Your Safety Standards. Our Absolute Priority.
Safeguarding Policy & Governance
Our safeguarding policy sets the standards for safer recruitment, professional conduct, and escalation across education and public services. For operational vetting steps and turnaround times, see our Vetting & Compliance page.
Our Safeguarding Commitment
Because One Oversight is One Too Many
We understand the weight of responsibility you carry. Every person entering your institution—whether it's a school, college, healthcare setting, or public service—can impact vulnerable lives. That's why we've built comprehensive safeguarding governance that exceeds statutory requirements.
This page outlines our safeguarding principles, policy framework, roles and responsibilities, and incident response procedures. For operational detail on our vetting process—including specific checks, turnaround times, and compliance reporting—please visit our dedicated Vetting & Compliance page.
Because education matters. Because public service matters. And safeguarding matters most of all.
Our Safeguarding Principles
Child-Centred Approach
The welfare of children and vulnerable adults is paramount in every decision we make. We listen to concerns, act promptly, and always prioritise safety over convenience.
Proportionate Risk Management
We balance protection with rehabilitation, conducting thorough risk assessments that consider individual circumstances whilst never compromising on safety standards.
Early Intervention
We encourage open dialogue about concerns at the earliest opportunity. Our team is trained to recognise warning signs and escalate appropriately before situations deteriorate.
Information Sharing
We maintain confidentiality whilst sharing relevant information appropriately with designated safeguarding leads, local authorities, and regulatory bodies when required to protect individuals.
Accountability & Transparency
Everyone in our organisation understands their safeguarding responsibilities. We document decisions clearly, learn from incidents, and report openly to stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
Report it immediately
Raise the concern with your designated safeguarding lead and call our safeguarding team on 0117 422 9420. We're available for out-of-hours urgent matters affecting the safety of children or vulnerable adults.
Immediate safety actions
We activate suspension protocols where appropriate and ensure learners or service users are safe. Your designated safeguarding lead remains in control of your safeguarding response—we support their decisions.
LADO and authorities liaison
We support your DSL with referrals and information sharing in line with local safeguarding partnership procedures. We provide all documentation, timelines, and statements required for investigations.
Investigation and documentation
We maintain detailed records of all actions taken, decisions made, and communications sent. Our files are immediately available to support multi-agency investigations and serious case reviews.
Outcome and learning
We confirm investigation outcomes, implement preventive measures identified through the process, and communicate updates to all relevant stakeholders. Every incident strengthens our safeguarding culture.
Operational Vetting & File Reporting
Looking for the detail on DBS turnaround times, Update Service monitoring, expiry alerts and SCR-ready packs?
Visit our Vetting & Compliance page for comprehensive information on our pre-employment checking process, typical timelines, technology platform, and compliance reporting. That page details what we check, how quickly we deliver, and what documentation you receive.
Working in Partnership
Clear roles and responsibilities
What We Provide
Comprehensive initial vetting before placement, all required documentation and certificates, risk assessments where disclosures exist, ongoing compliance monitoring and renewal alerts, emergency support for safeguarding incidents, and transparent reporting throughout.
What You Maintain
Site-specific induction and supervision, safeguarding training aligned with your policies, day-to-day performance monitoring, incident reporting through your DSL, escalation to LADO or authorities where required, and management of your Single Central Record.
Your DSL is in Control
We never override your designated safeguarding lead's decisions. Our role is to provide compliant files, professional guidance, and immediate support when concerns arise—but safeguarding responsibility always rests with the setting where someone works.
Joint Working Protocol
We adapt our processes to complement your specific safeguarding policies, provide custom vetting requirements on request, integrate with your systems where possible, deliver bespoke reporting formats, and maintain direct communication channels with your safeguarding team.
Quality Assurance & Governance
External validation of our standards
Internal Auditing
Monthly vetting audits review 100% of files processed. External compliance reviews twice yearly by independent safeguarding consultants. Mystery shopping exercises test our response protocols. Client feedback integrated into continuous improvement.
External Validation
REC Audited Education Provider status demonstrates sector-specific compliance. ISO 9001:2015 certification confirms quality management systems. Cyber Essentials Plus protects candidate data. Annual independent safeguarding review by specialist auditors.
Regulatory Compliance
Full compliance with KCSIE (Keeping Children Safe in Education) for education settings. CQC fundamental standards alignment for healthcare and social care placements. DBS code of practice adherence. GDPR data protection throughout. Sector-specific regulatory frameworks respected.
Training & Development
All Dovetail & Slate staff receive annual safeguarding updates from specialist trainers. Safer recruitment training to advanced level for the vetting team. GDPR compliance training for all staff handling candidate data. Prevent duty awareness across the organisation. Mental health first aid for candidate-facing roles.
Emergency Safeguarding Support
When Concerns Arise
For urgent safeguarding concerns about agency staff:
Safeguarding Hotline: 0117 422 9420
(Ask for the safeguarding team—out-of-hours support available for urgent matters)
Immediate Actions We Take:
- Candidate suspension protocols activated immediately
- Investigation support provided to your DSL
- LADO liaison assistance where your procedures require it
- Full documentation provision—timelines, records, communications
- Priority replacement staff sourced if removal is necessary
Speak to the Safeguarding Team
Pippa Stead — Head of Vetting & Safeguarding
With over 15 years of education safeguarding experience as a former school designated safeguarding lead, Pippa leads our compliance and safeguarding governance.
0117 422 9420 (ask for Pippa or the safeguarding team)
safeguarding@dovetailslate.co.uk
Our Commitment to You
If any individual we place fails to meet safeguarding standards due to our oversight, we will act immediately: provide a replacement, support your investigation, implement preventive measures, and report transparently in line with our contractual and statutory obligations.
— Guy Walker, CEO
Safeguarding Documents
Download our policies and guidance
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Safeguarding Policy Questions
Need Operational Detail?
For information on our vetting checks, turnaround times, compliance technology, and SCR-ready documentation, visit our Vetting & Compliance page.