Safeguarding Policy
CareBridge Academy®
Policy Review and Effective Date From: 9 June 2026
1. Introduction
CareBridge Academy is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, safety and wellbeing of all learners, participants, visitors and individuals engaging with our services. We recognise our responsibility to help protect individuals from abuse, neglect, exploitation, harm and inappropriate conduct and are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and supportive learning environment.
As an organisation delivering online training, employability programmes, workshops and educational support, including services involving young people and vulnerable individuals, CareBridge Academy recognises the importance of safeguarding responsibilities and the need to respond appropriately where concerns arise.
This Safeguarding Policy outlines the principles, procedures and safeguarding commitments in place to support the protection and wellbeing of individuals engaging with CareBridge Academy services.
This policy was formally reviewed and reassessed on 9 June 2026.
2. Safeguarding Commitment
CareBridge Academy believes that all individuals have the right to live, learn and participate in environments free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, intimidation or harm.
We are committed to:
Promoting a safe and inclusive learning environment
Encouraging respectful and professional behaviour
Responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns
Taking concerns seriously and proportionately
Maintaining confidentiality where appropriate
Supporting individuals to access further help and support services where necessary
Maintaining safeguarding awareness across all services provided
Although CareBridge Academy operates primarily online, safeguarding responsibilities remain a priority across all interactions, communications and learning activities.
3. Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to:
Learners
Workshop participants
Young people engaging with services
Parents or guardians where applicable
Visitors to the website or online platforms
Individuals accessing employability support
Any person engaging with CareBridge Academy services or activities
CareBridge Academy recognises that safeguarding responsibilities apply to both adults and children, particularly where individuals may be vulnerable due to age, disability, mental health, personal circumstances or risk factors.
4. Understanding Safeguarding
Safeguarding refers to protecting an individual’s right to live in safety and free from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm.
CareBridge Academy recognises a range of safeguarding concerns and abuse types including, but not limited to:
Physical abuse
Emotional or psychological abuse
Sexual abuse
Financial abuse
Neglect or acts of omission
Discriminatory abuse
Domestic abuse
Online abuse or exploitation
Bullying or harassment
Modern slavery
Radicalisation or extremism
Self-neglect
Grooming or coercive behaviour
Safeguarding concerns may arise through direct disclosure, behaviour, communication, online interactions or concerns raised by others.
5. Online Learning and Digital Safety
As an online learning provider, CareBridge Academy recognises the importance of maintaining safe digital learning environments.
Reasonable measures will be taken to:
Promote respectful online behaviour
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
Respond appropriately to concerning behaviour or disclosures
Encourage safe and responsible online participation
Protect learner confidentiality where reasonably possible
Maintain secure communication systems and platforms where appropriate
Participants are expected to behave respectfully and appropriately during online workshops, learning sessions and communications.
6. Raising a Safeguarding Concern
Learners, parents, participants or individuals who have safeguarding concerns regarding themselves or another person are encouraged to report concerns as soon as possible.
Safeguarding concerns may be raised via:
📧 carebridgetraining@outlook.com
📞 07518 398236
DSL - Faye Welch
Or through the online safeguarding reporting form:
🌐 https://forms.gle/QeSQpRpDzJvs4WCf8
CareBridge Academy encourages individuals to report concerns even where they are uncertain whether a matter constitutes a safeguarding issue.
7. Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
Where safeguarding concerns are identified, CareBridge Academy will take concerns seriously and respond appropriately, proportionately and sensitively based on the information available.
Actions may include:
Listening to concerns respectfully
Recording concerns appropriately
Assessing immediate risks
Providing reassurance or support
Signposting individuals to appropriate services
Contacting safeguarding authorities or emergency services where necessary
Referring concerns to external safeguarding agencies where appropriate
Where there is immediate danger or risk of serious harm, emergency services should be contacted without delay.
CareBridge Academy recognises that safeguarding concerns may require urgent action and reserves the right to share information where necessary to protect individuals or comply with legal obligations.
8. Confidentiality and Information Sharing
CareBridge Academy recognises the importance of confidentiality and responsible handling of safeguarding information.
Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only where:
Necessary to protect an individual
Required to prevent harm
Required by law
Necessary for safeguarding or welfare purposes
Required by external safeguarding authorities or emergency services
Absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where safeguarding concerns indicate risk of harm or legal obligations to disclose information exist.
Safeguarding records will be maintained securely in accordance with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and applicable confidentiality obligations.
9. Safeguarding Records
CareBridge Academy may maintain records relating to safeguarding concerns, disclosures, actions taken and communication relating to safeguarding matters where reasonably necessary.
Records will be:
Maintained securely
Restricted to authorised persons where appropriate
Retained proportionately
Managed in accordance with applicable data protection and safeguarding responsibilities
This section was reviewed and reassessed on 9 June 2026.
10. Professional Conduct and Boundaries
CareBridge Academy is committed to maintaining professional conduct, respectful communication and appropriate boundaries across all interactions.
Inappropriate, abusive, threatening, discriminatory or exploitative behaviour towards learners, participants or staff will not be tolerated and may result in removal from services or further action where appropriate.
All individuals engaging with CareBridge Academy services are expected to contribute towards a safe and respectful learning environment.
11. External Support and Emergency Services
Where appropriate, CareBridge Academy may signpost individuals to relevant support organisations, safeguarding services, healthcare professionals, local safeguarding authorities or emergency services.
CareBridge Academy does not replace statutory safeguarding agencies and recognises the importance of working alongside appropriate external services where safeguarding concerns arise.
In emergency situations where there is immediate danger or risk to life, individuals should contact emergency services immediately by calling 999.
12. Policy Review and Ongoing Commitment
CareBridge Academy is committed to regularly reviewing safeguarding practices to ensure procedures remain effective, proportionate and aligned with current legislation, guidance and best practice.
This Safeguarding Policy may be reviewed, updated or amended periodically to reflect:
Legislative changes
Operational developments
Safeguarding guidance updates
Service expansion
Organisational requirements
12. Whistleblowing
CareBridge Academy is committed to maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, integrity, accountability and professional conduct. All staff, associates, volunteers, contractors and learners have a responsibility to raise concerns where they believe that a safeguarding issue, malpractice, misconduct, unlawful activity or poor professional practice may place an individual at risk of harm.
Individuals are encouraged to report concerns as soon as possible and will be supported in doing so. Concerns may relate to safeguarding failures, abuse, neglect, discrimination, breaches of policy, health and safety concerns, fraud, misconduct, or any action that could place learners, staff or members of the public at risk.
Where possible, concerns should be raised with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or the business owner. However, where an individual feels unable to use the normal reporting route, or where the concern relates to the DSL or business owner, concerns may be raised directly with external agencies, including:
Local Authority Safeguarding Teams
The Police
The Care Quality Commission (where relevant)
The Information Commissioner's Office (where relevant)
Other appropriate regulatory or safeguarding bodies
CareBridge Academy will ensure that no individual is treated unfairly, victimised or disadvantaged for raising a genuine concern in good faith. All whistleblowing concerns will be treated seriously, investigated appropriately and handled confidentially wherever possible.
Records of concerns raised and actions taken will be maintained in accordance with data protection requirements and organisational procedures.
13. Prevent Duty
CareBridge Academy recognises its responsibility under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and the Prevent Duty Guidance to safeguard learners from the risk of radicalisation and extremism.
The organisation promotes British Values including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
Any concerns relating to radicalisation, extremist behaviour, online grooming, terrorism or vulnerability to extremist influence will be treated as safeguarding concerns and reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Where appropriate, referrals will be made to Prevent, Channel or other relevant statutory agencies.
All safeguarding concerns will be recorded and managed in accordance with the CareBridge Academy Safeguarding Policy.
14. Safe Recruitment and Staff Training
CareBridge Academy is committed to safer recruitment practices and will ensure that all future staff, volunteers and contractors are suitable to work with learners. Recruitment processes will include appropriate identity checks, references, qualification verification, right to work checks and DBS checks where required.
All staff and volunteers will receive safeguarding induction training before commencing duties. This will include safeguarding adults and young people, Prevent Duty, whistleblowing, professional boundaries, data protection and reporting procedures. Ongoing training and updates will be provided to ensure staff remain competent and aware of their safeguarding responsibilities.
16. Mental Capacity and Consent
CareBridge Academy recognises the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the importance of informed consent when making safeguarding decisions involving adults with care and support needs.
Wherever possible, individuals will be supported to make their own decisions and be involved in safeguarding processes affecting them. Capacity will be presumed unless there is reason to believe otherwise.
Where an individual lacks capacity to make a specific decision, CareBridge Academy will act in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and will work with appropriate professionals, carers, advocates and statutory agencies to ensure decisions are made in the person's best interests.
CareBridge Academy supports the principles of Making Safeguarding Personal, ensuring individuals remain at the centre of safeguarding decisions wherever possible.
Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner where there are significant changes to legislation, guidance, organisational arrangements or following a safeguarding incident. Responsibility for reviewing and updating this policy rests with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Review Frequency: Annually unless required sooner
Last Review Date: June 2026
Next Review Date: June 2027
CareBridge Academy®
This policy was formally reviewed and reassessed by CareBridge Academy on 9 June 2026.
