Safeguarding

Our safeguarding commitment

Onwards Mentoring is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every young person we support. The welfare of the child is our primary consideration. We aim to provide a safe, respectful and trauma-informed service in which young people are listened to, treated fairly and supported to speak openly.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Concerns are recorded, acted upon and shared with the appropriate professionals when necessary to protect a young person from harm.

How we work safely

• Appropriate safer-recruitment checks, references and enhanced DBS checks are completed for relevant roles.
• Staff receive safeguarding training and understand how to recognise, record and report concerns.
• Individual risk information and agreed support arrangements are reviewed with the commissioning organisation.
• Professional boundaries, safe working practice and appropriate information sharing are maintained.
• Concerns relating to exploitation, missing episodes, harmful behaviour, online safety or abuse are treated seriously.
• Attendance, engagement and significant incidents are communicated to the relevant professional network.

Our procedures are informed by current safeguarding guidance and the Department for Education’s voluntary national standards for non-school alternative provision.

Reporting a safeguarding concern

For a concern connected with Onwards Mentoring, contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead through referrals@onwardsmentoring.com. Mark the subject line Safeguarding concern. Please do not use the website’s general enquiry form for confidential safeguarding information.

We will respond promptly, preserve appropriate records and make referrals or share information with statutory agencies where this is necessary to protect a child.

Concerns about a member of staff or another adult

Any allegation or concern about the conduct of a person working for or on behalf of Onwards Mentoring will be taken seriously and managed in line with safeguarding procedures. This may include contacting the relevant Local Authority Designated Officer, children’s social care, the police, the Disclosure and Barring Service or the commissioning organisation.

If it would be inappropriate to raise the concern directly with Onwards Mentoring, contact the relevant local authority safeguarding service or the police.

Guidance informing our framework

• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026
• DfE voluntary national standards for non-school alternative provision
• Safeguarding guidance for out-of-school settings