Policy and procedures for Oak Path Education Ltd
Policy owner: Director, Oak Path Education Ltd
Approval date: 5 November 2026
Next review date: 5 November 2027
Safeguarding contact: oakpathteam@gmail.com
1. Commitment and Scope
Oak Path Education Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people under 18. Their safety and welfare take priority in our decisions. We respond to concerns promptly, proportionately and without discrimination.
This policy applies to the director and anyone delivering services on Oak Path’s behalf, including employees, contractors and associates. It covers parent consultations and direct work with children online, in schools and in family homes. Oak Path does not currently provide services specifically for adults at risk.
2. Safeguarding Responsibility
The Director acts as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and receives concerns, arranges referrals, oversees safe working and maintains safeguarding records. Contact: oakpathteam@gmail.com.
If the Director is unavailable, or a concern involves the Director, the person raising it must contact the relevant local authority children’s social care service directly. Allegations concerning a person who works with children should also be referred to the relevant Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for advice. No one should delay urgent action while awaiting an internal response.
3. Recognising and Reporting Concerns
Concerns may arise from a child’s disclosure, observed behaviour or injuries, information from another person, online activity or inappropriate conduct by an adult. They may involve abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying, domestic abuse, self-harm or other risks to welfare. Children with SEND may need accessible communication and additional support to disclose concerns.
Anyone receiving a concern must:
Listen calmly and take the child seriously; do not ask leading questions or investigate.
Do not promise secrecy; explain that information may need to be shared to keep the child safe.
Make a factual, dated record of the child’s own words, observations and action taken as soon as possible.
Report the concern promptly to the DSL or directly to statutory services where necessary.
4. Referrals and Immediate Danger
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. Where there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm, refer promptly to the children’s social care service for the relevant local authority; contact the police where appropriate. A referral does not require proof of abuse.
The DSL will record decisions, advice received, referrals and follow-up. The relevant local authority depends on the circumstances and location of the child; contact details must be checked at the time. Oak Path is not an emergency or crisis service.
5. Safe Delivery and Professional Boundaries
Before direct work, Oak Path will establish suitable parental consent, emergency contacts, the child’s needs and relevant risks, and appropriate supervision and communication arrangements. One-to-one work without a parent present may take place where suitable for the child’s age, needs, setting and assessed risks.
Practitioners must use agreed professional communication channels, maintain appropriate boundaries, avoid unauthorised private contact and not record sessions without a legitimate purpose and appropriate notice and authorisation. School-based work must comply with the school’s safeguarding and visitor procedures; home and online sessions require proportionate safety arrangements.
6. Associates and Independent Referrals
Where an associate delivers services for Oak Path, the Director will carry out role-appropriate checks of identity, qualifications, professional registration, references, safeguarding training and DBS eligibility/status, and clarify safeguarding duties in writing before work begins.
Where Oak Path only introduces a family to an independent specialist, the specialist is responsible for their own service and safeguarding arrangements. Oak Path will make the nature of the arrangement clear to families.
7. Allegations About Practitioners
Concerns that a practitioner, associate or the Director may have harmed a child, may pose a risk of harm or may be unsuitable to work with children must be escalated without delay. The DSL will seek appropriate LADO advice where the allegation meets the applicable threshold. If the allegation concerns the DSL, contact the relevant LADO or children’s social care directly.
Oak Path will not undertake an investigation that could compromise a statutory or police process. Appropriate immediate protective measures will be considered without prejudging the allegation.
8. Records, Confidentiality and Information Sharing
Safeguarding records must be factual, dated, access-restricted and kept separately from, or securely segregated within, routine client files. Oak Path plans to use Google Workspace/Drive for confidential records, subject to verification and implementation of appropriate access, security and retention controls.
Information is shared only where necessary, proportionate and lawful. Consent will be considered where appropriate, but safeguarding information may be shared without consent when a lawful basis applies and sharing is necessary to protect a child. Safeguarding information will not be used for marketing or testimonials. See the Oak Path Privacy Notice.
9. Training, Monitoring and Review
The Director will maintain appropriate safeguarding knowledge and ensure that anyone delivering work for Oak Path understands this policy and the reporting route. Risk assessments, safer-working arrangements and associate checks must be implemented before relevant direct services commence.
This policy will be reviewed annually, and sooner after a serious incident, material change to services or relevant legal or guidance changes.
10. Contact and Emergency Routes
Oak Path safeguarding contact: Director oakpathteam@gmail.com
Immediate danger: 999. Non-emergency police: 101. Child protection referrals: relevant local authority children’s social care service. Allegations about adults working with children: relevant Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
OAK PATH EDUCATION LTD | Company No. 17208884 | 71–75 Shelton Street, London, WC2H 9JQ
Approval: This policy takes effect when formally approved by the Director. The stated approval date must be amended if approval occurs later.
OAK PATH EDUCATION LTD • Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy