Safeguarding

The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is a top priority at Leeds City College. All staff are trained in safeguarding and child protection and our dedicated safeguarding team is on hand for advice and support. In our last Ofsted inspection, safeguarding in the college was judged to be ‘effective’.

Safeguarding covers anything that may pose a risk to the safety and wellbeing of an individual, this includes but is not limited to the following:

  • All forms of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual and financial)
  • Neglect
  • Bullying (including cyber bullying)
  • Children missing education
  • Child sexual exploitation
  • Domestic violence
  • Drugs
  • Faith abuse
  • Female genital mutilation (FGM)
  • Forced marriage
  • Gangs and youth violence
  • Mental health
  • Preventing radicalisation
  • Relationship abuse
  • Sexting
  • Trafficking 

As a college, we take measures to ensure that our safeguarding duty is being met. These measures include:

  • Having a clear policy and procedures in place
  • Having a team of specialist stay safe officers
  • Carrying out background checks on all employees
  • Encouraging staff and students to raise concerns
  • Taking all concerns seriously and acting upon them
  • Training all staff in safeguarding
  • Delivering tutorial sessions covering safeguarding topics

You can view our safeguarding policy here:

Luminate Safeguarding Children and Adults

Report a concern

If you are a student at the college and you are worried about yourself or someone you know in college, please speak to a member of staff. They will pass this information onto the safeguarding team who can take further action. There is also a “Report it” button on the student life app : https://lcc-student-safeguarding.ew.r.appspot.com/

Parents and Carers information

Emergency contacts

Here at Leeds City College, safeguarding your children and looking after their wellbeing is our number one priority. COVID-19 restrictions remain in place, it is crucial now more than ever that the college maintains regular contact with students. In order for us to do this, it is important that we ensure your child’s emergency contact details are up to date; just in case for any reason we can’t get hold of them directly. If you have changed telephone numbers recently, or wish for another contact number to be added to your child’s record, please get in touch with the college by emailing contact@leedscitycollege.ac.uk so we can update the record.

 

Keeping children safe online

Set an example: Show your child how you question and evaluate online content. If you come across a fake news story or get sent a phishing email, discuss with your child how you spotted it and what you did. Why not ask them for a second opinion? Your child may have already heard about it or seen something similar, and if not, it’s a learning opportunity for both of you. Seeing a parent actively question and evaluate online content teaches young people the importance of doing the same.

Think before you share: act-check and reflect before sharing content, posts or pictures….It can be tempting to share surprising or attention-grabbing online content with your child or your family group chats, but make sure to fact-check these links before you do. As it’s come from a parent, some young people may believe it without questioning it and some may find it difficult or awkward to point out if it is false or misleading. This is another chance to set a good example of how to share information responsibly online.

Check-in with your child: How does misleading information they see online make them feel? False and misleading content online can be upsetting and confusing, e.g. harmful claims that target specific groups, or unhealthy lifestyle tips. Young people may feel powerless when faced with the amount of unreliable content they see. Regularly check-in with your child about their online life and ask them how what they see makes them feel. This is an issue that affects all of us. Reassure your child that you are there to talk about things that upset them and to support them with how they feel.

Seek help and support: Ask other parents how they address misleading online content….Just as we ask young people to talk about what they are unsure of, make sure you do too! Chances are that you’ll find other parents or carers who are trying to figure out how to help their family avoid false information and get the most out of the internet.

 

Parents and Carers newsletter

Each term, the Stay Safe team will email a newsletter to parents and carers of students. Each newsletter will have a different theme, but we always welcome your views and suggestions of what content you would like to see included. If you have particular concerns around a specific safeguarding subject, or would just like to find out more information, please contact safeguarding@leedscitycollege.ac.uk

Leeds City College Safer Colleges Police Officers

Across the campuses, we have a team of dedicated police officers who offer support to students who have been victims of crime or involved in criminal activity. Students, parents and carers can contact the police officers by emailing safeguarding@leedscitycollege.ac.uk for advice and support.

A college commitment to tackling domestic abuse

Leeds City College has recently been awarded the Domestic Abuse Quality Mark 2. The purpose of the Safer Leeds Domestic Violence and Abuse Quality Mark is to promote consistent and high quality service provision to women, children and men affected by domestic violence and abuse (DVA) and to encourage agencies, employers and community organisations to make tackling domestic violence and abuse their business.

Luminate Education Group opposes domestic abuse in all its forms and recognises that it is a widespread problem that can affect survivors both physically and psychologically. Domestic abuse and violence is often hidden, there were 2.4 million survivors of domestic abuse recorded in the year ending March 2019, two thirds of these being women. On average, a woman will experience 35 episodes of domestic abuse before seeking help. Domestic abuse is a crime, and with the ongoing pandemic and second lockdown, this issue has been highlighted as a national crisis.

 

Where to get help
If you are a student at Leeds City college and you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, we would always advise to speak to a member of the safeguarding team in the first instance. They can be emailed at safeguarding@leedscitycollege.ac.uk, or via the “Report it” button on the LCC Student App.

If you are a student at Leeds City college and you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, we would always advise to speak to a member of the safeguarding team in the first instance. They can be emailed at safeguarding@leedscitycollege.ac.uk, or via the “Report it” button on the LCC Student Life App: https://lcc-student-safeguarding.ew.r.appspot.com/

If you would like to get in touch with an external organisation, below is a list of local and national support services who can help:

  • National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247
  • Leeds Domestic Violence Service – 24hr helpline 0113 246 0401 administration@leedswomensaid.org.uk
  • IDAS (support for victims of domestic abuse in North & South Yorkshire) 03000 110 110
  • Staying Put (supporting victims of domestic abuse in Bradford & Keighley) 0808 2800 999 enquiries@stayingput.uk.net
  • Men’s Advice Line – 0808 8010327
  • GALOP (LGBT+) – 0800 999 5428
  • Karma Nirvana (supporting victims of honour based abuse and forced marriage)- 0800 5999 247
  • Forced Marriage Unit – +44 (0) 20 7008 0151 fmu@fcdo.gov.uk
  • RESPECT – for instigators and victims 0808 8024040
Police tackling domestic abuse

In November 2020, the Stay Safe team delivered an online campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour. Coercive or controlling behaviour within an intimate or family relationship was established as a criminal offence in 2015.

 

Get in touch

Each campus has a Stay Safe Officer who provides dedicated safeguarding support to students, staff and parents.

The Stay Safe Officers are supported by a wider team of Designated Safeguarding Officers who are based in each department. The DSO’s are part of the curriculum and pastoral services and will see the students on a daily basis.

If you would like to speak with one of the safeguarding team, please email safeguarding@leedscitycollege.ac.uk

Leeds City College