Practitioner Name: Naomi Withers, Founder and Director of The HRologist Ltd (Registered Company UK: 15461549)

Date of Policy: 16 August 2026

Policy Review Date: 31 July 2027

1. Introduction and purpose

This policy outlines my commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. My primary duty of care is to the clients I work with, and this extends to any children and other vulnerable individuals who may be affected by my work.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure clear, consistent procedures for recognising, responding to, recording, and escalating safeguarding concerns that may arise during delivery.

This policy is guided by UK legislation and statutory guidance, including (as applicable): the Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) for school and college contexts, the Education Act 2002 safeguarding duties that apply to education settings, the Prevent duty, the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, and relevant local safeguarding partnership procedures.

For school/MAT work, this policy is intended to support—not replace—the setting’s statutory safeguarding arrangements. The school/MAT remains responsible for its own safeguarding policy, DSL arrangements, safer recruitment, staff training, referrals, records and statutory compliance. The HRologist Ltd follows the setting’s safeguarding route and escalates concerns without delay.

2. Roles, responsibilities, and scope (single-practitioner model)

Because The HRologist Ltd is delivered by a sole practitioner (and may also use associates/partners by agreement), I use the following model:

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL-equivalent): Naomi Withers (sole practitioner). I act as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns in my own delivery contexts and I hold responsibility for escalation and record-keeping.
• In schools/MATs / settings with their own statutory safeguarding structure: the setting’s DSL / safeguarding lead and procedures are the primary route. I will always follow the setting’s named route and any site-specific rules agreed before delivery.
• Delivery partners / associates: where I work with partners, each party remains responsible for their own safeguarding practice, training, and safer recruitment checks, and we agree the escalation interface and reporting route before delivery begins.

Before any school/MAT delivery starts, I confirm the setting’s named DSL or safeguarding lead, local escalation route, allegation/low-level-concern process, emergency contact route, and any required site-specific safeguarding, visitor, online-safety, data-sharing or recording requirements.

2a. School/MAT delivery safeguarding controls

Before any school/MAT work starts, I confirm and record:

• the setting’s named DSL or safeguarding lead and deputy contact route;
• how to report a safeguarding concern during delivery;
• how to report an allegation, low-level concern or concern about an adult working with children;