Introduction
Goddard Veterinary Nursing College (GVNC) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners and providing a safe, supportive environment in which they can learn, develop and progress.
GVNC fulfils its safeguarding responsibilities in accordance with relevant legislation and statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Prevent Duty.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff are expected to remain alert to concerns and take appropriate action to protect and promote learners’ welfare and wellbeing.
Scope
For the purposes of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, a child is anyone under the age of 18. As GVNC enrols learners from age 17, the statutory child safeguarding requirements within KCSIE apply to learners under 18.
GVNC also recognises its responsibilities towards adult learners. Whilst KCSIE applies specifically to children, GVNC applies safeguarding, welfare and protection principles to learners aged 18 and over where concerns relating to abuse, neglect, vulnerability, exploitation or harassment are identified. Adult safeguarding concerns will be considered in accordance with the Care Act 2014 and relevant local safeguarding arrangements.
Throughout this policy, requirements specifically relating to children apply to learners under 18. Where appropriate, safeguarding principles are applied proportionately to adult learners according to their individual circumstances and level of risk.
Key Terminology:
- A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).
- The term “staff” will be used to describe those employed by GVNC, including those that are part time.
- Abuse is defined as the “harming of another individual usually by someone who is in a position of power, trust or authority over that individual. The harm may be physical, psychological or emotional” (Centre for Policy on Ageing, 1996).
The main forms of abuse and neglect are generally classified under the following ten headings (this includes observations of a child to the abuse):
1) Physical abuse
The non-accidental infliction of physical force that results (or could result) in bodily injury, pain, or impairment.
2) Domestic violence
Incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse by someone who is or has been an intimate partner or family member, regardless of gender or sexuality. Domestic abuse is not just about partners, but all family relationships including forced marriage.
3) Sexual abuse
Direct or indirect involvement in sexual activity without consent. This could also be the inability to consent, pressure or inducement to consent or take part.
Please refer to the policy addendum relating to sexual harassment.
4) Psychological (emotional) abuse
Acts or behaviour which impinge on the emotional health of, or which causes distress or anguish to individuals. This may also be present in other forms of abuse.
5) Financial or material abuse
Unauthorised, fraudulent obtaining and improper use of funds, property, or any resources of an adult at risk from abuse.
6) Nude and semi-nude imagery
Any incident involving the making or sharing of nude or semi-nude imagery involving a learner under 18, including imagery that has been digitally altered or generated using artificial intelligence, will be treated as a safeguarding concern.
This applies whether the imagery was initially created or shared consensually or non-consensually. GVNC will consider the circumstances of each case and provide an appropriate safeguarding response.
7) Modern slavery
Encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive, and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.
8) Prejudice-based and discriminatory harm
GVNC recognises that prejudice-based harm, including racism, faith-based prejudice, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and other forms of discrimination, may constitute or contribute to a safeguarding concern.
These experiences can affect a learner’s welfare, wellbeing, mental health, engagement with education and willingness to seek help.
If you experience or witness prejudice-based or discriminatory behaviour, you are encouraged to speak to your Personal Tutor, Cohort Lead, the DSL, a Deputy DSL or another member of staff you trust.
9) Organisational (Institutional) abuse
Institutional abuse occurs where the culture of the organisation (such as a care home) places emphasis on the running of the establishment and the needs of the staff above the needs and care of the adult, including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting, such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home from domiciliary services.
10) Neglect and acts of omission
Ignoring or withholding physical or medical care needs which result in a situation or environment detrimental to individual(s). Ill-treatment and wilful neglect of a person who lacks capacity are now criminal offences under the Mental Capacity Act.
11) Self-neglect
Self-neglect is characterised as the behaviour of a person that threatens his/her own health or safety. Self-neglect generally manifests itself as a refusal or failure to provide himself/herself with adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medication (when indicated), and safety precautions. The definition of self-neglect excludes a situation in which a mentally competent adult, who understands the consequences of his/her decisions, makes a conscious and voluntary decision to engage in acts that threaten his/her health or safety as a matter of personal choice.
12) Child-on-child abuse
GVNC recognises that learners under 18 can experience abuse from another child or young person. This can happen at college, within the workplace, online or outside education and training.
Child-on-child abuse will not be dismissed as “banter”, part of growing up or normal workplace behaviour.
It may include bullying, physical abuse, abuse within intimate relationships, prejudice-based or discriminatory abuse, harmful sexual behaviour, sexual harassment or sexual violence, sharing of nude or semi-nude imagery, including AI-generated or digitally altered imagery, and other forms of online abuse.
If you experience, witness or become concerned about this type of behaviour, you should speak to a member of staff you trust. GVNC will take the concern seriously and provide an appropriate safeguarding response.
Harmful sexual behaviour, sexual harassment and sexual violence will also be managed in accordance with GVNC’s Sexual Harassment Policy.
Family Help and Early Support
Sometimes learners or their families may benefit from additional support before concerns reach the level where statutory safeguarding intervention is required.
Where you are under 18, GVNC may work with you, your parent/carer where appropriate, and relevant local services to help identify suitable support.
Your wishes, circumstances and individual needs will be considered. If concerns indicate that you or another person may be at risk of harm, GVNC may need to share information with relevant safeguarding services to help keep you safe.
Aims of the Policy
The aim of this policy is to provide a clear framework for safeguarding learners, raising awareness of abuse, neglect, exploitation and other safeguarding concerns, and explaining what learners can expect if a concern is raised.
GVNC is committed to providing appropriate safeguarding, welfare and protection for learners under 18 and applying safeguarding principles proportionately to adult learners according to their individual circumstances and level of risk.
Promotion of this Policy
This policy will be included in all GVNC Handbooks associated with training of apprentices – namely, the Policy Handbook for Learners and Staff, and Clinical Supervisors & Mentors Training Practice Handbook.
It is promoted at induction and referred to throughout the course.
The curriculum will include training on scam email, social media, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), sexual harassment, civility, safeguarding and wellbeing on induction and within the first month of learning then annually during the length of the course. Within the curriculum will be an ongoing culture of safeguarding, wellbeing and civility.
Within the policy, the procedure for raising a concern and the process that may follow is provided to apprentices via the above documents.
Who can I talk to if I am worried?
You can speak to your Personal Tutor, Cohort Lead, the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), a Deputy DSL or any other member of staff you trust.
You do not need to decide whether something is “serious enough” before speaking to us. If something is worrying you, or you are worried about somebody else, please tell us.
Conversations will be treated sensitively, and information will only be shared where necessary. If there is a concern that you or someone else may be at risk of harm, or that a crime may have been committed, staff may need to share information with the safeguarding team or relevant external agencies.
What happens when I tell a member of staff about a problem I have?
If you have any worries or concerns during your time at college, there are lots of people you can talk to including your Personal Tutor and Cohort Lead. Conversations you have with members of staff will be in a secure and safe environment and no information will be shared unless necessary. If you talk to a member of staff about an issue which means that you may be at risk of harm or harming someone else or are involved in something illegal, that member of staff will need to pass the information on to other members of staff and external agencies.
Staff involved in safeguarding issues
All GVNC staff have a responsibility for safeguarding learners. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSLs have specific responsibility for managing safeguarding concerns and, where necessary, liaising with external safeguarding services.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
GVNC has a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and trained Deputy DSLs who are responsible for responding to safeguarding concerns.
DSL: Claire Digby-Maloney
Deputy DSLs: Vicki Nielsen and Emma Eve-Raw
If you have a safeguarding concern, you can speak directly to the DSL, a Deputy DSL or any other member of staff you trust.
Other safeguarding concerns may include:
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is defined in multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation April 2016 as: “FGM is a procedure where the female genital organs are injured or changed and there is no medical reason for this. It is frequently a very traumatic and violent act for the victim and can cause harm in many ways. The practice can cause severe pain and there may be immediate and/or long-term health consequences, including mental health problems, difficulties in childbirth, causing danger to the child and mother; and/or death.”
Honour-based abuse (HBA) is defined by the NSPCC as “Abuse committed in the context of preserving “honour” often involves a wider network of family or community pressure and can include multiple perpetrators. It is important to be aware of this dynamic and additional risk factors when deciding what form of safeguarding action to take.”
If you are concerned that you or another person may be experiencing or at risk of honour-based abuse, speak to a member of staff you trust.
Forced Marriage (FM) is defined in ‘The Right to Choose: Multi-agency statutory guidance for dealing with Forced Marriage June 2014 as: “a marriage in which one or both spouses do not consent to the marriage but are coerced into it. Duress can be physical, psychological, financial,
sexual and emotional pressure. In the cases of some adults at risk who lack the capacity to consent coercion in not required for a marriage to be forced.”
Forced marriage is therefore very different to an arranged marriage. Further risks around forced marriage may involve the victim being forced or tricked to travel overseas to marry however this does not occur in all cases.
Child Criminal Exploitation and Child Sexual Exploitation (CCE/CSE)
Exploitation can involve coercion, manipulation, deception or an imbalance of power. It can occur online or offline and may appear consensual.
Exploitation can include county lines, sexual exploitation, trafficking, financial exploitation and other forms of organised or criminal exploitation.
If you are concerned that you or another person may be experiencing or at risk of exploitation, speak to a member of staff you trust as soon as possible.
Prevent
Prevent
The Prevent Duty forms part of GVNC’s wider safeguarding responsibilities and aims to help protect people from the risk of becoming involved in or supporting terrorism.
Radicalisation
Radicalisation is the process through which a person may come to support terrorism or extremist ideas associated with terrorism. There is no single type of person who may be susceptible to radicalisation, and concerns should be considered in the context of the individual’s circumstances and behaviour.
Radicalisation can take place face-to-face or online. People may be exposed to extremist narratives through social media, online communities, personal relationships or other influences, and vulnerability or changes in circumstances may sometimes increase susceptibility.
What should I do if I am concerned?
GVNC follows a Notice, Check, Share approach:
- Notice – Be aware of concerning changes in behaviour, language or online activity that may suggest you or another person is being influenced or targeted by extremist narratives.
- Check – Speak to someone you trust, such as your Personal Tutor, Cohort Lead or another member of staff, if something concerns you.
- Share – Where concerns remain, information should be shared with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or a Deputy DSL so that appropriate support can be considered.
If you are concerned about extremist influence affecting yourself or someone else, you can speak to your Personal Tutor, Cohort Lead, DSL, Deputy DSL or another member of staff you trust. Raising a concern does not mean that someone will automatically be referred to Prevent or Channel; concerns will be considered proportionately as part of GVNC’s safeguarding responsibilities.
British Values
GVNC promotes the fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These values are embedded throughout the curriculum and wider College culture and support learners to recognise and challenge extremist and discriminatory narratives.
Online safety and use of ICT
GVNC is committed to providing a safe online learning environment. Internet access provided by the College is subject to appropriate filtering and monitoring, and learners are expected to use College technology, online platforms and social media safely, responsibly and in accordance with GVNC policies.
Online safety forms part of safeguarding education throughout the programme. If you encounter harmful, inappropriate or concerning online content or behaviour, you should report this to a member of staff.
Learners participating in online learning are expected to follow GVNC’s online learning and attendance requirements. Any safeguarding concerns identified during online learning will be managed in accordance with this policy.
Out of hours emergency safeguarding contacts
If there is a life-threatening situation, please ring for an ambulance and/or contact the police on 999 or 101 non-emergencies.
If you think a child, young person or adult learner is being abused or mistreated or you have concerns about a child, young person or an adult learner’s well-being you should call the Duty Team at the relevant local authority. The emergency contact details are available on the Local Authorities website.
External Support and Safeguarding Contacts
Service: Childline
Website: www.childline.org.uk
Telephone: 0800 1111
Service: Samaritans
Website: www.samaritans.org
Telephone: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Service: MIND Service:
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Telephone: 0300123 3393
Support Line: 0300 102 1234
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Service: NSPCC Helpline Children
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 800 5000
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Service: The Mix
Website: www.themix.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 808 4994
Service: Women’s Aid
Website: www.womensaid.org.uk
Service: IKWRO – Domestic Violence
Website: www.ikwro.org.uk
Telephone: 0207 920 6460
Service: Women’s and Girls Network – Domestic Violence
Website: www.wgn.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 801 0660
Email: advice@wgn.org.uk
Service: CEOP
Website: www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/