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Working in partnership across a range of organisations, Edge Hill University’s aim is to promote the highest standards in relation to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. This webpage is designed to be the one place where all information relating to safeguarding at Edge Hill is linked to. Although information is held in various places on the website and the University wiki, there should be a link to it here.

Edge Hill University Safeguarding Policy

This is NOT the protocol which outlines how to deal with an emergency situation or critical incident, or a situation where a student is unable to keep themselves safe or declaring they are suicidal. Emergency information can be found on the Critical Incident Support page.

Safeguarding overview

Edge Hill University wishes to adopt the highest standards and take all reasonable steps in relation to the health, safety, and welfare of children, young people, and adults accessing its services and facilities. The University believes that it is unacceptable for a child, young person, or an adult to experience any form of harm or abuse. Their welfare is paramount and they have the right to protection and support.

Safeguarding concerns may arise as a result of activities associated with the University, or a member of staff, student, or volunteer acting on behalf of the University may become aware of safeguarding concerns about an individual, which are not related to the University’s activities, nor within the University’s control.

The University Safeguarding Policy and associated procedures covers all such instances and outlines the principles and approach accepted by the University as essential to safeguarding.

Safeguarding issues are likely to come to light through one of four main methods: direct observation, disclosure from a child or adult at risk, observation by a third party or referral from an external Public, Statutory or Regulatory Body (PSRB).

It is important for any member of the University community to report any concern promptly and not to assume that someone else will have reported it. Even if it is understood that the authorities are already aware of a concern, it is still necessary and very important to report it to a Designated Safeguarding Officer so that this can be confirmed officially. There is no need to make a judgement on how serious a concern is, or even whether a concern is believed to be true. It is not the responsibility of the reporting person to decide whether or not abuse has occurred or to assess the level of risk.

Reporting concerns

Any allegation or disclosure involving a child, young person or adult at risk should be reported immediately to one of the relevant Safeguarding Officers. Please see the Key Contacts at the bottom of this page for a list of all the relevant Safeguarding Officers at Edge Hill University.

You should also complete the safeguarding incident reporting form keeping as accurate a record as possible of events or reports. Care must be taken, particularly in the case of disclosures, not to lead or interrogate the individual in a way that could prejudice further action by the relevant authorities.

Reporting a concern out of hours

If a safeguarding issue occurs out of hours (for example when the Designated Safeguarding Officers will not be in work) then you need to consider whether anyone is currently at immediate risk of harm. If you believe anyone to be at immediate risk of harm you should:

  • call 999 for the police or ambulance as appropriate and report it immediately
  • contact Campus Support on 01695 584227 and make a report to them

Campus Support will decide whether it is necessary to contact other senior staff at the University or whether this can wait until the next working day. If you do not believe anyone is at serious risk of harm, then the report should be made to your Designated Safeguarding Officer the next working day. However, it is advisable to keep notes at the time so that these are up to date and available if needed.

Identifying a concern

A safeguarding concern arises from any source (likely to be one of the following):

  • direct observation
  • disclosure from a child or adult at risk
  • observation by a third party
  • referral from an external Public, Statutory, or Regulatory Body (PSRB)

Action that needs to be taken:

  1. Contact a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and complete a Safeguarding Incident Reporting form
  2. DSO reviews Safeguarding Incident Reporting form
  3. DSO seeks advice from Senior DSO (plus representative from HR where concerns relate to a member of staff)

If the concern still exists:

  1. Senior DSO and DSO make a decision to refer concern to the police, safeguarding board, or Social Service for investigation
  2. Senior DSO considers whether precautionary action is required and a decision is made by the Lead Safeguarding Officer
  3. Safeguarding Incident Reporting form stored by DSO (operational) and records kept of action taken
  4. DSOs maintain contact with authorities and DSO (operational) records outcome securely once known

If the concern no longer exists:

  1. No further action required
  2. Safeguarding Incident Reporting form stored by DSO (operational) and records updated

Key contacts

NameSafeguarding roleFaculty/DepartmentEmail Number
Fay SherringtonStrategic LeadStudent Services [email protected] Ext. 7550 
Faye WaltersOperational LeadStudent Services [email protected]Ext. 7213 
Vicky Bosward Senior Designated Safeguarding OfficerHuman Resources [email protected] Ext. 6356
Ruth Slater Senior Designated Safeguarding OfficerStudent Recruitment [email protected]Ext. 4435 
Mike HartillSenior Designated Safeguarding OfficerFaculty of Arts and Sciences[email protected] Ext. 7674 
Leon FraserSenior Designated Safeguarding OfficerFaculty of Education[email protected] Ext. 4314
Joy Gana-Inatimi Senior Designated Safeguarding OfficerFaculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine[email protected] Ext. 7060
Anna GreyDesignated Safeguarding OfficerResearch Office[email protected]Ext. 7926
Maria Mirza Designated Safeguarding OfficerLibrary & Learning Services [email protected] Ext. 7511
Mark AllinsonDesignated Safeguarding OfficerInformation Technology [email protected] Ext. 7477
Nicky Roach Designated Safeguarding OfficerCorporate Communications [email protected] Ext. 4755 
Paul Greenwood Designated Safeguarding OfficerFacilities Management [email protected] Ext. 7469 
Sarah Knight-Gill Designated Safeguarding OfficerFacilities Management [email protected] Ext. 7461
Fiona HallettDesignated Safeguarding OfficerGraduate School[email protected]Ext. 4341
Emma HallDesignated Safeguarding OfficerWidening Access and Participation[email protected]01695650876
Mike SteventonDesignated Safeguarding OfficerGovernance Quality Assurance and Student Casework[email protected]01695657383
Mel LangDesignated Safeguarding OfficerFaculty of Arts and Sciences[email protected]01695584302 
Kate Burrell Designated Safeguarding OfficerFaculty of Education[email protected] Ext. 7920
Amanda CaseyDesignated Safeguarding OfficerFaculty of Education – Early Years[email protected]Ext. 7774
Ian ShirleyDesignated Safeguarding OfficerFoE – Primary Education[email protected]Ext. 7998
Heather MarshallDesignated Safeguarding OfficerFoE – Secondary and Further Education[email protected]
Ciaran Murphy Designated Safeguarding OfficerFaculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine[email protected] Ext. 7019
Eve AllenDesignated Safeguarding OfficerFaculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine[email protected]Ext. 7911
Paul MaloneExternal Safeguarding PartnerStudents’ Union[email protected]01695657302