Safeguarding - UTC Warrington

UTC Warrington is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We strive to ensure that consistent and effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, students and staff at school.

UTCW has policies and procedures in place to deal effectively child protection and safeguarding issues, which include tackling radicalisation and extremism, together with recording and monitoring processes. These policies apply to all staff, governors and volunteers working at the school.

The key members of the safeguarding team are Paul Rigby (Designated Safeguarding Lead), Robert Skelland and Phil Hilton.

UTC Warrington continually seeks to strengthen communications with parents, carers and pupils so concerns relating to any part of school life can be raised at any time. All staff receive appropriate safeguarding training and any concerns are reported to the safeguarding team.

Attendance is monitored closely and concerns are shared as appropriate with parents/carers and other agencies to ensure the safeguarding of young people.

If you have any serious concerns about your child, another student or a member of staff at UTC Warrington please do not hesitate to contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who will be able to provide you with the best advice and help using the appropriate degree of confidentiality.

Out of Hours/ Non Term-Time Safeguarding:

If you have any safeguarding concerns or would like to speak to a member of our Safeguarding team outside of the UTC’s term dates, please contact Phil Hilton (Designated Safeguarding, Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead.)

The following services are available to offer support and guidance if the UTC is closed and the team is unavailable:

WARRINGTON CHILDREN’S SAFEGUARDING AND SOCIAL WORK TEAM – 01925 443322 (Office Hours – press option one followed by option one, Out of Hours – press option 2)
CAMHS – 01925 575904 (Children’s Mental Health)
Mental Health Crisis Line – 0800 051 1508
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need support, or are concerned that a friend or family member is in a mental health crisis this is a free to call, local, 24/7 mental health crisis line for people of all ages.
YOUNG MINDS – 0808 8025544 (Parent Helpline)
Providing expert knowledge or mental health support for parents, carers and young people.
TALKING MATTERS WARRINGTON – 01925 401720
If you are aged 16 or over and experiencing a mental health difficulty, Talking Matters Warrington may be of benefit to you.
PAPYRUS – 0800 068 4141
Prevention of young suicide, offering a 24/7 ‘HopeLine.’
CHILDLINE – 0800 1111
Warrington Services – Happy? Ok? Sad?
Warrington Services – Support Directory

Policies, Guidance and Training

To promote a safe environment for students, UTC Warrington employs a strict selection and recruitment policy which includes all statutory checks on staff and regular volunteers including Enhanced DBS (disclosure and barring service) checks.

All staff are trained to a level appropriate to their safeguarding responsibilities and regular training is attended by relevant staff and governors.

Staff are required to report any causes of concern to the school safeguarding team. Referrals are logged and monitored to make sure that they are followed up appropriately.

Below is our Child Protection Policy and relevant training and guidance materials.

Online Safety
In our increasingly online world, it can be difficult to know the best way to keep your child safe online. The following guides contain useful tips on risks to look out for, guidance for how to navigate online safety risks and how to discuss these with your child:

Staying safe with AI
AI definitely has a future role in learning and studying, but lots of parents and teachers are in the dark about what it is, and the benefits and risks.Find out more here:Tech and Kids: Using artificial intelligence safelyCreated with experts across different fields in tech, this guide explains what AI actually is, the benefits and risks, and what adults can do to help children use generative AI safely and appropriately.Parents’ guide to using AI toolsThis interactive and printable guide discusses different popular generative AI tools that children might come across. It outlines age requirements, safety features, and how to use AI tools for learning, family time and fun.My Family’s Digital ToolkitThis tool has been created specifically for parents to find the right information to stay on top of children’s internet safety and help build healthy digital habits at home.