Safeguarding & Prevent

We are fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all stakeholders by taking all reasonable steps to protect them from harm and accepts its corporate responsibility for the wellbeing and safety of its learners.

EMS will closely follow any locally agreed procedure as set out by the Local Authority and governmental direction within which we operate and act on criteria for safeguarding individuals vulnerable to extremism and radicalisation.

Throughout the learner journey, we will strive to eradicate the myths and assumptions that can lead to some learners becoming alienated and disempowered, by ensuring our programme is enriched and diverse to be able to give approaches where learners may challenge or question these radical influences:

• Establish or use existing mechanisms for understanding the risk of radicalisation.
• Ensure staff understand the risk and build the capabilities to deal with it and effective reporting system linked with safeguarding of Learners.
• Communicate and promote the importance of the Policy.
• Ensure staff implement the Policy effectively.
• We will develop strategies and staff training to ensure that all of our staff are equipped to recognise extremism and are skilled and confident enough to challenge it.

EMS will promote the values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs. We will teach and encourage learners to respect one another and to respect and tolerate difference, especially those of a different faith or no faith.

It is our goal is to build mutual respect and understanding and to promote the use of dialogue not violence as a form of conflict resolution. We will help support learners who may be vulnerable to such influences as part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities and where we believe a learner is being directly affected by extremist materials or influences, we will ensure that the learner is offered mentoring and possibly through referral. Additionally, in such instances we will seek external support from the Local Authority and/or local partnership structures working to prevent extremism.

We recognise our responsibility and acknowledge that it is the duty of our workforce in its entirety to uphold British Values and Safeguard the welfare of all stakeholders by creating an environment that protects them from harm and reduces any potential risks of being exposed to violence, extremism, exploitation, or victimisation. Therefore, employees, apprentices, volunteers and contractors will show respect and always understanding for the rights, safety and welfare of all parties and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles, values, and cultures of our organisation.

They will also be aware of and follow current legislation regarding the safeguarding of all learners. Our policy sets out, in detail, the roles and responsibilities of all parties in providing a safe working and learning environment whereby everyone is protected from abuse of any kind.

We are committed to reviewing our policies and good practice at least annually, unless there is a change to legislation, or if there has been a meaningful change within the organisation. The SSL is responsible for updating the policy with support from the Safeguarding team and the Managing Director

It is our intention to:

• Recognise that each provision may provide the only stability in the lives of Learners who have been abused, or who are at risk of harm.
• Provide a nurturing environment where self-esteem and self-assertiveness are promoted for all Learners including those that are vulnerable.
• Establish and maintain an ethos where Learners feel secure and are encouraged to talk and are listened to.
• We will adopt robust recruitment procedures that deter and prevent people who are unsuitable to work with adults at risk from applying for or securing employment, or volunteering opportunities within EMS.
• We will ensure that relevant employment and security checks are undertaken within our safer recruitment practices that all adults at risks within EMS, who have access to learners, have been checked as to their suitability to work with learners. This will support in creating a culture that is safe and safeguards the welfare of learners.
• Take the necessary steps to inform all stakeholders of relevant policies and procedures and Code of Conduct.
• Ensure that appropriate supervision is given, where required.
• Ensure that all stakeholders are protected from abuse, regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender reassignment, maternity, or because someone is married or in a civil partnership.
• Ensure that staff are appropriately trained in safeguarding and to understand the risk of radicalisation, challenging extremism, their role in implementing the Prevent Duty and the impact this has on their job role, and how to refer an individual who they feel is at risk.
• To help promote an understanding that a Learner who is abused or who witnesses violence may be deeply affected.
• Take all suspicions and allegations of abuse and risks of radicalization extremely seriously and to respond to concerns with due speed and consideration.
• Develop and promote effective working partnership with other agencies and in accordance with organisations’ procedures, where required, including Safeguarding Partners, the Channel multi-agency panel and the Police
• Regularly review and monitor our policies and procedures to ensure our legal, moral, and social responsibilities are met.
• Comply with and maintain knowledge of all relevant legislation, codes of practice and appropriate guidance and any amendments.
• Have designated staff who support the safeguarding of learners within each region these are known as Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL), they are in place to advise on and manage any concerns and referrals made and learners know there are responsible adults at risks within EMS whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty.
• Ensure that all personal information is confidential and should only be shared with the permission of the individual concerned, (and/or those with parental responsibility), unless the disclosure of confidential information is necessary to protect adults at risk from serious harm or to promote their welfare. In circumstances, information must be confined to those people directly involved in the professional work of each individual adults at risk or adults at risk at risk and on a strict “need to know” basis.
• All staff and Directors believe that EMS should provide a caring, positive, safe, and stimulating environment, which promotes the social, physical, and moral development of the individual learner.
• Everyone who works for EMS have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of our learners and respond to concerns, incidents, or disclosures and should speak with their Designated
• Safeguarding Lead to inform them of any safeguarding or adults at risk protection concerns without delay.
• If our learners feel safe and supported under the coaching and mentoring of EMS colleagues it will help their development in ways that will foster security, confidence, and independence as they continue to progress and achieve.

Andy Fay – Managing Director