Rinova Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults across all our programmes. We believe every learner has the right to feel safe, supported, and empowered to thrive. This statement outlines our safeguarding ethos, responsibilities, and approach, ensuring transparency for funders, partners, and stakeholders.
Safeguarding is embedded in our organisational culture and delivery practices. We work proactively to prevent harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and radicalisation, and to respond swiftly and effectively when concerns arise
Aims
Rinova Ltd is committed to safeguarding learners by fostering a culture of safety, accountability and vigilance across all programmes. We achieve this through:
- Protecting Learners from Abuse
- Creating a Safe Learning Environment
- Clarifying Staff Responsibilities
- Promoting Accountability
- Establishing Procedures for Addressing Concerns
- Ensuring Subcontractors/Partner Providers’ Compliance
This policy covers the legislative requirements and recommendations pertaining to the protection of young people and adults at risk in the UK, in accordance with statutory guidance on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of learners in education.
Safeguarding Process: Recognise, Respond, Report, Record, Refer
- Recognise: Staff are trained to identify signs of abuse through disclosure or observation and know how to report concerns.
- Respond: Staff must respond with sensitivity and professionalism, ensuring the concern is handled in line with Rinova’s safeguarding protocols.
- Report: Concerns should be raised with a line manager, DSL, or DSO. If unavailable, escalate to senior management and complete the safeguarding record form.
- Record: Allegations must be documented accurately, stored securely, and shared only on a need-to-know basis.
- Refer: The DSL or DSO assesses the concern and decides on referral. In emergencies, any staff member may refer but must notify the DSL. Only safeguarding leads conduct formal inquiries.
Reporting Safeguarding Issues for Subcontractors
Rinova Ltd requires all subcontractors to follow safeguarding procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of learners.
Full reporting guidance, including documentation requirements, is available upon request or via our safeguarding team.
Safeguarding Team Roles and Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the Delivery Team
All staff working with learners must prioritise their welfare, report concerns promptly to the DSL/DSO, follow safeguarding procedures, uphold confidentiality and data protection, and complete safeguarding training.
Role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) oversees Rinova’s safeguarding strategy, policy updates, staff training and case management. They maintain qualifications, ensure DSO coverage, support staff, manage secure records, and promote ongoing safeguarding awareness across the organisation.
Responsibilities of Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs)
Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) support the DSL by maintaining safeguarding qualifications, advising staff, managing the safeguarding register, overseeing safe recruitment and DBS checks, contributing to training, and ensuring access to safeguarding resources.
Rinova Ltd follows safe recruitment practices to ensure staff suitability, especially when working with vulnerable learners. The company reserves the right to decline employment to individuals if there is a reasonable belief they may pose a risk to learners.
All new hires undergo right-to-work checks and, where applicable, DBS clearance. Staff without confirmed DBS checks are supervised until cleared. All staff complete safeguarding training during probation and receive regular updates. Rinova reserves the right to reassign or dismiss individuals if safeguarding risks are identified.
Managing allegations against staff
Rinova is fully committed to addressing allegations against staff with urgency and professionalism. All instances of suspected harm or misconduct must be thoroughly investigated to ensure the safety of learners.
it is crucial that any concerns are promptly reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO).
If the DSL or DSO is unavailable, concerns should be escalated directly to a member of the Senior Management Team.
Reporting Allegations
All staff have an obligation to immediately report any safeguarding concerns about a colleague, including the DSL or DSO. Rinova is committed to fostering an environment where staff take their safeguarding responsibilities seriously, ensuring learners feel safe and supported.
Staff may also report concerns confidentially under the Whistleblowing Policy, which protects individuals from victimisation or detriment.
Low Level Concerns
In addition to formal allegations, Rinova encourages the reporting of any low level concerns about the behaviour of staff, contractors, or volunteers, even if these do not meet the threshold for a formal safeguarding allegation.
A low-level concern is any behaviour that may raise doubts about a person’s suitability to work with learners, even if not formally reportable.
All low-level concerns must be reported to the DSL or DSO, recorded securely, and reviewed regularly to ensure patterns or emerging risks are identified.
Safeguarding concerns may include signs or symptoms related to:
- Physical Abuse
- Domestic Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Emotional/Psychological Abuse
- Neglect
- Addictions
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM
- Financial Abuse
- Forced Marriage
- County Lines
- Modern-Day Slavery
- Sexual Harassment
Peer-on-Peer Abuse and Harmful Sexual Behaviour
Sexual harassment and harmful sexual behaviour among learners, including sexual violence and online abuse, are serious concerns that Rinova is committed to addressing through a comprehensive approach. Rinova fosters a culture where sexual harassment is never tolerated, incorporating regular monitoring to tackle these issues.
Understanding and Addressing Sexual Harassment
Rinova recognises that peer-on-peer abuse is a reality and will not dismiss it as “banter” or a natural part of growing up. Sexual harassment involves unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal or physical. While most behaviours may fall under the Code of Conduct policy, severe cases can raise safeguarding concerns.
Harmful sexual behaviours may include domestic abuse within adolescent relationships, child sexual exploitation, developmentally inappropriate sexual conduct, and criminal offences such as upskirting.
Rinova addresses these behaviours decisively to maintain a safe and respectful environment for all learners.
As part of its Prevent Duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, Rinova is committed to safeguarding staff, delivery teams and learners from radicalisation and extremism.
Prevent training, which includes materials from the Home Office and ETF, is provided to learners to raise awareness and understanding of these risks.
Vulnerability to radicalisation may arise from identity issues, personal circumstances, unmet aspirations, criminal experiences, or special educational needs.
More serious warning signs may include contact with extremist recruiters, accessing extremist content, or significant changes in appearance or behaviour. Rinova’s full approach is outlined in the Prevent Policy.
Rinova promotes safe digital practices across all devices, helping staff and learners protect personal data, avoid harmful interactions, and safeguard mental well-being. We also address emerging risks such as AI misuse, deepfakes, and online fraud through regular training and updates.
To maintain a safe online environment for learners, Rinova Ltd emphasises staying informed about current risks and trends.
Partner Providers are required to review their online materials regularly.
By fostering awareness and proactive engagement, Rinova Ltd ensures learners and staff are equipped to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
Reporting an incident Bottom of Form
If you suspect or are aware that a learner from Rinova Ltd is at risk, it is essential to report the matter to the safeguarding team.
Safeguarding concerns must be documented using Rinova’s standard reporting form, which can be obtained by contacting the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
Rinova Designated Safeguarding Leads
Monica Aroma / Mamta Dave
Email: m.aroma@rinova.co.uk / m.dave@rinova.co.uk
Phone: 020 3874 4410
Rinova Designated Safeguarding Officer
Paige Haami
Email: p.haami@rinova.co.uk
Phone: 020 3874 4410
Confidentiality & Information Sharing
Rinova recognises the sensitive nature of safeguarding matters but prioritises the safety and well-being of learners above all else.
Confidentiality will be maintained, with the level of disclosure determined by the necessity to protect the learner.
Information will be shared lawfully and proportionately, in line with the Information Sharing: Advice for Practitioners (DfE, 2024).
The Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) will share information regarding a learner or concern on a need-to-know basis. All staff have a duty to immediately report any information that, if withheld, could endanger a learner’s safety or welfare. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or DSO will provide full support to staff in fulfilling this critical responsibility.
This policy applies to all organisations within the Rinova Group. For the avoidance of doubt, where ‘Rinova Ltd’ is referenced this shall be understood to also apply to Rinova Community CIC and Rinova Malaga S.L.
Date Created: 01/12/2015
Last Review: 01/09/2025
Next Review: 01/09/2026
This policy has been reviewed and approved by the Board of Rinova Ltd. Richard Parkes, Chair and Director.