Safeguarding & Child Protection

1. Introduction

Ednova Ltd ("Ednova", "we", "our", "us") is an educational organisation delivering career awareness programmes and workshops designed for secondary school students. The safety and wellbeing of every child and young person who engages with our programmes is our highest priority.

This policy sets out Ednova's commitment to safeguarding children and young people, outlines the responsibilities of everyone involved in our work, and describes the procedures to follow when concerns arise. It applies to all programmes delivered by Ednova, whether online, in person, or in a hybrid format.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

Alireza Alidoust (Founder and Designated Safeguarding Lead)
Any future employees, contractors, volunteers, or guest speakers engaged by Ednova
All programmes delivered to participants under the age of 18

This policy applies regardless of the programme format (online, in person, or hybrid) and regardless of where the student is located during participation.

3. Definitions

"Child" or "young person" means any person under the age of 18.

"Safeguarding" means protecting children from abuse, neglect, and harm; promoting their welfare; and taking action to enable them to have the best outcomes.

"Designated Safeguarding Lead" (DSL) means the person within Ednova with lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection.

"Concern" means any observation, disclosure, or information that gives rise to a worry that a child may be at risk of, or experiencing, abuse or neglect.

4. Legislative and Regulatory Framework

This policy has been developed in accordance with the following legislation and guidance:

Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE, 2024) — as best practice reference for organisations working with schools
UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018
Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Prevent duty)
Online Safety Act 2023

Ednova complies with the Prevent duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015. Where there is reason to believe a young person may be at risk of radicalisation or extremist influence, the DSL will follow the referral process set out in Clause 23 of this policy.

5. Types of Abuse and Neglect

Ednova recognises the following categories of abuse as defined by Working Together to Safeguard Children:

Physical abuse — causing physical harm to a child
Emotional abuse — persistent emotional maltreatment affecting a child's emotional development
Sexual abuse — forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activity
Neglect — persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and psychological needs

Ednova also recognises additional safeguarding concerns including: online abuse and exploitation; bullying and cyberbullying; child sexual exploitation (CSE); child criminal exploitation (CCE); domestic abuse in the home environment; and radicalisation or extremist influence.

6. Ednova's Safeguarding Commitment

Ednova is committed to:

Prioritising the welfare of all children and young people who engage with our programmes
Creating an environment where children feel safe, respected, and able to speak up
Taking all concerns seriously and responding in a timely and proportionate way
Working in partnership with parents, schools, and statutory agencies where appropriate
Maintaining appropriate records and reviewing this policy annually

7. Roles and Responsibilities

7.1 All persons involved in Ednova programmes are responsible for:

Familiarising themselves with and adhering to this policy
Maintaining appropriate, professional conduct with young people at all times
Reporting any concerns or disclosures promptly to the DSL
Maintaining confidentiality and only sharing information on a need-to-know basis

7.2 The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is responsible for:

Acting as the first point of contact for all safeguarding concerns
Deciding on the appropriate course of action in response to concerns
Making referrals to statutory agencies where required
Maintaining a confidential log of all concerns and actions taken
Ensuring this policy is kept up to date and reviewed annually
Overseeing the safeguarding training of anyone working with Ednova

8. Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

8.1 The current Designated Safeguarding Lead for Ednova is:

Alireza Alidoust

Founder, Ednova Ltd

Email: ali@ednova.co.uk

8.2 The DSL will undertake formal safeguarding training appropriate to their role, including Level 2 or equivalent child protection training, and will refresh this training at least every two years.

9. Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

At the current stage of Ednova's development, there is no deputy DSL. Should the DSL be unavailable, all safeguarding concerns must be held securely, documented immediately in writing, and escalated directly to the relevant statutory authority — the local authority children's social care services or, in an emergency, the police — without delay. The DSL will be notified at the earliest opportunity.

10. Safer Recruitment and Vetting

10.1 All persons who work directly with children as part of Ednova programmes — including employees, contractors, and regular volunteers — will be required to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a check against the Children's Barred List. This check will be renewed at least every three years or earlier if concerns arise.

10.2 Guest speakers who attend sessions in the presence of students will be supervised at all times by a vetted Ednova representative or a member of the partner school's staff. Where a speaker is not DBS-checked, they must not have unsupervised access to students. For online sessions that include virtual breakout rooms or other private virtual spaces, any facilitator present in such a space with students must hold a valid enhanced DBS check (or equivalent), as Ednova cannot guarantee supervision across multiple simultaneous rooms. Facilitators who deliver three or more sessions are strongly encouraged to obtain an enhanced DBS check regardless of session format.

10.3 Ednova will maintain a record of all DBS checks, including the date of issue and reference number.

10.4 Ednova will take references and verify the identity of anyone undertaking a regular role with the organisation before they begin working with young people.

11. Code of Conduct for Adults Working with Young People

All persons involved in Ednova programmes must:

Treat all students with dignity and respect at all times
Communicate in a professional, appropriate, and inclusive manner
Never share personal contact details (personal phone numbers, personal social media accounts) with students
Never engage in one-to-one private communication with students outside of the programme platform
Never take or share photographs or recordings of students without explicit written parental consent
Report any inappropriate behaviour by colleagues, speakers, or other adults to the DSL immediately
Avoid any physical contact with students; in online settings, maintain professional visual presentation at all times

Any breach of this code will be taken seriously and may result in removal from the programme, termination of engagement, and, where appropriate, referral to statutory agencies.

12. Online Safety

12.1 All Ednova sessions delivered online will use secure, reputable platforms (such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams) with appropriate privacy settings enabled.

12.2 Ednova will not use unmoderated chat functions during live sessions. Where interactive chat features are used, they will be monitored by an Ednova representative throughout the session.

12.3 Session links and access credentials will be shared only with registered participants and their parents or guardians. Links must not be shared publicly.

12.4 Ednova will configure platform settings to prevent participants from joining before the host, to display waiting rooms, and to remove participants if required.

12.5 Students are expected to participate from a suitable, supervised environment. Parents are responsible for the student's immediate home environment during sessions.

12.6 Recordings will be enabled only for educational and quality assurance purposes and will not be shared publicly. Parents are informed of recording arrangements before the programme begins.

13. Parental Consent

13.1 A booking for a programme must be made by a parent or legal guardian aged 18 or over, who agrees to Ednova's Terms and Conditions and this Safeguarding Policy on behalf of their child.

13.2 Written parental consent will always be obtained before any identifiable images, quotes, or recordings of a student are used for promotional or marketing purposes. Participation in the programme is not conditional on consent to promotional use.

13.3 Where Ednova needs to share student information with a third party for safeguarding or legal purposes, it will do so in accordance with its Data Protection and Privacy Policy.

14. Responding to a Disclosure from a Young Person

If a young person discloses abuse or harm, or makes a comment that raises concern, the person receiving the disclosure must:

Stay calm and listen carefully without interrupting
Reassure the young person that they have done the right thing by speaking up
Avoid asking leading questions — use open questions only (e.g. "Can you tell me more about that?")
Not promise to keep the information secret
Explain, in age-appropriate language, that the information may need to be shared to keep them safe
Report the matter to the DSL on the same day, without delay

As soon as possible after the conversation — and no later than the end of the same day — a written record must be made. The record should include: the date, time, and location of the disclosure; a factual account of what was said using the young person's own words as far as possible; the action taken; and the name and role of the person making the record.

15. Raising and Recording Safeguarding Concerns

15.1 Any person involved in Ednova programmes who has a concern about the welfare of a child — whether arising from direct observation, a disclosure, or information received — must report this to the DSL on the same day the concern arises.

15.2 Concerns should be reported verbally to the DSL in the first instance, followed immediately by a written record. Records must include: the date and time of the concern; what was observed, heard, or disclosed; the names of any persons involved; and what action was taken.

15.3 All safeguarding concerns and the actions taken in response will be recorded in Ednova's confidential Safeguarding Log, which is maintained by the DSL. This log is stored securely and is accessible only to the DSL and authorised statutory agencies.

15.4 Low-level concerns — that is, concerns about behaviour that does not meet the threshold for referral to statutory agencies but that feels uncomfortable or inconsistent with the expected professional standard — should also be reported to the DSL. The DSL will decide whether to document the concern, take informal action, or escalate further. Low-level concerns will be taken seriously and monitored over time.

15.5 A person who raises a concern in good faith will not face any adverse treatment as a result of doing so, regardless of the outcome.

16. Confidentiality

Safeguarding information must be treated as strictly confidential. It should be shared only with those who need to know in order to protect the child, including statutory agencies where a referral is required. Confidentiality does not override the duty to protect a child from harm. The DSL will ensure that information is shared on a need-to-know basis and in compliance with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.

17. Referrals to Statutory Agencies

17.1 Where the DSL assesses that a child may be at risk of significant harm, or where a criminal offence may have been committed, Ednova will make a referral to the relevant local authority children's social care services, or to the police in cases of immediate risk.

17.2 Where possible, the DSL will seek to notify the parent or guardian before making a referral, unless doing so would place the child at greater risk or could compromise a statutory investigation.

17.3 If the DSL is uncertain whether a concern meets the threshold for referral, they may contact the local authority's Front Door (children's services duty team) for a consultation without necessarily making a formal referral.

17.4 If an allegation of abuse is made against an Ednova representative, the matter will be referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in the local authority area where the school or student is based. Where the session was delivered online, the relevant LADO is that of the local authority where the school or student is based; the online nature of the session does not alter the reporting route. The person subject to the allegation will be temporarily suspended from any contact with students pending investigation.

17.5 Ednova will cooperate fully with any statutory investigation, including providing records, access to communications, and any other information reasonably requested.

18. Allegations Against Adults Involved in Ednova Programmes

If an allegation is made against any adult involved in an Ednova programme — including the DSL — the following steps will be taken:

The person subject to the allegation will be immediately removed from contact with students, pending investigation
If the allegation is against the DSL, the matter will be escalated directly to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in the relevant local authority area and to relevant statutory authorities. For online sessions, the relevant LADO is that of the local authority where the school or student is based
A written record of the allegation, the person's response, and all subsequent actions will be maintained
Ednova will cooperate fully with any investigation by statutory agencies or the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
The parent or guardian of any affected student will be informed as appropriate and in line with statutory guidance

19. Record Keeping

19.1 Ednova will maintain a confidential Safeguarding Log. Each entry will record: the date and time of the concern or disclosure; the names of the young person(s) involved; a factual summary of the concern; the action taken and by whom; and any outcomes or follow-up required.

19.2 Safeguarding records will be stored securely, separately from other programme records, and will be accessible only to the DSL and statutory agencies with a lawful basis for access.

19.3 Safeguarding records will be retained for a minimum of seven years from the date of the last entry, or until the young person reaches the age of 25, whichever is later, in accordance with recommended practice.

19.4 If Ednova ceases to operate, safeguarding records will be transferred to the relevant local authority.

20. Photography, Recordings, and Media

20.1 Sessions may be recorded for educational purposes and to allow enrolled students to access a replay for up to seven days following each session. Session recordings will not be made publicly available.

20.2 Written parental consent will always be obtained before any identifiable student images, quotes, or recordings are used for any purpose other than educational replay for enrolled students.

20.3 Ednova representatives must not take personal photographs or recordings of students using personal devices.

20.4 Parents may withdraw media consent at any time by contacting ali@ednova.co.uk.

21. Supervision and In-Person Programme Safety

21.1 For any in-person delivery at a school, college, or other venue, Ednova will ensure that a member of the host institution's own staff is present or immediately contactable throughout the session. Ednova representatives will not be left in sole charge of students at a school or college venue.

21.2 There will be no one-to-one contact between Ednova staff or speakers and individual students in any setting. All programme delivery takes place in a group format.

21.3 Ednova will carry appropriate liability insurance covering all in-person programme delivery. Evidence of insurance will be made available to partner institutions on request.

21.4 Risk assessments will be completed and documented for any in-person delivery, including assessment of the venue, travel arrangements (if applicable), and supervision ratios.

22. Conflict of Interest

Any person involved in Ednova programmes who has a personal relationship with a student participating in a programme must disclose this to the DSL before the programme begins. The DSL will assess whether the relationship presents a safeguarding risk and determine appropriate steps, including whether the person should be involved in delivery.

23. Prevent Duty and Counter-Extremism

23.1 Ednova has due regard to the Prevent duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which requires specified authorities and those working alongside them to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism or extremism.

23.2 If the DSL or any Ednova representative has reason to believe a young person may be at risk of radicalisation or extremist influence, they will:

Record the concern in writing on the same day
Contact the local authority for advice on whether a referral to the Channel programme is appropriate
Make a Channel referral where this is considered necessary

23.3 Programme content will be designed and reviewed to ensure it does not promote, either directly or indirectly, extremist viewpoints. Guest speakers will be selected and briefed to ensure alignment with these principles.

24. Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

Ednova recognises that a young person's mental health and emotional wellbeing is an integral part of their overall welfare. Where an Ednova representative has reason to be concerned about a student's emotional wellbeing — including signs of self-harm, eating difficulties, significant distress, or other indicators of poor mental health — they should:

Raise the concern with the DSL on the same day
Not attempt to provide counselling or therapeutic intervention
Ensure the DSL considers whether to contact the parent, the student's school, or statutory services

The DSL will liaise with the student's school or relevant services as appropriate. Ednova's role is to identify concerns and ensure they are passed to those with the capacity to provide appropriate support.

25. Safeguarding Training

25.1 The DSL will complete recognised safeguarding training appropriate to their role, at a minimum of Level 2 child protection training, and will refresh this training at least every two years.

25.2 All other persons regularly involved in the delivery of Ednova programmes — including contractors and volunteers — will complete basic safeguarding awareness training before working with young people for the first time, and will refresh this training at least every two years.

25.3 Guest speakers attending a single session will receive a safeguarding briefing from Ednova before the session, covering their responsibilities, the code of conduct, and how to raise a concern.

25.4 Records of all training completed will be maintained by the DSL, including the date, training provider, and level of training.

26. Whistleblowing

26.1 Ednova is committed to a culture of openness where concerns about practice — including concerns about colleagues, speakers, or management — can be raised without fear of reprisal.

26.2 Any person who has concerns about safeguarding practice within Ednova, and who does not feel able to raise these with the DSL, may contact the relevant local authority's LADO directly, or may report concerns to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as appropriate.

26.3 Whistleblowing in good faith is protected under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. Ednova will not take any adverse action against a person who raises a genuine safeguarding concern in good faith, regardless of the outcome.

27. Policy Review and Monitoring

This policy will be reviewed annually by the DSL and updated to reflect any changes in legislation, statutory guidance, or Ednova's operational model. The policy will also be reviewed following any significant safeguarding incident or change in Ednova's structure or activities. The most current version of this policy will be made available to parents on request and will be shared with partner schools.