Ellen Kerr
Managing Director & Designated Safeguarding Lead
REPORT A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN
If Something Does Not Feel Right, Please Speak Up
If you are worried about the safety, wellbeing or welfare of a child or young person connected with Reconnect Learning, report the concern promptly.
You do not need proof that harm has occurred before raising a genuine safeguarding concern.
YOU CAN REPORT
Concerns about a child, an adult or safeguarding practice
Child-protection or welfare concerns
Online harm, grooming or exploitation
Bullying or child-on-child abuse
Concerns about staff or adult conduct
Unsafe safeguarding practice
A concern that may not have been acted upon
If a child is at immediate risk
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, at risk of significant harm or requires urgent protection, contact the emergency services immediately.
Do not wait for Reconnect Learning to respond before taking urgent action where immediate protection is required.
Priority
Child Safety
Leadership
DSL Oversight
Concerns
Recorded
Response
Prompt
Practice
Safeguarding-Led
SPEAK UP
Share concerns. Protect children.
You do not need to be certain that harm has occurred before raising a concern. If something feels wrong, a child appears unsafe or you are worried about adult conduct or safeguarding practice, the information should be shared.
Reconnect Learning takes safeguarding, welfare, adult-conduct and whistleblowing concerns seriously. Relevant concerns are recorded, reviewed and considered through safeguarding procedures.
OUR REPORTING PRINCIPLE
It is better to share a genuine safeguarding concern early than to stay silent because you are not completely certain.
SAFEGUARDING LEADERSHIP
Contact our safeguarding team
Concerns connected with Reconnect Learning should be shared with the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Claire Spicer
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
WHAT CAN BE REPORTED?
Any concern about a child, adult conduct or unsafe practice
Concerns do not need to fit neatly into one category. Share the information you have so that the safeguarding team can consider the appropriate route.
Child-protection concerns
Welfare or wellbeing concerns
Online-safety concerns
Bullying or discrimination
Child-on-child abuse
Sexual harassment or harmful sexual behaviour
Radicalisation or Prevent concerns
Concerns about adult conduct
Low-level concerns
Allegations against staff or tutors
Unsafe safeguarding practice
Concerns not being acted upon
Exploitation, grooming or coercion
Self-harm or suicide concerns
Missing education or unexplained absence
Whistleblowing concerns
HOW TO REPORT
Share factual information as clearly as possible
1
Identify the Child
Provide the child or young person's name and information needed to identify them safely.
2
Explain the Concern
Describe what you saw, heard, were told or became worried about.
3
Include Dates & Places
Share when and where the incident, disclosure or concern occurred.
4
State Immediate Risk
Explain whether the child may be in immediate danger or requires urgent protection.
5
Record Action Taken
Tell us whether emergency services, school staff or another agency have already been contacted.
6
Leave Contact Details
Provide your details where appropriate so the safeguarding team can clarify information.
DIFFERENT SAFEGUARDING ROUTES
The nature of the concern may affect what happens next
Concern About a Child
Report the concern to the safeguarding team. The DSL will consider whether another professional or statutory agency needs to be involved.
Concern About a Staff Member or Tutor
Report promptly and do not investigate. The matter may need to follow the appropriate allegations procedure.
Low-Level Concern
Share behaviour that may not meet an allegation threshold but appears inconsistent with professional standards or expected boundaries.
Prevent Concern
Concerns about radicalisation, extremist influence, coercion or harmful online content should be shared through safeguarding procedures.
Whistleblowing Concern
Unsafe practice, poor safeguarding culture, failure to follow procedures or concerns not being managed appropriately can be raised.
Service Complaint
Where a matter is not a safeguarding concern it may be managed through the complaints process. Safeguarding concerns should not be delayed by a complaint route.
LOW-LEVEL CONCERNS
Concerns about professional behaviour should be shared
A concern about an adult does not need to appear serious enough to amount to an allegation before it can be raised.
Inappropriate boundaries
Unprofessional communication
Behaviour causing discomfort or concern
Conduct inconsistent with staff expectations
Patterns of behaviour that raise concern
ALLEGATIONS
Serious concerns about adults require formal consideration
Where information suggests an adult working with children may have behaved in a way that presents a safeguarding concern, the matter should be reported without delay.
Do not confront the person concerned or attempt to conduct your own investigation.
WHISTLEBLOWING
Speak up about unsafe practice or poor safeguarding culture
Reconnect Learning encourages openness, accountability and professional challenge where somebody believes safeguarding practice may be unsafe or a concern is not being handled appropriately.
Whistleblowing may involve
Failure to follow safeguarding procedures, unsafe professional practice, concerns about adults working with children, poor organisational culture, concealment of concerns or repeated failure to act.
Raising concerns
Staff, tutors, parents, carers and professionals should raise concerns where they believe unsafe safeguarding practice is occurring or has not been appropriately addressed.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Concerns are considered through safeguarding procedures
CONFIDENTIALITY
Safeguarding information is handled carefully
Relevant safeguarding information is handled appropriately and shared with people or agencies where necessary to protect a child or manage a concern.
Absolute confidentiality cannot be promised where a child may be at risk or where safeguarding or legal responsibilities require information sharing.
ANONYMOUS CONCERNS
Anonymous information can still be considered
Anonymous concerns can be shared, although it may be more difficult to clarify information where the person reporting cannot be contacted.
Where possible, provide enough factual information to identify the concern and any immediate safeguarding risk.
Do not investigate a safeguarding concern yourself
Listen, remain calm, record factual information and report promptly.
Do not repeatedly question a child, confront the person involved or attempt to gather evidence beyond what is necessary for immediate safety.
The welfare of the child remains the priority. The safeguarding lead will consider what further action, advice, information sharing or external referral may be appropriate.
REPORT A CONCERN FAQs
Questions about raising safeguarding concerns
Do I need proof before reporting a safeguarding concern?
No. You should share a genuine concern even if you do not have proof that harm has occurred.
Who should I contact at Reconnect Learning?
Concerns can be raised with the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead using the contact details shown on this page.
What if a concern relates to a tutor or staff member?
Report the concern promptly. Do not confront the person or attempt to investigate the matter yourself.
Can I report a low-level concern?
Yes. Behaviour that appears inconsistent with professional standards or expected boundaries can be shared even where it does not appear to meet an allegation threshold.
Can I report something anonymously?
Yes. Anonymous information can be considered, although providing contact information may make it easier to clarify relevant details.
Will my concern remain confidential?
Safeguarding information is handled carefully, but absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where information needs to be shared to protect a child.
What if I think a safeguarding concern has been ignored?
A concern about safeguarding practice or a failure to respond appropriately should be raised rather than left unreported.
Can parents and carers raise safeguarding concerns?
Yes. Parents and carers can raise safeguarding concerns connected with Reconnect Learning provision.
Can professionals or commissioners raise concerns?
Yes. Schools, local authorities and other professionals can share concerns through the safeguarding route.
What if my concern relates to online harm?
Online harm, grooming, exploitation or inappropriate digital contact can be reported as safeguarding concerns.
What if my concern relates to radicalisation?
Concerns about radicalisation or extremist influence should be shared through safeguarding procedures for appropriate consideration.
What should I do if a child is in immediate danger?
Do not wait for a response from Reconnect Learning. Seek immediate emergency assistance where a child requires urgent protection.