Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy 2025
1. Policy Statement
Regenerate Mentoring is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people we work with. We believe that all children have the right to be protected from harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Our safeguarding practice ensures that every child and young person who engages with our services feels safe, supported and listened to.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all staff, mentors, volunteers, contractors and representatives working on behalf of Regenerate Mentoring. It covers all activities undertaken in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
3. Legislative and Local Framework
This policy is based on the statutory requirements of:
– Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025
– Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 (updated 2023)
– Education Act 2002 (Sections 157 & 175)
– Children Acts 1989 and 2004
– Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Prevent Duty)
– Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
– Equality Act 2010 (s.149 Public Sector Equality Duty)
– Human Rights Act 1998
Regenerate Mentoring aligns its practice with the procedures and threshold guidance of the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership (KBSP), the South Gloucestershire Children’s Partnership, and the North Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership.
4. Roles and Responsibilities
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Jonny Doidge
Deputy DSL: Amy Galsworthy
Both the DSL and Deputy DSL hold Level 3 Safeguarding Children qualifications and undertake Prevent and annual refresher training. They are responsible for managing concerns, maintaining records, liaising with external agencies and providing safeguarding oversight across the organisation.
All staff and mentors have a duty to identify, record and report any safeguarding concerns immediately to the DSL or Deputy DSL.
5. Recognising and Responding to Concerns
All staff must remain vigilant to signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation and contextual harm. Concerns may arise from direct disclosure, observation, changes in behaviour, attendance issues or information received from others.
When a concern is identified, the member of staff must:
1. Record the concern immediately using the Safeguarding Concern Form or secure online log.
2. Report it to the DSL or Deputy DSL without delay.
3. The DSL assesses the information and determines whether to:
– Monitor within the mentoring plan,
– Initiate an Early Help assessment, or
– Make a referral to Children’s Social Care or contact the police if a child is at immediate risk.
All decisions and actions are recorded securely and reviewed regularly.
6. Record Keeping and Confidentiality
Safeguarding records are maintained securely and separately from general records, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and KCSIE 2025 Annex C. Only authorised safeguarding staff have access. Records are retained and transferred to new settings as per statutory guidance.
7. Safer Recruitment
Regenerate Mentoring follows safer recruitment practices in accordance with KCSIE 2025 Part 3. All staff and mentors working directly with children are subject to enhanced DBS checks, reference verification, identity and right-to-work checks. At least one member of every interview panel has current Safer Recruitment training. A signed Code of Conduct is required before work commences.
8. Staff Training and Supervision
All staff complete safeguarding induction before undertaking unsupervised work. Annual refresher training is mandatory, and staff receive regular updates throughout the year on emerging themes, online safety, and contextual safeguarding. Mentors receive regular supervision that includes safeguarding discussion and reflective practice.
9. Online Safety and Emerging Risks
Regenerate Mentoring recognises the risks posed by online activity, including exposure to harmful content, misinformation, grooming, and the misuse of AI tools. Mentors educate young people about the ‘four Cs’ of online risk – content, contact, conduct and commerce – and encourage safe online behaviours. Organisation devices are monitored and filtered to safeguard users.
10. Low-Level Concerns and Whistleblowing
All staff are expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct. Any low-level concerns or allegations about staff behaviour must be reported to the DSL immediately. The organisation’s whistleblowing policy allows staff to raise concerns directly with the DSL, a Director, or the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
11. Prevent Duty and Contextual Safeguarding
We recognise that young people may be vulnerable to radicalisation, extremist influences or exploitation. Staff are trained in Prevent awareness and know how to identify and report concerns. We also consider contextual safeguarding factors such as peer influence, neighbourhood risk and online environments in all risk assessments.
12. Key Contact Information
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Jonny Doidge – safeguarding@regeneratementoring.co.uk – 07398 905221
Deputy DSL: Amy Galsworthy – safeguarding@regeneratementoring.co.uk – 07398 905221
Local Partnerships:
– Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership: www.bristolsafeguarding.org
– South Gloucestershire Children’s Partnership: www.southglos.gov.uk/safeguarding
– North Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership: www.northsomersetsafeguarding.co.uk
In an emergency, always dial 999.
This policy will be reviewed annually or following significant legislative changes or incidents. The DSL conducts termly audits of safeguarding records and reports key findings to the Directors. Learning from audits, supervision and incidents informs future training and policy updates.
Academic Year: 2025/26
Reviewed: September 2025
Next Review Due: September 2026