Safeguarding and Positive Intervention
South Devon College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Safeguarding can be defined as ‘keeping children and vulnerable adults safe from harm, such as illness, abuse, radicalisation or injury’.
- South Devon College will take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children, young people and vulnerable adults are minimised
- When there are concerns about the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, we will take all appropriate actions to address those concerns, working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership with other local agencies
- All staff are trained in Safeguarding and Prevent (counter terrorism)
- We will promote and reinforce shared values; to create space for free and open debate; and to listen and support the student voice.
- We will work to break down segregation among different student communities including by supporting inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue and understanding, and to engage all students in playing a full and active role in wider engagement in society
- We will ensure student safety and that the College is free from bullying, harassment including sexual harassment and will not tolerate any form of discrimination
- To provide support for students who may be at risk and appropriate sources of advice and guidance
- We will ensure that students and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities in preventing violent extremism.
Staying Safe in College
The College has a Site Security Lead: Dave Wicks
The College operates a speed gate system and students, staff and visitors all wear badges and lanyards to identify them and give them access through the barriers.
It is vital that everyone follows the college rules and behaves in a positive way so that everyone at college feels safe.
Staying Safe Online
The College actively encourages safe practice online and supports Virtually Safe Torbay, who support and advise young people, parents and professionals on how to stay safe online. At South Devon College we have appropriate filtering and monitoring in place to ensure student safety online. Further information on how to stay safer online will be addressed through our personal development programme. If you are worried about how someone is behaving towards you or someone else online, information on what to do can be found here. We have designated staff members that can support students with any safeguarding matter as well as to improve online safety for our learners and to give guidance when required.
If you as a student at South Devon College have any concern about your wellbeing, safety or rights, you should talk to your tutor or a member of staff you trust or contact one of our Positive Intervention Team on 01803 540321.
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools or colleges, prior to the start of the next school/college day, when a child or young person has been exposed to or involved in any domestic violence incident.
Operation Encompass will ensure that a member of the college staff, known as a key adult, is trained to allow them to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence, while ensuring that the college is able to make the provision for possible difficulties experienced by children/young people, or their families who have been involved in, or exposed to a domestic abuse incident.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to all of our students and we believe that this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved. Further details can be found via their website.
Safeguarding Team
Student matters:
Deputy Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Child Protection Lead
Rhiannon Gray (Mon-Wed)
07900 287135
Brittany May Benton (Wed-Fri)
07778019791
Staff matters:
Designated Safeguarding Lead & Mental Health Lead
Liz Lawrence
07739 171352 / 01803 540359
Safeguarding Team/PI
The Positive Intervention Team, as per the list below, can also deal with any Safeguarding or Child Protection concerns if Brittany and Rhiannon are unavailable. You can also email [email protected], call 01803 540321, find them on-site in room 3.131, or call Liz Lawrence – Designated Safeguarding Lead on 07739171352.
- Julie Cude
- Rachel Sewell-Medical Lead
- Gemma Kil Patrick
- Scarlett Stevenson
The Safeguarding and Positive Intervention Team are there to provide the High School and Further education students with pastoral care throughout their time at South Devon College and to answer any safeguarding concerns that you/the student may have in regard to your wellbeing. They work with students to build self-confidence and self-esteem through individual sessions that can take place regularly, or as agreed with the student. They can provide sexual health advice and contraception and refer to our counselling service if further support is needed. They work closely with other members of college staff, such as the Heads of Tutorial and tutors to provide a full wrap around care package, as well as other agencies outside of the College. They can refer students to external agencies, if and when necessary to provide support to all students.
Additional designated safeguarding staff include:
- Alex Howarth – Designated Teacher for looked after children, 01803 540777
- Chris Walden – Designated Safeguarding Governor
- Natalie Peakman – C2C and 14-16
- Dave Wicks – Site Security Lead – 07771 142822
For South Devon High School:
James McCauley – 01803 540464
First Aid
If there is a medical emergency which is life threatening, please call 999
If you have a student that requires first aid treatment, we have many trained staff but in the first instance call the Duty Manager on 07568 426334
Paignton Campus
Rachel Sewell – 07831 990357 / or Positive Intervention team on 01803 540321 (Located in PI Office, Level 3)
Torquay Campus
Mark Lockyer – 01626 202520
Newton Abbot Campus
Dave Dance – 07765 682807
Resources
- Neglect Strategy
- (Draft) Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
- Covid Addendum Safeguarding
- NSPCC helpline for victims of sexual abuse in schools, 0800 136 663
