Definition of safeguarding
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children's mental and physical health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Commitment to safeguarding
The Feet First: Walking Training team is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect everyone who we work with to share this commitment.
We take all welfare concerns seriously and follow our Safeguarding Policy in all the training we do.
Safeguarding policy
Policy purpose, scope and values
The purpose of this policy statement is to protect from harm the people who receive Surrey County Council Feet First: Walking Training. It is also to provide staff and users with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Surrey County Council Feet First: Walking Training, e.g. paid staff and volunteers.
Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
The welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take.
All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up based on legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available on the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) website.
Supporting documents
This policy aligns with our organisation’s policies, procedures, guidance and other related documents, including those outlined within the risk assessment and Code of Conduct.
- The role description for the Designated Safeguarding Officer is below.
- Dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young - Code of Conduct.
- Managing allegations against staff and volunteers - Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Guide.
- Recording concerns and information sharing - Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Guide.
- Code of Conduct for staff - Code of Conduct.
- Behaviour codes for trainees - consent form (consent form refers to terms and conditions that are part of the booking form for courses) – Code of Conduct for Walking Instructors and Behaviour Management guidance.
- Photography and sharing images guidance - Code of Conduct and Surrey County Council’s photography permission form.
- Safer recruitment - County Council Safer Recruitment policy
- Managing complaints - County Council Complaints, Comments and Compliments
- Whistleblowing - County Council counter fraud initiatives and strategies
- Health and safety – service and site risk assessments.
- Induction, training, supervision and support – service risk assessment, Code of Conduct and Walking Instructor Handbook.
- Adult to child supervision ratios – service and site risk assessments.
We will:
- value, listen to and respect children
- appoint a nominated Designated Safeguarding Lead for children and young people
- provide effective management of, and skills, for staff through recruitment, supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
- record, store, and use personal information securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance and according to our service’s privacy notice.
- use Surrey County Council's safeguarding, whistleblowing and complaints procedures appropriately.
We recognise that some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
Role Description for the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
The Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Feet First: Walking Training service will:
- Model and promote Surrey County Council's commitment to safeguarding children in all aspects of their work and conduct.
- Take responsibility for dealing with concerns about the safety of children raised by staff or volunteers.
- Liaise with the Children's Single Point of Access (C-SPA) or the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) about concerns when appropriate.
- Ensure the safeguarding policy is available to schools, parents and other stakeholders through the Surrey County Council’s website.
The Designated Safeguarding Officer is Jonny Ray, Senior Travel Officer.
Frequently asked questions
More information on safeguarding.
Walking Instructors are recruited using Surrey County Council’s Safer Recruitment Policy. All Surrey County Council staff, including Walking Instructors, must have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting the role. This check includes a ‘Children’s Barred List’ search. This list contains information about individuals who are barred from working with children due to past behaviour or offences. Once in post, employees undergo further checks every three years to ensure the information is current. All employees have a duty to disclose relevant information to their employer in between checks.
There are normally at least two Walking Instructors attending each school. However, each group will be led by one Walking Instructor, who will work individually with small groups of Year 3 pupils whilst there. There will be no more than four pupils in each group.
If there is a child with a Learning Support Assistant/1:1, they will be accompanied during the practical training session. This support will be provided by the school and is normally a member of staff or volunteer.
In some instances, there may be an additional adult from Surrey County Council attending. For example, all Walking Instructors have a Quality Assurance observation check once a year. If this happens, the school will be notified before the training. All Surrey County Council employees have an Enhanced DBS.
On rare occasions, where a local Council Councillor is funding the training, a Council Member and/or a Communications team representative may be present. These individuals will not, under any circumstances, be left unsupervised with the trainees. Prior to the training, the Walking Training Head Office Team (WTHOT) will liaise with the school and provide advance notification of any additional adults attending. Where these adults hold a DBS certificate issued by Surrey County Council, their details will be supplied to the school in advance, and the individuals concerned will be instructed to bring their DBS documentation on the day.
All Walking Instructors are employed by Surrey County Council and have an Enhanced DBS, with children’s barred list. They are trained in safeguarding and basic first aid.
The Designated Safeguarding Officer is Jonny Ray, Senior Safer Travel Officer. He has attended Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): New to Role and Refresher Training (not for schools, colleges, or early years settings) delivered by Surrey County Council. This is repeated every two years. If he is unavailable, the Feet First: Walking Training Head Office Team are Deputy DSLs and have received the same training.
We aim to make Feet First: Walking Training as inclusive as possible. We ask parents/carers to provide as much information as possible during the registration process, so that we can ensure extra support is given if required and that your child has the best possible experience.
If your child has a designated Learning Support Assistant/1:1, they will be accompanied during the practical training session by this member of school staff. Our Walking Instructors will discuss any care requirements discreetly and in private before training commences in the morning.
Surrey County Council is committed to protecting your privacy when you use our services. Our Corporate Privacy Notice explains how we use information about you and how we protect your privacy. Also see the Feet First: Walking Training service privacy notice.
Please use the Surrey County Council Contact Centre and ask for the Feet First: Walking Training Team, who are part of Road Safety and Sustainable School Travel. Alternatively, you can contact us at walkingtraining@surreycc.gov.uk