Guidance for leaders

Responding to a Safeguarding Concern

If a member of staff raises a safeguarding concern with you, it’s important to respond calmly, supportively, and follow the correct process.

First steps

• Listen carefully and confirm your understanding of the situation.
• Assess risk:
  • If there is immediate danger, contact emergency services first.
  • Then contact the Oxford Health Safeguarding Team (Adults or Children) and the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Not sure if it’s safeguarding?

• Contact the relevant Safeguarding Team via the intranet for advice and guidance.
• If it’s not a safeguarding concern, provide wellbeing support as appropriate.

Next steps

• Document the concern and any actions taken.
• Share a summary with the L&D Safeguarding Lead or Deputy.
• Make sure the staff member who raised the concern is supported and knows where to access wellbeing services.

Recording incidents

• Service user/staff incidents: record on Ulysses.
• Staff-on-staff (including learner/staff) or non-workplace concerns: do not record on Ulysses. Share with L&D HR and log on the local safeguarding spreadsheet (Microsoft Teams: Extended SLT folder).

Who else to inform?

Use judgement around consent and best interest.

Consider informing:

• The learner’s line manager or programme lead (if on a long-term programme)
• The learner’s employer (if external)
• The university safeguarding team (for subcontracted programmes like Nursing Associates or Apprenticeships)