Safeguarding policy

Our commitment

Everyone has the right to be safe from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Changing Lanes Limited takes all reasonable steps to protect learners, work-seekers, staff and anyone else we come into contact with, and to respond quickly and properly when there is a concern. Most of our learners are adults; we may occasionally train 18-year-olds and will meet children and young people as members of the public. This policy follows the Care Act 2014 (adults at risk), Working Together to Safeguard Children, and Part 2 of Keeping Children Safe in Education, which Skills Bootcamp contracts require providers to follow.

Who to contact

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

Types of harm

Physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse; financial abuse; neglect and self-neglect; discriminatory abuse; domestic abuse; modern slavery and labour exploitation; radicalisation (see Prevent duty policy); online abuse; and harassment, including sexual harassment.

If you have a concern

1. If there is immediate danger, call 999.
2. Listen, stay calm, do not promise to keep a secret, and do not investigate yourself.
3. Tell the DSL (or deputy) the same day. Staff record the concern in the restricted safeguarding record in the platform straight away.
4. The DSL decides the next steps — which may include advice, a support plan, a referral to local authority adult or children's social care, the police, or the Channel programme — and records the decision and reasons.

Learners and members of the public can raise a concern with any member of staff or at [to be confirmed: safeguarding contact email address].

How concerns are recorded

Safeguarding concerns are kept in a separate, restricted record that only the safeguarding lead role can open. They are never shown in lists, reports, exports, notifications or logs; alerts to the DSL say only that a concern needs attention, without detail. Automated jobs never read or change safeguarding records. Information is shared only on a need-to-know basis and where the law allows — including the recognised legitimate interest of safeguarding vulnerable individuals under the UK GDPR as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. Records are kept in line with our Data retention schedule and longer where needed for an ongoing matter.

Allegations against staff

Allegations that a member of staff, tutor or volunteer has harmed or may pose a risk to a learner are reported to the DSL (or to a director if the allegation concerns the DSL) and, where the threshold is met, to the local authority designated officer (LADO) or the adult safeguarding team. The person may be suspended while the matter is looked into.

Safer recruitment

We check identity, right to work, references and — where the role is eligible — a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before staff work with learners. Instructors hold the qualifications and evidence required for their role.

Training

All staff complete safeguarding and Prevent training at induction and refresh it at least every year; the DSL completes enhanced training every two years.

Online safety

The platform limits who can see learners' information, has no public messaging between learners, and pre-moderates every vacancy. Learners are told how to stay safe online and how to report concerns, including through "Report a problem".

Employers and placements

We verify employers before introducing anyone, check in with placed drivers at weeks 1, 4 and 12, and route any issue raised to a named member of staff. Signs of exploitation (for example being charged fees, having pay withheld, or documents taken) are treated as safeguarding concerns.

Review

The DSL reviews this policy every year, after any serious incident, and when the law or guidance changes.

Change history