Safeguarding at Scarborough TEC
Scarborough TEC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and expects all staff, volunteers and students to share this commitment.
All of our staff, volunteers and contractors must comply with our college’s Safeguarding Policy and Guidance. This applies to all our students, particularly those who are children (aged under 18) or vulnerable adults. The key objectives of the policy and guidance are to:
- Promote a safe environment for all our students to learn and achieve
- Actively promote the welfare of students
- Identify any students who may be experiencing abuse or harm in college, at home or in relationships and take appropriate action to ensure their safety (child and adult protection).
All Scarborough TEC staff and volunteers have a duty of care to ensure that any students who may be experiencing abuse or harm in college, at home or in relationships have been referred to a member of staff with designated safeguarding responsibilities.
If you have a safeguarding concern...
The safeguarding duty phone is your first point of contact: 07795 612116.
You can also make a referral by emailing [email protected]
Here are some documents that you may find useful…
What is bullying?
Bullying is behaviour that hurts someone else – such as name calling, hitting, pushing, spreading rumours, threatening or undermining someone. It can happen anywhere and is usually repeated over a period of time. Bullying that happens online, using social networks and mobile phones, is often called cyber-bullying. Young people can feel like there’s no escape because it can happen at any time of day or night.
Other support
nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk – 0845 2255 787
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is sexual abuse?
A young person is sexually abused when they are forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities. They may not understand that they are being abused. This doesn’t have to be physical contact, and it can happen online. Non-contact abuse covers other acts where the abuser doesn’t touch the young person, such as grooming, exploitation and persuading young people to perform sexual acts over the internet.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is child sexual exploitation?
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse in which young people are sexually exploited for money, power or status. Young people may be tricked into believing they’re in a loving, consensual relationship. They might be invited to parties and given drugs and alcohol. They may also be groomed online. Some young people are trafficked into or within the UK for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Sexual exploitation can also happen to young people in gangs.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is the abuse of one partner within an intimate or family relationship. It is the repeated, random and habitual use of intimidation to control. The abuse can be physical, emotional, psychological, financial or sexual. Witnessing domestic abuse is child abuse. Teenagers can suffer domestic abuse in their peer relationships.
Other support
gdass.org.uk – 0845 602 9035
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is emotional abuse?
Emotional abuse is the ongoing emotional maltreatment or emotional neglect of a young person. It’s sometimes called psychological abuse and can seriously damage a young person’s emotional health and development. Emotional abuse can involve deliberately trying to scare or humiliate a young person or isolating or ignoring them. Young people who are emotionally abused are usually suffering another type of abuse or neglect at the same time – but this isn’t always the case.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is female genital mutilation?
Female genital mutilation (sometimes referred to as FGM or female circumcision) refers to procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The practice is illegal in the UK. It is also illegal to arrange for a young person to be taken abroad for FGM.
Other support
FGM helpline – 0800 028 3550 (24 hours)
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is forced marriage?
Forced marriage is a marriage performed without the full and free consent of one or both parties. Emotional, financial, physical and sexual htreats and abuse, as well as notions of ‘honour’, can all be used to force someone to marry. Forced marriage can lead to physical violence, rape and even murder.
Other support
Forced Marriage Guidance – 0800 028 3550 (24 hours)
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is grooming?
Grooming is when someone builds an emotional connection with a young person to gain their trust for the purposes of sexual abuse or exploitation. Young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know – for example a family member, friend or professional. Groomers may be male or female. They could be any age.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is harmful sexual behaviour?
Harmful sexual behaviour includes using sexually explicit words and phrases, inappropriate touching, using sexual violence or threats and/or full penetrative sex with other children or adults. Young people who develop harmful sexual behaviour harm themselves and others.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is ‘honour’ based violence (HBV)?
HBV is the term given to the various forms of violence and abuse perpetrated against girls and women by family or community members in the name of ‘honour’. The abuse is typically carried out in a collective and planned way. HBV is not limited to any one particular society, community, culture, religion, class or ethnic group. Women and girls are the most common victims of HBV. However, it can also affect men and boys.
Other support
Forced Marriage Guidance – 0800 028 3550 (24 hours)
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is neglect?
Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a young person’s basic needs. A young person may be left hungry or dirty, without adequate clothing, shelter, supervision, medical or health care. A young person may be put in danger or not protected from physical or emotional harm. They may not get the love, care and attention they need from their parents/carers. A young person who’s neglected will often suffer from other abuse as well. Neglect is dangerous and can cause serious, long-term damage – even death.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is online abuse?
Online abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the web, whether through social networks, playing online games or using mobile phones. Young people may experience cyber-bullying, grooming, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or emotional abuse. Young people can be at risk from people they know, as well as from strangers. Online abuse may be part of abuse that is taking place in the real world (for example bullying or grooming). Or it may be that the abuse only happens online (for example persuading young person to take part in sexual activity online). Young people can feel like there is no escape from online abuse – abusers can contact them at any time of the day or night, the abuse can come into safe places like their bedrooms, and images and videos can be stored and shared with other people.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
What is PREVENT?
PREVENT aims to counter terrorism or violent extremism. There are many reasons why people become involved with terrorism or extremism. Here are just some: a lack of identity or belonging, insecurity, defending their culture, way of life or beliefs, they may be pressured, or bullied into it, they may have been radicalised by violent extremist groups; they may want retaliation. Those who encourage or get others to commit acts of violent extremism often target vulnerable people who are led into believing that violence or criminality can earn respect, riches or even glory. However, even though a person may feel angry about something they believe is unfair this does not mean they should attack or threaten any person or community.
Other support
Anti-Terrorist Hotline – 0800 789 321
Crime Stoppers – 0800 555 111
What is rape?
Rape is a form of non-consensual sexual violence involving penetration.
What is sexual assault?
Assault is a form of sexual violence involving non-consensual sexual touching.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is self-harm?
Self-harm can take lots of physical forms, including; cutting, burning, bruising, scratching, hair-pulling, poisoning and overdosing. There are many reasons why young people try to hurt themselves. Rather than being a cry for attention or an attempt at suicide, self-harm is usually a way for young people to release overwhelming emotions.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is ‘sexting’?
Sexting is the sending of sexually explicit messages via mobile phones or computers. It is often coercive and is linked to sexual harassment, bullying and even violence. Images can also be used later as a form or harassment and abuse known as ‘revenge pornography’ which involves distribution (or threat of) of images without consent, to threaten, control, bully, harm or humiliate.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is sexual harassment/bullying?
This can be verbal (making indecent remarks about someone’s appearance, sexual orientation or sex life or making requests/demands for sexual favour) or non-verbal (staring, sending indecent messages) or physical (touching, pinching, ‘groping’ or sexual assault). It can be a one-off incident or a persistent pattern of behaviour and can occur anywhere.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)
What is stalking?
This is a pattern of abusive behaviour designed to incite fear and curtail freedom, such as watching or monitoring someone or forcing contact with them through any means (including social media). Young women can be particularly at risk of stalking as college and social media can provide a backdrop of monitoring and surveillance which others can easily abuse.
Other support
nspcc.org.uk – 0808 800 5000
ChildLine – 0800 1111 (24 hours)