Safeguarding Policy

1. POLICY STATEMENT

DTMK Limited is committed to protecting the safety, welfare, and dignity of every individual we work with. This includes:

Learners under the age of 18, who are legally defined as children
Adults who may be vulnerable due to age, disability, mental or physical health needs, learning difficulties, or past trauma
Members of the public encountered during first aid situations
Children and vulnerable individuals trained directly in school, community, or public settings

Whether we are delivering driving instruction or providing first aid training, we recognise our responsibility to safeguard all individuals from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm.

2. SCOPE OF POLICY

This policy applies to:

All staff, instructors, trainers, franchisees, and volunteers working under DTMK Limited
All work carried out with learners, school groups, community groups, or members of the public
Both scheduled training and emergency responses, such as providing first aid at the scene of an incident

3. LEGAL FRAMEWORK

This policy is informed by statutory guidance and legislation in the United Kingdom, including:

Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004
Care Act 2014
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018, updated 2023)
Keeping Children Safe in Education (2023)
Education Act 2002
Human Rights Act 1998
Equality Act 2010
Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR

4. DEFINITIONS

Child: Any person under the age of 18
Vulnerable adult: Any person aged 18 or over who requires care or support and may be unable to protect themselves from harm
Abuse: Any deliberate or avoidable act that causes harm, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial abuse or neglect
Safeguarding: Actions taken to protect a person’s right to live safely, free from abuse or neglect
Trainer or instructor: Any person delivering education or instruction under the name of DTMK Limited

5. SAFEGUARDING PRINCIPLES

DTMK Limited is committed to:

Creating safe, respectful, and inclusive environments
Recognising signs of harm or vulnerability
Taking all concerns seriously
Responding quickly and effectively to safeguarding issues
Ensuring all staff and franchisees are trained in safeguarding awareness
Working in partnership with statutory agencies and the Awarding Organisation where appropriate

6. RESPONSIBILITIES

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

Name: Christopher Cook
Position: Director and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Email: christopher@dtmk.co.uk

Responsibilities include:

Acting as the first point of contact for all safeguarding concerns
Deciding when to escalate concerns to social services, the police, or the Awarding Organisation
Keeping records of all reported issues
Ensuring all staff and instructors are appropriately trained
Reviewing this policy annually

7. WORKING WITH YOUNG LEARNERS (AGED 17 AND UNDER)

DTMK Limited delivers lessons to learners from the age of 17. Learners aged 17 or over are generally considered capable of giving informed consent to lessons. Written parental consent is not required unless there is a safeguarding concern or reason to question a learner’s capacity.

Parents or carers may request to be kept informed, and DTMK Limited will accommodate this where appropriate and with the learner’s agreement.

Instructors must:

Maintain professional boundaries at all times
Use age-appropriate and respectful communication
Not engage in private or personal social media contact with learners
Report any safeguarding concerns promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead

8. SAFEGUARDING IN FIRST AID TRAINING

Where first aid training is delivered to children, schools, youth groups, or vulnerable adults:

A written risk assessment must be completed before delivery
A staff member with safeguarding awareness must be present
Sessions must be age-appropriate and suitable for the setting
No trainer will be left alone with a child or vulnerable person
Disclosures or concerns must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead

9. EMERGENCY FIRST AID SITUATIONS

Instructors or trainers who assist at the scene of an incident must:

Prioritise their own safety
Offer appropriate first aid if competent and confident
Recognise that children or vulnerable adults may be involved
Offer calm and respectful reassurance
Record and report safeguarding concerns to emergency services and the Designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible

10. RECOGNISING ABUSE

Signs of abuse may include:

Physical abuse: Unexplained injuries or bruises
Emotional abuse: Low self-esteem, sudden mood changes, withdrawal
Sexual abuse: Inappropriate comments, fear of certain adults, physical discomfort
Neglect: Poor hygiene, unsuitable clothing, frequent hunger
Financial abuse (vulnerable adults): Sudden loss of money, confusion over finances, undue influence from others

All concerns must be recorded factually and reported promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

11. REPORTING AND RECORDING CONCERNS

When a safeguarding concern is raised:

Remain calm and listen without judgement
Do not promise confidentiality
Write down the facts using the person’s own words where possible
Report the concern to the Designated Safeguarding Lead
If someone is at immediate risk of harm, contact emergency services by dialling 999
Records must be confidential, factual, and dated

12. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

All staff, instructors, and franchisees must:

Complete a safeguarding awareness course within one month of starting work
Renew training every two years
Use training that meets recognised national standards
Where training is delivered in schools, meet local safeguarding requirements including DBS checks and additional documentation

13. RECORD KEEPING AND CONFIDENTIALITY

All safeguarding records will be:

Stored securely and separately from other business records
Accessible only to the Designated Safeguarding Lead
Retained until the individual reaches the age of 25, or longer if the case remains active or required by law
Shared only with those who have a lawful reason to know

14. SAFER RECRUITMENT

DTMK Limited is committed to safer recruitment practices to prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children, young people, or vulnerable adults. All staff, instructors, trainers, and franchisees will:

Provide suitable references before commencing work
Undertake enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where the role involves regulated activity
Provide proof of identity and right to work in the United Kingdom
Complete safeguarding training as part of induction

15. WHISTLEBLOWING

All staff, learners, and volunteers are encouraged to raise safeguarding concerns without fear of reprisal. DTMK Limited will:

Treat concerns seriously and sensitively
Protect individuals raising concerns from victimisation if disclosures are made in good faith
Investigate promptly and take appropriate action

16. PARTNERSHIP WORKING

DTMK Limited will work with external organisations to ensure safeguarding is effective. This includes:

Sharing information lawfully with statutory agencies where concerns are raised
Cooperating with police, social care, schools, and the Awarding Organisation where safeguarding issues affect learning or assessment
Ensuring safeguarding procedures are consistent with national and local policies

17. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER POLICIES

Safeguarding concerns take precedence over other policies and will be acted on immediately
Where safeguarding overlaps with complaints, malpractice or whistleblowing, this policy will be followed first, with cross-referral as appropriate