Safeguarding Policy

To provide a safe environment for children and adults-at-risk within college premises and in activities undertaken with the approval of the college. 

For the purposes of this policy, a child is a person under 18, as defined by the Children Act 2004. 

For the purposes of this policy, an adult-at-risk is (as defined by the Department of Health) “those who are or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation".  The term ‘adult at risk’ has been used in place of the term ‘vulnerable adult’. This is because the term ‘vulnerable adult’ may wrongly imply that some of the fault for the abuse lies with the adult abused. The term ‘adult at risk’ is used as an exact replacement for ‘vulnerable adult’, as used throughout existing government guidance to local authorities.

For the purposes of this policy, a College Member is anyone who is part of Christ Church (excluding the Cathedral, which has its own policy), working with children whether as a member of academic staff, employee, student, or volunteer.

The College takes note of the University’s Code of Practice on the Protection of At-Risk Adults and Children and will observe it in as far as it applies to the College’s students, staff, and visitors. See: Safeguarding Code of Practice.

The Cathedral’s Safeguarding Policy is available here:

https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/about/safeguarding-policy.

Note that there are separate safeguarding policies for the Cathedral Choir and Christ Church Cathedral School. These can be found at: www.cccs.org.uk/about/school-policies-reports.

These policies will be reviewed on a regular basis.

The College will take all reasonable steps to ensure that its premises are safe for children and adults-at-risk whose presence can be reasonably anticipated.

The College will discharge its obligations under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

Members of staff are reminded that, under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, activities of a sexual nature between a child and someone who is in a “position of trust” constitute an offence, even though the child is capable of giving consent (that is, is 16 or over). A person is in a position of trust if they are “regularly involved in caring for, training or supervising” another person in an education institution (SOA 2003, s. 22(3)(a)). This could be taken to apply to a tutor or other personal advisor.

The College will discharge its duty of care to ensure that it will not permit any activity which puts any child or adult-at-risk at risk of abuse, understanding that abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, or neglect. In the furtherance of this duty it will take proper care that

1. persons who undertake any welfare role with regard to students or members of staff on behalf of the college have been demonstrated to have appropriate qualities to perform such a role;
2. members of staff who come into contact with children or adults-at-risk do not do so in circumstances in which there is risk of abuse.
3. any allegations or evidence of harm to a child or  adult-at-risk will be taken seriously and investigated. 

The College will respect the privacy confidentiality of any child or adult-at-risk in as far as this is consistent with its obligation to discharge its duty of care and statutory obligations.

The Dean has ultimate responsibility for safeguarding at Christ Church. Her deputy in regard to safeguarding is the Junior Censor.

Concerns related to safeguarding in the College (including any current students, prospective students or visitors under the age of 18, as well as adults-at-risk) should be reported to the College’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), who is Professor Simon Dadson.

Concerns related to safeguarding in the Cathedral should be reported to the Cathedral Safeguarding Lead.

Note that there are separate safeguarding policies and procedures here for the Cathedral Choir and Christ Church Cathedral School.

Welfare and the wellbeing of students and staff are managed by the Welfare Manager, Adrian Childs.

Any allegations or suspicions of abuse involving a child (under-18) or an adult-at-risk must be reported without delay to a relevant person, or agency as listed below. 

The College’s Safeguarding reporting procedure includes the following stages: 

1. Immediate danger

If there is a risk of immediate serious harm to a child (under 18) or an adult at risk, contact the emergency services by dialling 999, or the police via 101. Anyone may make this referral in these circumstances. The DSL or relevant external agency must then be notified of the case as soon as possible.

2. Reporting safeguarding concerns 

College Members should address any concerns to the College’s DSL. The DSL will take the appropriate action, including informing the Dean. The DSL will inform the LADO within one working day of all allegations that come to the College’s attention or that are made directly to the Police. If the concern arises out of normal office hours (evenings and weekends), contact should be made with Social Services on 0345 050 7666 or (the Emergency Duty Team) 0800 833 408. Advice can also be sought from the NSPCC General Helpline on 0808 800 5000. In an emergency, dial 999. 

If those concerns relate to the College’s DSL, College Members are expected to discuss the matter with the Dean (as College Officer with overall responsibility for safeguarding) or to contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) at the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board directly. 

If an individual feels that the College’s DSL or Dean has not responded appropriately, then they are encouraged to contact the LADO without delay. 

Every effort should be made to maintain confidentiality. Suspicions or allegations of abuse should not usually be discussed with anyone else other than those named in section 8. 

The LADO should provide advice and guidance, liaising with the Police and other agencies to ensure the concerns are dealt with as quickly as possible, consistent with a thorough and fair process. The LADO may be consulted with regard to low-level concerns, as defined by Keeping children safe in education (September 2024), as well as concerns which may reach the safeguarding threshold. If anyone feels unable to convey a concern to a Senior Member of College, then the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line should be used: the number is 0800 028 0285. 

3. Allegations against College members 

Allegations made against College staff, students, volunteers or academic visitors, in addition to any emergency response that may be needed as above, must be referred to the DSL. The DSL will assess and, where appropriate in cases involving children, refer the matter to the LADO (see https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/concerns-over-professionals-workingchildren). 

This referral must be made within one working day of the allegations being made. The LADO will advise on the appropriate action to be taken. In cases involving adults at risk of harm, referral will be made to the relevant statutory agency, such as Oxfordshire Adult Social Care Safeguarding Team (0345 050 7666).   

4. Roles and responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the College’s DSL to act on behalf of the College in dealing with allegations or suspicion of abuse. In the absence of the DSL, the Dean will act on behalf of the College, in consultation with the Senior Censor. It is the task of Social Services, not the College, to investigate the matter, under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989. Under no circumstances should a College Member conduct their own investigation into suspicions or allegations of abuse, neither should they question children closely, as to do so may distort any investigation that may be carried out subsequently by the Police or Social Services. 

It is recognised that College Members may need support after receiving a disclosure from a child, and information about appropriate support will be offered by the College. 

Where a safeguarding concern may also trigger disciplinary or fitness-to-study procedures, the DSL will liaise with the relevant officer to coordinate processes.

All College Members (including those with obligations to particular codes of conduct/professional ethics that may be thought to constrain their actions) are required to report or act on any disclosures or allegations of abuse that involve a College Member or that have taken place at the College or on College business. 

5. Record keeping

The DSL will share information as appropriate with relevant colleagues to ensure that the relevant authorities are involved and that any necessary processes can be followed. Appropriate records will be retained in accordance with the College’s Data Protection Policy. Where the matter may relate to both staff and students, the DSL will agree on where the file will be kept. The DSL will record the date, time, and nature of the concern, actions taken, and outcomes, in a secure safeguarding log accessible only to authorised staff.

Following referral and any statutory investigation, the DSL will review the case to ensure appropriate support and risk-management measures are in place for all parties.

Christ Church takes the general well-being and privacy of all its students, staff, and visitors very seriously. For policies related to these concerns, see:

• Harassment Policy

• Equality Policy

• Policy concerning relationships between students and staff

• Privacy Notice