Safeguarding

Derby College Group places the highest importance on safeguarding and the safety and well-being of students.

Safeguarding is the action we take to promote the welfare of young people and protect them from harm.

At DCG, safeguarding means:

protecting young people from abuse and maltreatment
preventing harm to young people’s health or development
ensuring young people are cared for in a safe environment
taking action to enable all young people have the best outcomes

The Government legislation that applies specifically to schools and colleges with regard to safeguarding young people and safer recruitment, is called Keeping children safe in education 2023 In order to comply with the duty of care DCG has for all students, safeguarding policies, processes and procedures are in place to ensure that matters of safeguarding can be dealt with effectively.

Whenever necessary, the safeguarding team at DCG liaise with external agencies such as Social Care, Health Services, Police, Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and many others to help and support students at risk of harm or facing difficult or challenging circumstances.

Key Safeguarding Contacts at Derby College

If you need any advice or support you can contact our Safeguarding Team for a chat email:  safeguarding@derby-college.ac.uk, or speak to them, or a Pastoral coach, in person whilst at College.:

Robert Bamford

Director of Health and Safety

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Telephone: 07395 600 045

Guy Hodgkinson

Safeguarding Team Manager

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Telephone: 07740 423 971

Kate Cox

Little Explorer Nursery Manager

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (for the nursery only)

Telephone: 07718 235 647 Ext 6620

Charlotte Dunn

Safeguarding Coordinator

Telephone: 07701294515

Emma Webb

Safeguarding Coordinator

Telephone: 07725483341

Out of College hours support

If you have any Safeguarding concerns when the college is closed, you should contact either your Local Authority Out of Hours Social Care number for any concerns relating to a child (under 18), which you can find by putting in the postcode of where you’re reporting from at https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse-to-local-council.

Alternatively, if you feel that a child or any other student is at immediate risk and in need of protection you should contact the Police immediately (999 emergency, 101 non-emergency).

Further support and advice

Information for Apprentices leaflet

1 file(s) 1.19 MB

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Information for Adult Students leaflet

1 file(s) 1.18 MB

Download

Keeping you Safe

Keeping Safe Online

Online safety is about being aware of potential threats when using the internet. These may include security risks, protecting and managing personal data, managing your online reputation, and avoiding harmful or illegal content.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Mental health is a state of wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community.

If you find it difficult to manage your thoughts, feelings or behaviour in response to everyday stresses, it may be a sign that you need support. Mental health conditions can affect how a person thinks, feels, behaves or manages their mood.

Domestic Abuse and Violence

Domestic abuse includes incidents or patterns of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.

Peer on Peer Abuse (also known as Child-on-Child Abuse)

Peer-on-peer abuse is a term used to describe young people abusing other young people.

Modern Day Slavery

Modern slavery exists in many forms in the UK, including trafficking into criminal activities such as cannabis farming, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and forced labour in farming, construction, shops, bars, nail bars, car washes and manufacturing.

FGM

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is an illegal and harmful practice and a form of child abuse and violence against women and girls. It involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

Prevent

Prevent is part of the government’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It aims to prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist activities and to challenge extremist ideologies.

Exploitation

Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) can take many forms and may overlap. Exploitation is not discriminatory, and anyone can be affected by this type of abuse.

Forced Marriage

A forced marriage is one in which one or both people do not consent, or cannot consent, to the marriage. This is not the same as an arranged marriage where both people freely consent.

Neglect

Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a young person’s basic needs and is one of the most common forms of child abuse.

Suicide Awareness

People experiencing stressful life events may feel intense sadness or loss, anxiety, anger or hopelessness. Support is available for anyone who is struggling.

No Place for Hate

We’re proud to have signed the pledge for the No Place for Hate in Derby campaign. Led by Derby City Council and partner organisations, this citywide commitment brings people together to challenge hate crime and discrimination in all its forms.

By signing the pledge, we reaffirm our commitment to equality, respect and inclusion, and to challenging hate wherever it occurs.

No Place for Hate in Derby

Safety and Security

Your safety and wellbeing are our priority. The DCG Keeping You Safe leaflet provides guidance on staying safe while studying, working or visiting DCG. It covers emergencies such as fires, major incidents, lockdowns, suspicious activity and security concerns, as well as online safety, stop and search procedures and emergency contact details.

We encourage all students, staff and visitors to familiarise themselves with this guidance so they know how to respond and where to seek support if needed.

Keeping You Safe (PDF)