Safeguarding Policy

Drive to Arrive and persons responsible explicitly agrees to the following Statement of Policy and Procedures in regard to Safeguarding:

The relevant legalisation includes:

• Children Act 1989
• Every Child Matters 2003
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016
• The Care Act 2014
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2016
• Sexual Offences Act 2003


Drive to Arrive and persons responsible are committed to safeguarding children (those under 18) and ‘adults with needs for care and support’, and protecting them from abuse when they are engaged in services organised and provided by us.

We will act in the best interest of the child or adult at all times, and will proactively seek to promote their welfare and protection.

All trainers, Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and Potential Driving Instructors (PDIs) are subject to DBS checks as part of the requirements to be entered onto the ADI register.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) ensures that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children, young people and adults with care and support needs through using safe recruitment and selection processes. This will involve Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

We will take any concern made by a pupil, parent, relative, or member of the public, seriously and sensitively, and will not tolerate harassment of a person who raises concerns.

Your ADI is aware that language should be appropriate and they should not be found to have made offensive remarks, use inappropriate gestures, have inappropriate contact with their learners, use inappropriate material or inflict physical or violent abuse. Any concerns should be reported to the Lead Welfare Officer (LWO) for Drive to Arrive and/or the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and where deemed necessary, the police and other relevant authorities, pending further inquiries.

We confirm that we have at least one Designated Safeguarding Officer responsible for raising concerns about abuse or suspected abuse towards a child or adult with needs for care and support as appropriate.

Designated Safeguarding Officer/Lead Welfare Officer:
Drive to Arrive
Donna Watson
07795212405

We acknowledge our responsibility if we become aware of concerns about a Child or Adult with needs for care and support.

Should the welfare of a child or adult be at risk, Drive to Arrive will take immediate steps to protect those individuals. This may include removing the learners to the care of a safe person, contacting Social Services or the police and other relevant agencies/individuals.

We confirm that those raising a concern will be made aware that it will be shared with appropriate people who are in a position to help them but will be treated in confidence as far as possible.

Staff and franchisees will not discuss the concern except with the Designated Safeguarding Officer.

We agree to make referrals, and retain records, securely and appropriately in accordance with relevant legislation.

We understand that it is our responsibility to make sure that appropriate training takes place for staff and franchisees in respect of safeguarding. All concerns and queries must be addressed to Drive to Arrive and Donna Watson, who is the safeguarding lead. Should your issue be with this person, then contact another LWO if available for the Driving School or the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

In Drive to Arrive – the LWO is Donna Watson who has been trained and qualified to Level 3 Award in Principles of Safeguarding and Protecting Children, Young People or Vulnerable Adults.

We also abide by the DVSA Code of Practice for ADIs https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-instructor-code-of-practice

Referral pathway
Local arrangements vary for receiving referrals. Some Local Authorities have arrangements in place to screen referrals via a multi agency safeguarding hub process, usually referred to as the ‘MASH’. When a referral is received, a professional judgment needs to be decided as to what type and level of help and support is needed. This should be recorded and fed back in writing to the referrer, and where appropriate, the child/vulnerable adult and their family if appropriate. If Drive to Arrive has concerns about a child´s or adult’s welfare, we will make a referral to the local authority children´s or adult’s social care service. Drive to Arrive is aware that referrals can also come from the child or adult themselves, professionals such as teachers, the police, driving instructors, GPs and health visitors as well as family members and members of the public.

Escalation
Multi-agency working to safeguard children from harm or adults at risk, is often complex and means that from time to time the judgement of staff from different professional backgrounds may differ, causing potential conflict. At no time must professional disagreement detract from ensuring a child or adult is safeguarded; their welfare and safety must remain paramount throughout. If Drive to Arrive is unhappy that a referral isn’t being dealt with then we will follow it up and escalate it as necessary if we believe a child or vulnerable adult is still at risk.

Contact details
Drive to Arrive: Donna Watson 07795 212405
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
DVSA driving instructor team:
instructorconduct@dvsa.gov.uk
DVSA
PO Box 349
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
NE12 2GN


Trafficking
Child trafficking is child abuse and Drive to Arrive completely condemns all forms of child trafficking. This form of abuse requires a child protection, multi-agency response in line with current legislation. If we think a child is in immediate danger, Drive to Arrive will contact the police on 999. If Drive to Arrive has concerns about a child but they are not in immediate danger, we will share our concerns. Part of our reporting may include:
• Contacting the Child Trafficking Advice Centre (CTAC) on 0808 800 5000 or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk
• Contacting the local child protection services
• Contacting the police if there is immediate danger

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a framework for identifying victims of human trafficking and ensuring they receive the appropriate protection and support.

The term ‘modern slavery‘ describes anyone forced into labour, owned or controlled by an ‘employer’, treated as a commodity (i.e. bought or sold) or physically constrained. Human trafficking describes the practice of illegally transporting someone from one area or country to another, usually for the purposes of being sold into modern slavery. A person does not need to be taken out of their home country to be considered a victim of human trafficking. Drive to Arrive condemns this type of abuse and will report any signs of it to help safeguard individuals.


What action will be taken
Where Drive to Arrive has identified a safeguarding issue and needs to report this to a relevant authority or organisation, we will endeavour to keep the child or adult at risk informed and where relevant and appropriate, their family also.


Drive to Arrive will not tolerate any form of abuse to it’s customers or driving instructors and will take appropriate measures to help safeguard vulnerable children and adults.