At A Glance:
Chris Garland Training is committed to keeping children and vulnerable adults safe. Contact through our training courses is generally infrequent and controlled; any concern is reported immediately to the Director and, where required, to Cheshire East safeguarding teams in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.
Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
Last review: August 2026
Chris Garland Training is committed to keeping children and adults at risk safe. We come into contact with learners through our training courses. Because this contact is generally infrequent, controlled, and supervised, we maintain clear standards to protect everyone. This page summarises our safeguarding approach, and we review our full controlled policy annually against statutory guidance.
Our commitment
We recognise the right of every individual to stay safe from harm. Specifically, this safeguarding policy sets out how we protect children and adults at risk, how staff must respond to concerns, and the standards we expect from everyone in our team.
Legislation and guidance
We write and maintain this safeguarding policy in accordance with key UK legislation, including:
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026
- Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004
- Care Act 2014 (adult safeguarding)
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
- Equality Act 2010
- Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
- Local Cheshire East Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and Adult Safeguarding procedures
Definitions
Child – In accordance with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, a child is anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday.
Adult at risk – An adult aged 18 or over who may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves against harm or exploitation. For example, this includes older adults, individuals with mental health conditions, physical or learning disabilities, severe illnesses, or people experiencing substance misuse or homelessness.
Safer recruitment and DBS
We use safer recruitment practices for all roles involving contact with children or adults at risk. In addition, our process includes:
- Clear statements about safeguarding responsibilities in all job descriptions
- Mandatory DBS checks for relevant roles before making formal offers
- Two verified professional references
- A three-year rolling programme of DBS re-checks for identified posts
Professional boundaries
Staff must maintain clear professional boundaries at all times. Specifically, team members must not enter personal relationships with current clients or clients served within the previous 12 months. Furthermore, staff must not give or receive gifts from clients unless provided as part of an official planned activity. Finally, staff must not connect with current or recent clients on social media.
Reporting a concern
If any staff member has a safeguarding concern about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, they must follow these steps immediately:
- Communicate the concern immediately to the Director (or to the Internal Quality Assurer if the concern relates to the Director).
- Seek medical attention for the individual if required.
- Discuss concerns with parents, carers, or the individual when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
- Seek advice directly from the Cheshire East Council safeguarding teams whenever necessary.
- Complete the required Local Authority referral form within 24 hours.
- Record and verify all formal feedback received from the Local Authority.
Cheshire East safeguarding contacts:
- Adults: Safeguarding adults at risk
- Children: Child protection
Because public interest in safeguarding overrides confidentiality, we share relevant information strictly on a need-to-know basis.
Allegations against staff
If anyone raises an allegation or concern that a staff member has harmed a child or adult at risk, staff must report it immediately to the Director. Consequently, we will seek advice from the relevant Local Authority without delay. We always comply with our legal duty to refer concerns to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) when appropriate. You can find full details in our Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers Policy.
Training and support
All team members receive comprehensive safeguarding training during induction and through ongoing professional development. For example, training covers how to recognise concerns, how to report issues, and how to maintain professional boundaries. In addition, we offer full support to any staff member who raises a concern.
Review
We review this policy at least annually. Additionally, we update it earlier if Working Together guidance, national legislation, or local partnership arrangements change.