Safeguarding
Find out the procedures we have in place to protect the safety and wellbeing of all students, staff and visitors. Also learn how to report any safeguarding concerns.
Safeguarding at Kingston University
We take safeguarding very seriously at Kingston University. Find out what safeguarding is and the procedures we have in place to protect our students, staff and visitors. It's also crucial that you know how to report any safeguarding concerns. We run through the procedures to follow. Plus, read our Safeguarding Policy.
Need immediate support?
- In an emergency call 999 or go to your local A&E/police station.
- Call the Mental Health Support Line on 0800 028 8000
- Call the Samaritans on 116 123
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding is about protecting a person's right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students, staff and visitors.
We have legal duties to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk. But we all have to work together to prevent and stop the risk and experience of abuse or neglect.
We believe safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concern. Students, staff and visitors have a duty to be alert to possible risks and signs of abuse. If any signs of abuse are spotted, we all have a responsibility to report our concerns.
Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children (under 18) identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.
Abuse and neglect come in the following forms:
- Discriminatory abuse
- Domestic violence or abuse
- Financial or material abuse
- Modern slavery
- Neglect or acts of omission
- Organisational or institutional abuse
- Physical abuse
- Psychological or emotional abuse
- Self-neglect
- Sexual abuse
Signs may include changes in behaviour, absence from class or social groups, physical marks or bruising and lack of personal care.
Want to know more about spotting the signs of abuse? Read the Social Care Institute for Excellence’s information on types and indicators of abuse.
Reporting children and adults at risk
You must report concerns about any member of the University community. It is your responsibility to report all concerns, no matter how small you think they may be. The Safeguarding Manager will determine what action(s) will be taken.
When you have a concern
Do:
- Stay calm and listen
- Take what you are being told seriously
- Evaluate the situation, then follow the process for reporting urgent or less urgent concerns
Do not:
- Press the person for more details
- Assume someone else will take action
- Contact the alleged abuser
- Promise to keep it a secret
Call 999 if there is an immediate risk to life, violence or other emergency.
Contact campus security on 020 8417 6666, where appropriate.
If you have an urgent concern, but it is out-of-hours and there is no immediate risk, contact the Local Authority out-of-hours number on 020 8770 5000.
As soon as you can, fill out a report via our Report + Support.
What happens after reporting an urgent concern
Your concerns will be managed by our Safeguarding Manager within 24 working hours. Your concerns will be taken seriously and investigated.
If you have filled out a report following an out-of-hours and urgent safeguarding concern, the Safeguarding Manager will follow up any necessary referrals. They will liaise with internal services to contact the person at risk within 24 hours.
Any necessary referrals or communication to internal and/or external services will be made by the member of staff dealing with the incident.
Where possible, we will feed back to you following your report.
Less urgent concerns should be reported via the Report + Support form.
What happens next?
Your concerns will be managed by the Safeguarding Manager within 24 working hours. Your concerns will be taken seriously and investigated.
If you have filled out the Report + Support form, following an out of hours and urgent safeguarding concern, the Safeguarding Manager will follow up any necessary referrals. They will also liaise with internal services to make contact with the student within 24 hours.
Any necessary referrals or communication to internal and/or external services will be made by the safeguarding team dealing with the incident.
Where possible, we will feed back to you following your report of a concern.
Kingston University's safeguarding policy
Want to learn more about our safeguarding? Our Safeguarding Policy can be found on our policies and regulations webpage, along with other policies regarding student life, health and wellbeing.
Safeguarding contacts at Kingston University
Jade Sheridan, Student Safeguarding Manager: [email protected]
Adrian Parry, Prevent Lead and University Secretary: [email protected]