Safeguarding and Prevent Policy

Version date	1st March 2026
Planned review period	March 2027

Section 01: Policy Scope 

Mind2Muscle Academy Ltd is an ethical education provider. We have been granted Recognised Centre status by Ofqual regulated awarding organisation Transcend. This enables us to deliver the Transcend qualifications that sit within our professional scope. We operate in accordance with legislation, regulation, and professional standards. We also abide by a legally binding agreement with our awarding organisation.

We have established this policy to demonstrate a commitment to the safeguarding and well-being of all our learners. We fully recognise our responsibilities for protecting all vulnerable groups from any form of abuse which includes identifying those that may be at risk of radicalisation and extremism.

Safeguarding defined

Safeguarding is a term which is broader than ‘child protection’ and relates to the action(s) taken to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and protect them from harm. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Safeguarding is defined as: • protecting children and vulnerable adults from maltreatment• preventing impairment of children’s and vulnerable adult’s health and development• ensuring that children and vulnerable adults live in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care • taking action to enable all children, young adults and vulnerable people have the best outcome and life chances Stakeholders must always act in the child and vulnerable person’s best interests and ensure all reasonable steps are taken to prevent harm to them. Having safeguards in place within the organisation not only protects and promotes the welfare of children and vulnerable adults but also enhances the confidence of trustees, staff, volunteers, parents/carers and the general public.

Responsibilities: Designated Safeguarding Officer
Our Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) is responsible for the development and deployment of this policy and associated procedures. Ensuring this policy is approved by senior management. The DSO is also responsible for: Acting as a source of advice and support for the staff and learners Liaising with the local authority and other agencies as appropriate, including making referrals to the Channel Panel where necessary. Keeping up to date with changes in legislation and policy related to safeguarding, including the Prevent Duty and the Channel Duty.
DSO name	Charlotte Kershaw
DSO email	charlotte@m2macademy.com

Responsibilities: staff, sub-contractors’ and volunteers

All staff, sub-contractors’ and volunteers are required to:  Understand and comply with this policy and related procedures. Undertake Safeguarding, Prevent, and Channel inductions and regular training as required by management.Be aware of and fulfil responsibilities under the Prevent Duty, including understanding the risks of radicalisation and extremism. Report safeguarding concerns, including allegations of abuse, neglect or radicalization promptly in line with procedures in this policy.Behave in a manner that promotes the safety, welfare and well-being of all learners with specific regard for children, young people and any vulnerable adults at risk.

Section 02: Policy Statement

2.1 Commitment statement     

Mind2Muscle Academy Ltd recognise the importance of safeguarding legislation, regulation, principles, and practices. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, across all operations and promotes safeguarding protocol in accordance with the Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE, 2017), Children’s Act 1989 and 2004 and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006).  

We ensure that we operate safe recruitment practices in accordance with the legislative document Safer Recruitment, Safeguarding Children in Education (2007) and under the Prevent Duty Guidance 2015 and ‘Keeping Children safe in Education 2020’ DfE publication. 

We have a professional duty to provide children and vulnerable adults with appropriate safety and protection. We take all reasonable measures to establish safe environments, promote learning and development, whilst providing protection to children and vulnerable people from all forms of abuse. 

We adopt a child and vulnerable person centred and coordinated approach to safeguarding which is underpinned by two key principles: 

• safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility: for services to be effective, each professional and organisation should play their full part
• a child and vulnerable person-centred approach: for services to be effective they should be based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of children and vulnerable groups.

2.2 Legal requirements 

We recognise and adhere to the statutory requirements and align with the guidance in the following important and relevant pieces of safeguarding legislation and guidance: 

• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010); 

• Children Act (2004);

• Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (2007); 

• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act SVGA (2006 amended 2012); 

• Protection of Freedoms Act (2012); 

• Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice (2012); 

• Sexual Offences Act (2003); 

• Every Child Matters (2004); 

• Equality Act (2010); 

• Section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2 2015; 

• Revised Prevent Duty Guidance July 2015; 

• Channel Duty Guidance 2015; 

This policy is approved by our senior leaders and will be followed by everyone associated with our organisation: including all staff, supply staff, clients and visitors, irrespective of the site. We will investigate serious concerns and allegations of abuse and respond to these promptly and appropriately, with possible referral to appropriate external agencies such as Social Services, Children’s Safeguarding Service, the Police and LADO. Referrals to our awarding organisation will also be made. 

Section 03: Policy Procedures

 3.1 Safeguarding culture

It is our duty to define the roles and responsibilities of each of our stakeholders with regards to the safeguarding of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This includes developing their understanding of safeguarding laws, policies, procedures and their duties associated with the Prevent and Channel guidelines. To ensure that we safeguard children, young people, and vulnerable adults within our community we aim to:

• Comply with legal and statutory obligations as well as best practice guidelines related to the safeguarding of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This includes ensuring adherence to relevant legislation such as the Children Act, the Equality Act, the Sexual Offences Act, and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, as well as the Prevent and Channel Duties. 
• Ensure that all staff and volunteers are required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to employment. Training on safeguarding, as well as the Prevent Duty and Channel Duty, will be provided to all staff and volunteers during induction. 
• Ensure that all staff are trained in safeguarding procedures, the Prevent Duty, and Channel protocols, and are aware of how to recognise and respond to potential safeguarding issues involving children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Regular refresher training should also be conducted to keep all staff updated on the latest safeguarding practices and legislation. 
• Implement procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse or radicalisation that involve children, young people, or vulnerable adults. This includes creating clear guidelines for recognising signs of abuse or exploitation, and for reporting and responding to such incidents. 
• Establish a safe environment for all learners, irrespective of age, by promoting a culture of transparency, openness, and awareness. This includes creating safe spaces for children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and developing practices that minimize opportunities for abuse or harm. 
• Create an inclusive and supportive environment that respects the rights and dignity of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This includes taking steps to ensure their voices are heard and that they feel valued, respected, and capable of expressing their concerns. 
• Foster partnerships with parents, carers, and other stakeholders to promote the wellbeing of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This includes ensuring clear communication and collaboration with all parties to support the welfare of the individuals in our care. 

 3.2 Safeguarding allegations 

Any allegations or suspicions of abuse or radicalization should be reported immediately to the DSO. The DSO will then decide on the appropriate action, which may include reporting to the local authority safeguarding team, the police, or making a referral to the Channel Panel where there is a concern about radicalization. 

• Any allegation or concern should be taken seriously and handled confidentially.
• All allegations or concerns should be reported confidentially to the Designated Safeguarding Officer [DSO].
• The DSO should make a written record of the details, including the name of the person making the allegation or concern, the date and time, the nature of the allegation or concern, and any supporting evidence.
• The DSO should inform the head off the centre as soon as possible.
• The DSO and the head off the centre will review the written record and decide on an appropriate course of action, which may include further investigation, referral to another agency, or disciplinary action.
• All records and documentation relating to the allegation or concern should be kept confidentially and securely.
• If necessary, external agencies such as law enforcement, regulatory bodies, or child protection services should be notified.
• At all times, the welfare and safety of any individuals involved should be the primary concern. At any time where a child or vulnerable adult is in imminent danger or has been seriously hurt the relevant authorities should be contacted. 
• Regular training and awareness-raising activities should be provided to staff to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities in relation to managing allegations and concerns.

 3.3 Safeguarding confidentiality 

We recognise that all safeguarding and PREVENT matters are highly sensitive and it is essential that confidentiality is prioritised at all stages of the process. In this context confidentiality is defined as:

• Sharing information on a need-to-know basis and only in the best interest of the child or vulnerable adult.  
• Sharing information with statutory and other designated agencies, such as the Channel Panel, when a someone is at significant risk of harm.
• Storing information is securely, either in a locked cabinet or via secure digital files which are accessible to the Designated Safeguarding Officer, and senior managers with delegated authority only.
• Ensuring all staff are mindful of their obligations under data protection laws and respect confidentiality.
• Ensuring all conversations, meetings and decisions that take place are recorded in writing, stored securely, and only shared with those who have a legitimate need to know. 

Confidentiality is respected in line with the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018, and we ensure that any information shared is done so in compliance with this law. However, the only purpose of confidentiality is to benefit the child or vulnerable adult at risk. No promise of confidentiality can or should ever be made where the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult at risk is at stake. 

The Data Protection Act 2018 does not prevent, or limit, sharing of information for the purposes of keeping children and vulnerable adults at risk safe. Fears about sharing information must not stand in the way of the need to promote the welfare and protect the safety of children and vulnerable adults at risk. We expect all staff to report any concerns. It is critical that they not share any concern with any other party unless a child or vulnerable adult at risk of 

Section 04: Policy Review

We track data and intel to monitor the effectiveness of this policy, to inform updates and to improve our practices. This policy is reviewed annually unless legal, regulatory, industry, internal change or trends indicate the need for an interim evaluation.  

This policy has been designed to align with the requirements of the statutory safeguarding legislation and guidelines including but not limited to the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the Prevent Duty Guidance, the Channel Duty Guidance, and the Channel Panel Fact Sheet. Changes to this policy will not be made without considering the safeguarding obligations within these regulations. 

Section 05: Policy Version Control

This document is subject to version control. All changes will be tracked here and confirmed as an updated version.

Version	Policy Version Details	HOC Sign Off date	Head of Centre Name
Version 01	Publication 01: No updates required	March 2026	Charlotte Kershaw

Appendix 01: Definitions 

Definition of children and young people 

Children and young people learners are defined as any indiviudal who has not yet reached their 18th Birthday (Children’s Act 1889,2004).  

Definition of vulnerable adults

Prior to the introduction of the Care Act in 2014, the No Secrets statutory Guidance which covered adult safeguarding, used a broad definition of a ‘vulnerable adult’ as a person: “who is or may be in need of 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”.

The Care Act 2014 superseded this, and now identifies ‘an adult at risk.’ An adult at risk of abuse or neglect is defined as someone who has needs for care and support, who is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect and as a result of their care needs – is unable to protect themselves. All partners should be using this definition when raising a concern about abuse or neglect of an adult

Definition of safeguarding

Safeguarding is a proactive process of protecting and ensuring the safety and well-being of young and vulnerable learners. Safeguarding may involve instances in which a young or vulnerable learner is suffering or likely to suffer harm. Safeguarding involves adopting safer recruitment practices to assist in identifying persons who are unsuitable to work with young or vulnerable learners. When learners feel safe and secure, they can concentrate on learning. Learners can rely on those people in positions of trust. Staff are protected from malicious and misplaced allegations. Staff are clear about individual responsibilities, roles and boundaries. Learners are appropriately protected, and all issues are dealt with effectively.

Definition of Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection

The Liverpool Safeguarding Children’s Board and the Home Office document “Working Together to Safeguard Children” state that “Child abuse and neglect” is a generic term encompassing all ill treatment of young and vulnerable learners, including serious physical and sexual abuse and sexual assaults as well as cases where the standard of care does not adequately support the persons health or development. Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a young or vulnerable learner. Somebody may abuse a young or vulnerable learner by inflicting harm, or by failing to prevent harm. Young or vulnerable learners may be abused in the family or an institution or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely by a stranger. An adult or adults or another child or children may abuse them. 

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010 sets out definitions and examples of the four broad categories of abuse Physical, Emotional, Sexual, and Neglect.

Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately causes illness. 

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a person such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on their development. It may involve conveying to the person that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on them. These may include interactions that are beyond the persons developmental capacity, causing the person frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of persons. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all maltreatment of a person, though it may occur alone. 

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the person is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving them in looking at, or in the production of pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging sexually inappropriate behaviour. 

Neglect involves the persistent failure to meet a person’s basic or physical and/or physiological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the persons health and development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy because of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food and clothing, shelter including exclusion from home or abandonment, failing to protect a person from physical harm or danger, failure to ensure adequate supervision including the use of inadequate care-takers, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsive to, a person’s basic emotional needs. Additional types of abuse and unsafe activities which have become more prevalent in recent times. These include:

• Bullying and Harassment; 
• Discriminatory Abuse; 
• Domestic Violence; 
• Financial Abuse; 
• Alcohol and Drugs; 
• Cyber-bullying; 
• Crime; 

Definition of PREVENT

Prevent is part of the Home Office and the Police counter-terrorism strategy and aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, by working with individuals and communities to address issues before they become a criminal matter and to stop people moving from extremism into terrorist-related activity. 

Young people in the UK are potentially vulnerable to engagement with extremist ideologies or being targeted by extremist organisations. Colleges, and other organisations that interact with young people, should be aware of these risks and be familiar with the support networks and processes in place to protect vulnerable individuals from becoming radicalised or drawn into terrorism. 

Definition of Radicalisation 

According to the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, radicalisation is defined as “the process through which an individual changes from passiveness or activism to become more revolutionary, militant, or extremist, especially where there is intent towards, or support for, violence.” It is a transformation that involves a shift towards more extreme ideologies and behaviours, often driven by a desire for radical change and a willingness to resort to violent means. 

• Notice – Recognition of any changes in behaviour or appearance like those outlined above. 
• Check – Speak with someone you trust like a tutor and see what they recommend but trust your instinct if you are still concerned. 
• Share – Speak to one of the named contacts to report your concerns. Remember trust your instinct. 

Appendix 02: Common Signs and Indicators of Abuse

Abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect. It is important to be aware of the signs and indicators of abuse so that appropriate action can be taken if necessary.

Physical Abuse	Physical abuse involves any non-accidental injury or harm to a person’s body. Signs and indicators of physical abuse may include: Unexplained bruises, cuts, or burnsBroken bones or fracturesHead injuriesInjuries that appear to have been caused by a weapon or objectInjuries that are in various stages of healingRefusal to seek medical attention for injuries
Emotional Abuse	Emotional abuse involves any behaviour that causes mental or emotional distress to a person. Signs and indicators of emotional abuse may include: Low self-esteem or self-worthDepression or anxietyWithdrawal from social activitiesChanges in eating or sleeping habitsSudden mood swings or personality changesFearfulness or anxiety around certain individuals

Sexual Abuse	Sexual abuse involves any non-consensual sexual activity. Signs and indicators of sexual abuse may include: Bruising or bleeding around the genital areaDifficulty walking or sittingPain during urination or bowel movementsChanges in eating or sleeping habitsSudden mood swings or personality changes
Neglect	Neglect involves a failure to provide adequate care for a person’s basic needs. Signs and indicators of neglect may include: Poor hygiene or cleanlinessMalnutrition or dehydrationUntreated medical conditionsUnsafe living conditionsLack of appropriate clothing or shelter

It is important to note that these signs and indicators do not necessarily indicate abuse, but they may warrant further investigation. If you suspect that someone is being abused, it is important to report your concerns to the DSO to inform the appropriate authorities as appropriate.