Safeguarding

All adults have the right to be safe from harm and should be able to live free from fear of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

The legal definition of an ‘adult at risk’ is anyone aged 18 or over who:

• Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and;
• Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.

Care Act (DOH) 2014 para. 14.2

It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure they follow procedures relating to safeguarding and protecting adults who use Ascent college services, from abuse and neglect. This includes a responsibility to ensure they are informed and trained to an appropriate level.

IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS, PLEASE SHARE THEM WITH A MEMBER OF THE SAFEGUARDING TEAM IMMEDIATELY.
Don’t think ‘what if I’m wrong’… think ‘what if I’m right’

The Safeguarding Team

Julliet Doherty – Head of Adult Services
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Philip Adams – Deputy Head of Adult Services
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

Natalie Molyneux – Admissions & Safeguarding Officer
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

Internal Safeguarding Board (ISB)

The Internal Safeguarding Board (ISB) meets on a weekly basis.

The team consists of:

• Head of Adult Services & Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
• Deputy Head of Adult Services & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
• Student Admissions Officer & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

The ISB work closely on a daily basis to ensure that all concerns regarding our young people are constantly monitored, which then feeds into the weekly ISB Caseload meeting.

All staff, governors, trustees and visitors are encouraged to report anything that concerns them initially to a member of the ISB. Information about the ISB members are displayed throughout the College.

Governance

Our Lead Link Governor for Safeguarding conducts termly safeguarding visits. Following each visit, a report with critical actions is provided. Additionally, safeguarding is a fixed item on the termly full governing body meetings and the termly subcommittee Personal Development/Behaviour & Attitudes (PDBA) meeting.

Ascent Safeguarding Governor
Denise Wright

IF YOU SUSPECT A YOUNG PERSON IS AT RISK OF HARM

Please call St Helens ‘Contact Cares’: 01744 676767
Open from 9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday.
Select option 1 for Contact Cares, option 2 for Emergency Duty Team, EDT
St Helens Emergency Duty Team: 0345 0500 148

Merseyside Prevent Team
0151 777 8506
prevent@merseyside.police.uk

X: @merpolprevent

Operation Encompass

Ascent College is part of Operation Encompass. Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership, which supports children who experience Domestic Abuse.   Operation Encompass is in place in every police force in England and Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar.   Children/ Young People were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act.

Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our college about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents, which involve any of our students (up to 18 years) PRIOR to the start of the next college day. The notification informs us about the context of the incident and includes the ‘Voice of the Child’.

Find out more: Home : Operation Encompass

• Refuge – Speak to a member of their Helpline team at any time, day or night, for confidential, non-judgmental support and information on your options.

  Need to talk now? Call 0808 2000 247.

  National Domestic Abuse Helpline – Refuge