minimise any potential risks.
Avoid Inappropriate Situations
Avoid any situations or actions that could be interpreted as inappropriate or abusive (physical and verbal). Ensure that your behaviour and interactions are always professional and transparent.
Training and Awareness
Complete all required safeguarding training and stay up to date on policies, procedures, and best practices. Continuously engage in ongoing learning about safeguarding to ensure the highest level of protection for all users.
Report Misconduct and Concerns
Promptly report any concerns, breaches of the safeguarding code of conduct, or inappropriate behaviour by colleagues, volunteers, or third parties. Uphold the highest standards of conduct to ensure the safety and security of all users.

10. Reporting Concerns

In cases of immediate danger, contact emergency services and the local authority children’s social care or adult safeguarding team.
Concerns about safeguarding should be reported immediately following the incident by phone or in person to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.

○ If the DSO is not available, then report directly to the Deputy

○ If neither of the above are appropriate, then report directly to the Brent Council LADO - 02088635250
After the incident, fill out a “Safeguarding Form”, containing factual information only derived from open questioning of the individuals involved in line with the UK’s safeguarding record-keeping guidelines.
This is then stored in line with our GDPR/ICO policies.
After raising concerns, the DSO, where required, may discuss the matter with other agencies involved with the support of the guardians of the child, where appropriate.

○ This may include Local Safeguarding Partners, Safeguarding Arrangements, the reporter of the incident and others

○ And, or the wishes and fears of the vulnerable individual or any concerns they may have ● The DSO will consult with the appropriate persons, the Local Safeguarding Partners and Safeguarding Arrangements.

12. Review and Monitoring

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure its effectiveness and relevance. Feedback from staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders will be considered in the review process, and more frequent updates can.