Safeguarding

Safeguarding And Child Protection 
If Parents and Carers have any safeguarding concerns, please contact one of the College’s Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) during term time between 8:30 and 4:00, by calling the main college office (01843 446906).  

Outside of these times, if you are concerned a young person is at risk, please contact Integrated Children's Services on 03000 41 11 11(office hours) or 03000 419191 (out of office hours). If a young person is in danger or a crime has been committed, you should call 999.

Outside of term times, for non emergencies DSLs can be contacted by email - addresses listed below:

Designated Safeguarding Lead 
Michelle Rassekh-Smith, Director michelle@libertygroupltd.co.uk
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads:   
Lauren Lawley, Head of College, lauren@libertygroupltd.co.uk 
Anna Harrison-Jones, Assistant Head of College, anna@libertygroupltd.co.uk 
Hannah Gates, Wellbeing Lead, Hannah@libertygroupltd.co.uk 
Ben Cockram, Cover Supervisor, Ben@libertygroupltd.co.uk 
Richelle Clifford, Cover Supervisor, Richelle@libertygroupltd.co.uk 

What is Safeguarding? 
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of young people and protect them from harm. Safeguarding is about our legal duty and moral obligation to ensure that the health, welfare human rights of all learners is promoted. 

We take pride in ensuring Liberty College is a safe, and supportive atmosphere for our learners to thrive. Liberty College is committed to ensuring that learners have access to a range of support via our Wellbeing Team. 

We also work alongside a wide range of external organisations who we regularly refer to for support. 

Safeguarding means: 

Safeguarding refers to the process of protecting children and adults to provide safe and effective care. This includes all procedures designed to prevent harm. 

The Children Act 2004 reinforces that all people and organisations working with children and young people have a responsibility to help safeguard and promote welfare across the UK. 

In relation to Children, young people, and vulnerable adults, safeguarding means:

• Protection from harm 
• Preventing impairment of young people’s health or development 
• Making sure that the environment is safe and provides effective care 
• Taking action to make sure that the best outcomes can be achieved 

Safeguarding is not just about protecting young people and vulnerable adults from deliberate harm, neglect and failure to act. It relates to broader aspects of care and education including: 

• Learners’ health and safety and wellbeing including their mental health 
• Meeting the needs of learners who have special educational needs and/or disabilities 
• The use of reasonable force 
• Meeting the needs of learners with medical conditions 
• Providing first aid 
• Educational visits 
• Intimate care and emotional wellbeing 
• Online safety and associated issues
• Appropriate arrangements to ensure learners’ security, taking into account the local context 

Mandatory Reporting of FGM - Procedural information  
From 31 October 2015 it is mandatory for tutors, health and social workers to report to the police if they find, or are told, someone under 18 has undergone FGM. Please click here to obtain more information on the correct procedure to follow.  

Keeping Children Safe in Education - September 2025 
Please click here to access the statutory guidance from the Department for Education. The guidance above affirms (page 6) that 'all staff members should be aware of systems within their school or college which support safeguarding and these should be explained to them as part of staff induction.  

It is imperative that all staff (including volunteers) read this guidance (Have to read at least Part 1) and provide consent that they have done so (a register exists to determine this) Schools and Colleges must have regard to the guidance when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. This document contains information on what educational settings should do and sets out the legal duties with which they must comply.  

The Prevent Duty  
As part of Liberty College's ongoing safeguarding and child protection duties we are fully behind the government's Prevent Strategy. 

From 1 July 2015 all schools and Colleges are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent Duty for Schools. 

Liberty College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our learners and families. We build learner’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British Values and enabling our learners to challenge extremist views.  Click here to access Educate Against Hate website. 

Please click here to access departmental advice for schools on the Prevent Duty (DFE). Alternatively you can also refer to Keeping Children Safe in Education above for further information as well as our Child Protection Policy. 

Referrals to Children's Social Care (Front Door Service) 
Central Duty Team - 03000 41 11 11 
Out of Hours -  03000 41 91 91 
social.services@kent.gov.uk 

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) 
If you have concerns about a member of staff and need to contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) you can do so using the following contact number 03000 41 08 88.  The LADO may also be contacted by using the following email address kentchildrenslado@kent.gov.uk.

To view our Safeguarding and Anti-Bullying Policies, please click the links below.

Safeguarding policy 

Anti-Bullying Policy

IN AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE DIAL 999

For urgent support 

The QEQM (Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother) Hospital hosts the Thanet Safe Haven, providing essential mental health crisis support, and the Thanet Mental Health Unit, which offers various mental health services.

Thanet Safe Haven

• Location: The Thanet Safe Haven is moving to the grounds of QEQM Hospital, providing a supportive environment for individuals experiencing mental health crises.
• Operating Hours: It operates daily from 6 PM to 11 PM, offering a walk-in service without the need for a referral. This service is designed to help those in emotional distress and provide immediate support 

Thanet Mental Health Unit

• Contact Information: The Thanet Mental Health Unit is located at 164 Ramsgate Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 4BF. For inquiries, you can reach them at (01843) 234400 
• Services: This unit is part of the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust and provides a range of mental health services, including assessments and treatment for various mental health conditions.

Additional Information

• Crisis Support: The Safe Havens are part of a broader initiative to provide urgent mental health care and support across Kent, aiming to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and improve access to mental health services 
• Virtual Support: In addition to in-person services, virtual support options are available, ensuring that individuals can receive help even when they cannot visit in person
  For more detailed information about the services and support available at the QEQM mental health unit, you may want to visit the official NHS website or contact the unit directly

For more detailed information about the services and support available at the QEQM mental health unit, you may want to visit the official NHS website or contact the unit directly

For wellbeing support, please click here for our wellbeing page.

For mental health support 

TEXT SHOUT to 85258  

Shout: The UK's free, confidential, 24/7 mental health text service | Shout 85258

Samaritans 116 123 (24 hours a day /365 days a year)