Breakthrough College is committed to the safeguarding of all its students, staff and visitors. We consider safeguarding to be of paramount importance and we take seriously our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all of our students.

We do this by providing a caring, positive, safe and exciting environment, whereby the personal, social, physical and moral wellbeing and development of every child and young person in our care is fully supported.

We believe that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility.

If you do not feel safe or you are worried about someone else, you must speak to an adult that you can trust. 

If you have any concerns, you can speak to any of our safeguarding team.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Charlotte Stephens. You can contact our DSL by email on charlotte.stephens@tborg.org. Please note that this email address will not be monitored out of hours or over the school holidays. We also have Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, (DDSLs) on all of our sites, as outlined below.

Safeguarding referrals
 

Outside of college hours, if you are concerned about the safety of a child in Devon and want to speak to someone, or if you are a child worried about your own safety, you can contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and give as much information as you can. If you have a concern about a vulnerable adult you can make a referral to Care Direct, during office hours on 0345 155 1007 and out of hours on 0845 6000 388.   If you have concerns about how child protection issues are being handled in your own or another organisation then you can contact the Whistleblowing Advice Line which offers free advice and support on 0800 028 0285, email help@nspcc.org.uk or contact the LADO on  01392 384964, email ladosecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Devon
T: 0345 155 1071
W: Children’s Front Door Online Form

E: mashsecure@devon.gov.uk

Plymouth
T: 01752 668000
E: familiesfirst@plymouth.gov.uk

Out of hours: 01752 346984

Torbay
T: 01803 208100
E: mash@torbay.gov.uk

Out of hours: 0300 4564 876

If a child is at immediate risk, contact the police on 999

If you have a concern about a vulnerable adult you can make a referral to Care Direct, during office hours on 0345 155 1007 and out of hours on 0845 6000 388.   If you have concerns about how child protection issues are being handled in your own or another organisation then you can contact the Whistleblowing Advice Line which offers free advice and support on 0800 028 0285, email help@nspcc.org.uk or contact the LADO on  01392 384964, email ladosecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

It is a condition of employment that all staff are properly vetted and deemed suitable to work and support children. We also ensure that all staff are trained to an appropriate level dependent on their responsibilities. We maintain an attitude that ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned. Breakthrough’s commitment to safeguarding is paramount to the success of all students. Our Trustees, senior leadership and safeguarding team will ensure that all policies and procedures are kept up to date and in line with the latest advice from the government.

We must inform parents and careers that there may be occasions where we have to make safeguarding referrals to external agencies without their prior knowledge or consent. In these circumstances, we assure you that we are acting in the best interests of the child’s safety

Policies

Safeguarding Agencies and Support

The Devon Safeguarding Children Partnership is designed to ensure key agencies across Devon work together effectively to safeguard children. They aim to make sure that children and families can get the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

The Torbay Safeguarding Children Partnership aims to help children and young people stay safe at home, at school and out and about. They aim to help everyone understand what safeguarding is, who is responsible for keeping children safe and what will happen if your family needs professional help.

The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity, preventing abuse and helping those affected to recover. We provide services across England to help give children and young people the support they need to thrive.

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse.

CEOP is a law enforcement agency that helps keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. They offer advice and support, and you can report an incident directly to them if something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe, scared or worried.