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

Date of Policy: 10 September 2025

Policy Review Date: 22 June 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 1989/2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children, and Keeping Children Safe in Education (for school-based contexts).

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.

3. Recognising signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation

I recognise that abuse, neglect, and exploitation can take many forms. Key categories include:

• Physical abuse: intentional physical harm (e.g., hitting, shaking, burning/scalding).
• Emotional abuse: persistent emotional mistreatment causing severe and adverse effects (e.g., humiliation, threats, rejection, coercive control).
• Sexual abuse: forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities (including online sexual abuse).
• Neglect: persistent failure to meet basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment.

I remain alert to additional safeguarding risks including online safety, domestic abuse, radicalisation, criminal exploitation, and peer-on-peer abuse (where relevant to the setting).