Safeguarding, Child Protection & Vulnerable Adults Policy

Safeguarding & Vulnerable Adults Policy

Northants 1 and Peak Radio
Last updated: September 2026
Review Date: September 2027
Policy Owner: Katie Haslam (Designated Safeguarding Lead)

1. Introduction

NN Media is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and vulnerable people it comes into contact with. We believe everyone has the right to be protected from harm, and that it is the responsibility of everyone in our organisation to create a safe environment where people can take part fully.

We work closely with local schools, colleges, young people and communities, including through our Academy Training Programme. Safeguarding is at the front of everything we do.

2. Who this policy applies to

This policy applies to:

• Northants 1, owned and operated by NN Local Media & Training CIC, trading as NN Media (company number 15618473), 17 Station Road, Kettering, NN15 7HH

• Peak Radio, our sister station, operated by Andrew Haslam, trading as Peak Radio

It applies to everyone who works with or represents either station, including staff, directors, presenters, journalists, volunteers, contractors and Academy leaders, whether they are on site, at an outside broadcast or event, or online.

3. Guidance this policy follows

This policy is informed by key legislation and government guidance, including:

• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)

• Working Together to Safeguard Children

• the Children Act 1989 and 2004

• the Care Act 2014, for adults at risk

4. Definitions

Safeguarding means protecting vulnerable people from abuse, neglect and harm. It includes taking action to prevent harm, identifying those at risk and responding appropriately to concerns.

Vulnerable people means anyone who may be at risk of harm or abuse because of their age, disability, mental health or other circumstances. This includes children, young people and adults at risk.

Child means anyone under the age of 18.

MASH means Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, the local service that receives and responds to safeguarding referrals about children.

Abuse means any action or inaction that harms or exploits a vulnerable person. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Physical abuse: hitting, slapping, pushing, shaking, burning, biting, hair-pulling or any other physical violence that causes injury or pain.

• Emotional abuse: verbal abuse, bullying, intimidation, humiliation, isolation, rejection or any other behaviour that causes emotional distress or undermines a person's self-esteem.

• Sexual abuse: any sexual activity a person does not or cannot consent to, including rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, indecent exposure, grooming, or creating or sharing indecent images.

• Neglect: failing to provide for a person's basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care or emotional support, or failing to protect them from harm or danger.

• Financial abuse: stealing, fraud, coercion, undue influence or any other misuse of a person's money, property or assets.

• Domestic abuse: any incident or pattern of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.

• Modern slavery: the illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and human trafficking.

• Discriminatory abuse: abuse based on a person's race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability, including verbal abuse, harassment, bullying or exclusion.

• Cyberbullying: using electronic communication to bully a person, usually by sending intimidating or threatening messages.

5. Roles and responsibilities

Our safeguarding leads

Contact details

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 01536 647150

Responsibilities

Designated Safeguarding Lead. Makes sure this policy is followed and that concerns are reported and dealt with properly. They are the main point of contact for safeguarding within the organisation and work with outside agencies when needed.

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. Supports the Designated Safeguarding Lead and takes on their responsibilities when they are unavailable.

Presenters, journalists, team leaders, managers and the executive team. Must identify and report any concerns about abuse or harm to a safeguarding lead. They must stay alert in their contact with vulnerable people and report concerns promptly.

Everyone working with or for either station. Must help create a safe environment and promote the welfare of vulnerable people. Everyone should know the signs of abuse and how to report a concern.

6. Training and supervision

Everyone who works with children or vulnerable adults will receive safeguarding training. This covers:

• recognising the signs of abuse and harm, including physical, emotional and behavioural signs

• understanding the different types of abuse and how they can show

• reporting concerns properly, using our internal procedures

• keeping information confidential and handling sensitive information securely

• always wearing an ID badge when representing Northants 1, Peak Radio or NN Media, both on and off site, so everyone can be clearly identified

Staff and volunteers will also receive regular supervision. This checks that safeguarding procedures are being followed and gives them a safe space to raise any concerns.

7. Responding to concerns

• If you're worried that a vulnerable person may be at risk of harm or abuse, report it to a safeguarding lead immediately.

• Record the concern using the safeguarding reporting form. Include what the concern is, who is involved, and anything you saw, heard or were told.

• If your concern is about one of our safeguarding leads, report it to the other safeguarding lead, or contact the local MASH or adult safeguarding team directly (see Section 13).

• If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

• If we believe a crime has been committed, we will report it to the police.

8. Lone working

• One-to-one work with a child will only take place when other adults are in the building. Where possible, it will take place in a room with a visibility panel or an open door.

• Where one-to-one working can't be avoided, for example during a live show or a studio recording, it must take place in view of the CCTV cameras. For details of how CCTV images are handled, see our Privacy Policy.

9. Behaviour around children

Everyone working with or for either station must follow our code of behaviour when working with children:

• No physical contact may be made with a child. If a child starts physical contact, end it politely as soon as possible.

• No member of staff or volunteer may take a child to use the toilet.

• No personal relationships with children. This includes visits to a staff member's or volunteer's home, exchanging gifts, lending or borrowing money, and any kind of exclusive, secretive or sexual relationship.

10. Public communications

We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our staff and volunteers in their dealings with the public. We will not tolerate abuse or harassment of our team, whether in person, online or through any other channel.

Monitoring and moderation. All public channels, including social media, email, WhatsApp and on-air platforms, are monitored regularly for abusive or inappropriate behaviour.

Reporting and action. Abuse or harassment will be taken seriously and reported to the appropriate authorities where necessary. To protect our staff and volunteers, we may block or ban people from our platforms or involve the police.

11. Recording and reporting

• All safeguarding concerns and incidents will be recorded accurately and promptly, using our safeguarding reporting system.

• Information will be shared with the appropriate authorities where the law requires it, or where it's needed to keep a vulnerable person safe.

• Safeguarding information will be kept confidential and handled in line with data protection law. It will only be shared on a need-to-know basis.

12. Monitoring and review

This policy is reviewed at least once a year, and sooner if legislation or guidance changes. We actively seek feedback from staff, volunteers and others, and use it to improve the policy and how it is put into practice.

13. Reporting a safeguarding concern

Staff and volunteers

• Use the "Report a Safeguarding Concern" link on the Staff Homepage, or

• Email [email protected]

Local safeguarding contacts

If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.

Northants 1 (Northamptonshire)

• Children: Northamptonshire MASH – 0300 126 7000, or out of hours 01604 626938

• Adults: North Northamptonshire Council Adult Social Care – 0300 126 3000

Peak Radio (Derbyshire)

• Children: Starting Point (Call Derbyshire) – 01629 533190, or out of hours 01629 532600

• Adults: Call Derbyshire – 01629 533190