Safeguarding Policy
ArtWorks is committed to ensuring the students in our care are protected from abuse, harm and radicalisation.
ArtWorks will respond promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns regarding the safety of a child that may occur. ArtWorks’s child protection procedures comply with all relevant legislation and with guidance issued by the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP). An ‘it could happen here’ mindset will be employed by staff at all times
There is a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) available at all times at ArtWorks.
ArtWorks designated DSL is Jo Acty.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
● Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
● Protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
● Preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health and development
● Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
● Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes
Child abuse, neglect and exploitation
Child abuse, neglect and exploitation is any form of physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment or lack of care that leads to injury or harm. An individual may abuse, neglect or exploit a child directly, or by failing to protect them from harm. Some forms of child abuse, neglect and exploitation are listed below.
● Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child so as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve making the child feel that they are worthless, unloved, or inadequate. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
● Physical abuse can involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may be also caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes, ill health to a child.
● Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening, as well as the exploitation of children. This can involve physical contact, or non-contact activities such as showing children sexual activities or encouraging them to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
● Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs. It can involve a failure to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter, to protect a child from physical and emotional harm, to ensure adequate supervision or to allow access to medical treatment.
● Domestic Abuse: Psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional
Signs of child abuse, neglect and exploitation
Signs of possible abuse, neglect and exploitation may include:
● significant changes in a child's behaviour
● deterioration in a child’s general well-being
● unexplained bruising or marks
● comments made by a child which give cause for concern
● reasons to suspect abuse, neglect or exploitation outside the setting, eg in the child’s home, or that a girl may have been subjected to (or is at risk of) female genital mutilation (FGM), or that the child may have witnessed or be living with domestic abuse
● inappropriate behaviour displayed by a member of staff, or any other person. For example, inappropriate sexual comments, excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their role, or inappropriate sharing of images.
If abuse is suspected or disclosed
When a child makes a disclosure to a member of staff, that member of staff will:
● Reassure the child that they were not to blame and were right to speak out.
● Listen to the child but not question them.
● Give reassurance that the staff member will take action.
● Record the incident as soon as possible (see Logging an incident below).
If a member of staff witnesses or suspects abuse, they will record the matter straightaway using the Logging a concern book. If a third party expresses concern that a child is being abused, we will encourage them to contact Social Care directly. If they will not do so, we will explain that ArtWorks is obliged to, and the incident will be logged accordingly.
All staff recognise that children may not feel ready or know how to tell someone that they are being abused, exploited, or neglected and/or they may not recognise their experiences as harmful. This could be due to their vulnerability, disability, or language barriers. They may also feel embarrassed, humiliated, or are being threatened. Our staff recognise this and where they have any concerns about a child, they will raise these with the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) without unreasonable delay.
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
FGM is an illegal, extremely harmful practice and a form of child abuse and violence against woman and girls. FGM is therefore dealt with as part of our existing safeguarding procedures. All of our staff receive training in how to recognise when girls are at risk of FGM, or may have been subjected to it.
If FGM is suspected or disclosed
We will follow the same procedures as set out above for responding to child abuse and will make a
report to Children’s Social Care directly.
Child-on-Child abuse
Children are vulnerable to abuse by their peers. Child-on-Child abuse is taken seriously by staff and will be subject to the same child protection procedures as other forms of abuse. Staff are aware of the potential uses of technology and the internet for bullying and abusive behaviour between young people.
Staff will not dismiss abusive behaviour as normal between young people. The presence of one or more of the following in relationships between children should always trigger concern about the possibility of peer-on-peer abuse:
● Sexual activity (in primary school-aged children) of any kind, including sexting.
● One of the children is significantly more dominant than the other (e.g. much older).
● One of the children is significantly more vulnerable than the other (e.g. in terms of disability, confidence, physical strength).
● There has been some use of threats, bribes, or coercion to ensure compliance or secrecy.
If child-on-child abuse is suspected or disclosed
We will follow the same procedures as set out above for responding to child abuse.
Extremism and radicalisation
All childcare settings have a legal duty to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and being
drawn into extremism. There are many reasons why a child might be vulnerable to radicalisation, eg:
● feeling alienated or alone
● seeking a sense of identity or individuality
● suffering from mental health issues such as depression
● desire for adventure or wanting to be part of a larger cause
● associating with others who hold extremist beliefs
Signs of radicalisation
Signs that a child might be at risk of radicalisation include:
● changes in behaviour, for example becoming withdrawn or aggressive
● claiming that terrorist attacks and violence are justified
● viewing violent extremist material online
● possessing or sharing violent extremist material
If a member of staff suspects that a child is at risk of becoming radicalised, they will record any relevant information or observations on a Logging a concern book, and refer the matter to the DSL.
ArtWorks staff are aware that abuse, neglect, exploitation, and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone issues and events. In most cases, multiple issues will overlap. Staff recognise that children might be at risk of harm inside and outside of their time at ArtWorks, inside and outside of their home, and whilst online. ArtWorks tutors exercise professional curiosity to help identify early signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and act early in cases where children might need our help or protection.
All staff at ArtWorks are aware of the indicators of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and understand that children can be at risk of harm inside and outside of school, inside and outside of home, and online.
Staff exercising professional curiosity and knowing what to look for is vital for the early identification of abuse, neglect or exploitation so that staff are able to identify cases of children who may be in need of help or protection.
All ArtWorks staff, but especially the designated safeguarding lead (and deputy DSL) should consider whether children are at risk of abuse or exploitation in situations outside their families. Extra familial harms take a variety of different forms and children can be vulnerable to multiple harms including (but not limited to) sexual abuse (including harassment and exploitation), domestic abuse in their own intimate relationships (teenage relationship abuse), criminal exploitation, serious youth violence, county lines and radicalisation.
ArtWorks tutors are aware that technology is a significant component in many safeguarding and wellbeing issues. Children are at risk of abuse and other risks online as well as face to face. In many cases abuse and other risks will take place concurrently both online and offline. Children can also abuse other children online, this can take the form of abusive, harassing, and misogynistic/misandrist messages, the non-consensual sharing of indecent images, especially around chat groups, and the sharing of abusive images and pornography to those who do not want to receive such content. In all cases, if staff are unsure they will always speak to the DSL or Deputy DSL.
Logging a concern
All information about the suspected abuse, disclosure or concern, will be recorded in the Logging a concern book as soon as possible after the event. The record should include:
● date of the disclosure, or the incident, or the observation causing concern
● date and time at which the record was made
● name and date of birth of the child involved
● a factual report of what happened. If recording a disclosure, you must use the child’s own
words
● name, signature and job title of the person making the record.
The record will be given to ArtWorks DSL who will decide on the appropriate course of action.
For concerns about child abuse, the DSL will contact Social Care immediately in line with this policy and its procedures. The DSL will follow up all referrals to Social Care in writing within 48 hours.
If a member of staff thinks that the incident has not been dealt with properly, they may contact Social Care directly.
For minor concerns regarding radicalisation, the DSL will contact the Local Authority Prevent Coordinator or the OSCP. For more serious concerns the DSL will contact the Police on the non- emergency number (101), or the anti terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321. For urgent concerns the DSL will contact the Police using 999.
Allegations against staff
If anyone makes an allegation of child abuse against a member of staff:
● The allegation will be recorded on an Incident record form. Any witnesses to the incident should sign and date the entry to confirm it.
● The allegation must be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and to Ofsted.
● The LADO will advise if other agencies (e.g. police) should be informed, and House of Fun will act upon their advice. Any telephone reports to the LADO will be followed up in writing within 48 hours.
● Following advice from the LADO, it may be necessary to suspend the member of staff pending full investigation of the allegation.
● If appropriate, ArtWorks will make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Promoting awareness among staff
ArtWorks promotes awareness of child abuse and the risk of radicalisation through its staff training. ArtWorks ensures that:
● the designated DSL has relevant experience and receives appropriate training in safeguarding and the Prevent Duty, and is aware of the Channel Programme and how to access it
● designated person training is refreshed every three years
● safe recruitment practices are followed for all new staff
● all staff have a copy of this Safeguarding policy, understand its contents and are vigilant to signs of abuse, neglect or radicalisation
● all staff are aware of how to respond in a timely way at the earliest opportunity
● all staff are aware of their statutory duties with regard to the disclosure or discovery of child abuse, and concerns about radicalisation
● all staff receive basic safeguarding training, and safeguarding is a permanent agenda item at all staff meetings. Staff receive annual safeguarding updates during training days
● Staff are supported to understand how to keep themselves safe and how to blow the whistle
should they be concerned about another adult’s behaviour or practice
● all staff receive basic training in the Prevent Duty
● staff are familiar with the Safeguarding File which is kept in the staff room/area, with a copy of this policy displayed at all times
● ArtWorks procedures are in line with the guidance in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)’ and staff are familiar with ‘What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused (2015)’.
Use of mobile phones and cameras
Photographs will only be taken of children with their parents’ permission. Only the Team Manager or senior leadership team is permitted to take photos. Neither staff nor children nor visitors may use their mobile phones or wearable technology such as smart watches to take photographs at ArtWorks.
Contact numbers
LCSS (Locality and Community Support Service): 0345 050 7666 Opening Hours: 8.30 – 5pm (Mon – Thurs) 8.30am – 4pm (Fri) Social Care: 0345 050 7666
Social Care out of hours contact: 0800 833408
LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) Jo Lloyd 01865 810603 lado.safeguardingchildren@oxfordshire.gov.uk
OSCP (Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership): 01865 815843 oscp@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Local Authority Prevent Co-ordinator: 0345 050 7666 Oxfordshire MASH (for a child) or the Social and Health Care Team (for an adult)
Police: 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency)
Anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321
NSPCC: 0808 800 500
Ofsted: 0300 123 1231
This policy was adopted by ArtWorks School of Art
Date: May 2025
To be reviewed: May 2026
Signed: Jo Acty
Safeguarding policies and procedures [3.4-3.6] and Suitable People [3.8-3.15] Safeguarding training [3.24-3.25].