Ofsted is responsible for inspecting a range of educational institutions and on its most recent visit, reported that Nacro had effective safeguarding arrangements:
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Leaders, managers and staff place a very high priority on safeguarding learners. Managers provide effective oversight of safeguarding arrangements. They use external scrutiny well to provide assurance on the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements. They make sure that all necessary pre-employment checks are undertaken to verify that staff are suitable to work with young people and vulnerable adults.
At centres, managers and staff have a good understanding of local safeguarding issues such as county lines and the dangers of extremism. For example, at the Chatham centre, staff have a good awareness of the risk to young people of criminal exploitation through gangs. They demonstrate vigilance in watching for the signs of exploitation such as learners being pressurised to use their bank accounts for money laundering. When staff need to act to safeguard learners, they do so effectively.
Leaders and managers have responded effectively to the ‘Prevent’ duty. British values are effectively promoted at centres and most learners develop well their understanding of the dangers of extremism and radicalisation.
Nacro’s safeguarding policy
The safety and wellbeing of service users and learners is at the heart of the service Nacro provides. We are committed to ensuring that students, service users and anyone who accesses our services are free from abuse, harm and neglect, as well as protecting their health, wellbeing and human rights. Safeguarding is the responsibility of all Nacro employees, volunteers and contractors, whatever their role. You can read Nacro’s full safeguarding statement here.
Nacro’s commitment is supported by a strong governance structure with roles and responsibilities clearly defined and promoted. Our nationally recognised best practice on safer recruitment policy includes detailed pre-employment screening and enhanced DBS checks to ensure that we recruit staff with the right values, skills and experience.
Nacro holds an annual safeguarding week in to promote awareness, share good practice and strengthen our safeguarding policies and practice. Employees and services across Nacro get involved by making pledges, organising events, meeting partner organisations, attending training and engaging learners and service users.
Our safeguarding policies, covering the protection of adults and child protection, ensure that we provide a safe environment for all of our students and service users to learn and/or reside in. The policies cover a wide range of issues including:
- Bullying
- Domestic violence
- Teenage relationship abuse
- Female genital mutilation
- Child sexual exploitation
- Radicalisation
- Trafficking, exploitation and modern slavery
- Forced marriage, honour violence/killings
- Gang violence and gang grooming
- Online safety (including internet grooming and cyber bullying)
Nacro’s Prevent Policy – Preventing violent and non-violent extremism and radicalisation
Nacro has an up-to-date Prevent Policy as part of its duty to safeguard those using its services. The reviewed policy identifies that Directors and Operational leads have a responsibility for implementing individual prevent action plans for areas. This is done through a risk register and action plan form.
Keeping children safe in education
Nacro adheres to the Department for Education’s latest statutory guidance for schools and colleges ‘Keeping Children Safe In Education‘ – September 2021. Which covers staff guidance, the management of safeguarding, safer recruitment, allegations of abuse against staff and child-on-child sexual violence and harassment.
Get in touch
If you are concerned about the welfare of a student, service user or young person and wish to talk to someone, please get in touch.
Key contacts
Strategic Safeguarding Lead
Helen Dyson – Executive Lead with safeguarding responsibility
(Post Vacant) – Corporate Safeguarding Lead
Operational Safeguarding Lead
Clare Kirk – Educational directorate safeguarding lead
Gemma Goacher – Housing directorate safeguarding lead
Eliana Silva – Justice and Health directorate safeguarding lead
If you’re under 18 and need to talk to someone, you can contact ChildLine for free on 0800 1111.
If you’re worried about the welfare of a child contact the NSPCC helpline for professional help, advice and support – email help@nspcc.org.uk or call 0808 800 5000.
Useful links
Child sexual exploitation
Barnardos
Domestic violence
Free 24-hour National Domestic Violence helpline: 0808 2000 247
Disrespect Nobody – information and advice about relationships
Female genital mutilation
NSPCC FGM helpline – email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk or call free on 0800 028 3550
Keeping Children Safe
Statutory guidance for schools and colleges – download here
Mental health
Mind – email info@mind.org.uk, text 86463 or call free on 0300 123 3393
Samaritans – email jo@samaritans.org or call free on 116 123
Online safety
Child exploitation and online protection
Radicalisation
Educate Against Hate
Report online material promoting terrorism or extremism
Substance misuse
FRANK – send an email, text 82111 or call free on 0300 123 6600
