Safeguarding
Venturers Trust is committed to the vital contribution all Governors and staff make to safeguarding and the protection and welfare of children and young people. We aim to ensure that all child protection and welfare concerns and referrals are handled sensitively, professionally and in ways that support the specific needs of the individual child. We aim to foster an atmosphere of trust, respect and security and all of our academies follow clearly published procedures with regards to safeguarding and child protection. The Trust also follows clear procedures in the safer recruitment of staff as outlined in the 'Work with Us' section in this website and all our academy websites.
The named governor for Safeguarding on the Trust Board is Alison Golden-Wright.
Policy and Procedures
Venturers Trust ensures all policies and procedures in respect of safeguarding children are up to date and in line with the latest version of Keeping Children Safe in Education. The policies are accessible to all staff through the Trust’s online Carval portal. Policies and procedures are reviewed and revised by the Trust Board on a regular basis.
Trust Board Responsibilities
As delegated by the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive is the lead for Safeguarding and directly line manages the Trust Safeguarding Lead (TSL) who has oversight of the Trust Policy and who liaises directly with the named Safeguarding Governor on the Trust Board who reports to the Board on all Safeguarding issues.
Disclosure & Barring Checks
Venturers Trust meets statutory requirements in relation to Disclosure & Barring Service – all staff and volunteers who work with Venturers Trust meet the ‘regulated activity test’ (Freedoms Act 2012) and are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check prior to employment.
Safeguarding Leads
The Board of Trustees for Venturers Trust has ultimate responsibility for Safeguarding issues. Operationally, this responsibility is delegated to the Chief Executive, who leads on policy issues in relation to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk in conjunction with the Trust Safeguarding Lead. Within each academy there are Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) who lead on Child Protection issues within their relevant location. They are clear about their role, have sufficient time and receive relevant support, and training, to undertake their roles, which includes close contact with outside agencies including social services, the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and relevant health care organisations.
Training
All eligible staff and volunteers are required to undertake relevant safeguarding training and this is regularly reviewed by each Designated Safeguarding Lead in the respective academies, the Trust Safeguarding Lead and the Trust Central HR team to ensure it is up to date. A training database for all staff and volunteers is maintained. In addition all named Safeguarding Governors attend scheduled meetings with the Trust Safeguarding Lead throughout the year and further additional training for governors takes place as part of the published central Governance Training Programme schedule.
Audit
Venturers Trust has robust audit checklists to ensure that safeguarding systems and processes are working. The audit includes: the monitoring of Academies Single Central Record, the monitoring of Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies and Procedures including, ‘Allegations against Professionals’ and the monitoring of training for all employees and volunteers, guidance and support. Venturers Trust also commissions external safeguarding audits and takes part in relevant audits with partner agencies including those from the Local Authority.
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