Last Updated: 12 December 2025
Website: https://oxhar.com
Email: info@oxhar.com

All staff working with children, young people, and vulnerable adults have a legal and moral duty to work together to safeguard them from harm, abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
Oxhar Business School’s designated Safeguarding Lead holds overall responsibility for ensuring safe learning environments and effective implementation of all safeguarding procedures.

This policy outlines Oxhar Business School’s commitment to protecting learners and promoting their welfare in accordance with the ‘No Secrets’ DH 2000 guidance and all relevant safeguarding legislation.

1. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to:

All learning delivered directly by Oxhar Business School staff
All learning delivered through subcontracted or partner organisations
All learners, including young adults and vulnerable adults
All staff, tutors, assessors, and contractors working with learners

It covers:

Safer recruitment
Training and awareness
Safeguarding procedures
Reporting mechanisms

2. Definitions

Safeguarding

A preventative approach ensuring protection from harm through:

Preventing abuse and neglect
Promoting health and development
Providing safe learning environments
Ensuring optimal life chances

Child / Young Adult

Anyone under the age of 18.

Vulnerable Adult

A person aged 18 or over who:

Requires community care services due to mental, physical, or learning disability, illness, age, or other conditions
May be unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation

Examples include: elderly adults, individuals with mental disorders, disabilities, severe illness, substance misuse issues, homelessness, or learning difficulties.

Abuse

A violation of an individual’s human or civil rights. Abuse can be:

Physical
Sexual
Emotional / psychological
Financial
Discriminatory
Institutional
Neglect

An abuser may be anyone: family, friends, staff, other learners, caregivers, volunteers, or strangers.

3. Policy Statement

Oxhar Business School is committed to:

Promoting a culture of value, respect, safety, and inclusion
Ensuring all staff working with vulnerable learners undergo a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check every three years
Providing accessible information to learners and tutors on equality, diversity, bullying, harassment, dignity, and respect
Providing strong sanctions to deter harassment, abuse, or misconduct
Ensuring risks are appropriately assessed and reported
Ensuring learners know how to raise concerns

4. Safeguarding Responsibilities

Oxhar Business School will:

Ensure all tutoring, learning, and support staff maintain valid DBS checks
Provide induction information on safeguarding, e-safety, bullying, harassment, and diversity
Give learners the name and contact details of the designated Safeguarding Officer
Ensure all learning premises and activities are risk assessed by trained staff
Monitor safeguarding practices and review this policy annually

Staff and learners will receive guidance on:

Confidentiality
How to identify signs of abuse
How to report concerns

Feedback will be collected regularly to understand how safe learners feel.

5. Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

If abuse is witnessed, disclosed, or suspected:

Report immediately to:

Training & Development Manager / Safeguarding Lead

Provide the following information:

Nature of the concern
When, where, and how you became aware of the issue
Actions taken
Whether the learner or parents/carers are aware
Additional relevant information

A written safeguarding report must be completed within 48 hours, including:

Names of those involved
Details of incident or disclosure
Reasons for making the referral

These records must be stored securely.

If there is immediate danger, call emergency services (999).

All safeguarding reports must be sent to:

📧 info@oxhar.com (Safeguarding Officer Contact Email)

6. Monitoring & Review