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Northkeepers
Refer a young person
Refer a young person

Safeguarding

Safeguarding children and young people

Everyone who works with Northkeepers shares responsibility for keeping children and young people safe. This page sets out how we do that.

If a child is at immediate risk

Contact the police on 999, or the children's services duty team for the relevant local authority. Do not wait for a response from us. If you are unsure whether a situation is urgent, treat it as urgent.

Our commitment

Northkeepers is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people we work with. We recognise that the young people referred to us may be more vulnerable than most, and we plan for that rather than assume the best.

  • The welfare of the child is the paramount consideration in every decision we take.
  • All children have an equal right to protection, regardless of background, identity or circumstances.
  • Safeguarding is everybody's responsibility — not a single person's job title.
  • Concerns are acted on promptly. We would rather raise something unnecessarily than too late.
  • We work in partnership with the professionals and local safeguarding arrangements already around a young person.
  • Young people are told how to raise a concern, in language they understand.

Our practice is guided by Working Together to Safeguard Children, Keeping Children Safe in Education where we work in schools, and the requirements of the local safeguarding partnerships in the areas we operate.

Safer recruitment

Every Northkeeper is recruited through a safer recruitment process before any contact with a young person.

DBS checks
An Enhanced DBS check, including a children's barred list check where the role is eligible, is required before a Northkeeper begins working with a young person. Checks are renewed in line with our policy, and Northkeepers are required to notify us immediately of any change in circumstances.
Identity and right to work
Verified from original documents.
Employment history
A full history is required, with any gaps explored at interview.
References
A minimum of two references, including the most recent role working with children or young people where applicable, obtained and verified directly rather than accepted from the candidate.
Interview
Values-based and scenario-led, including direct questions on safeguarding, boundaries and judgement.
Training
Safeguarding training is completed before any contact with a young person, and refreshed on a regular cycle. Northkeepers also receive ongoing supervision and reflective practice.
Induction
Every Northkeeper is inducted into our safeguarding policy, code of conduct and reporting procedures, and confirms in writing that they have understood them.

Professional boundaries

Mentoring relies on a close, trusting relationship. That makes clear boundaries more important, not less. Our code of conduct sets explicit expectations for every Northkeeper.

  • Contact with young people takes place through approved channels only, never private personal accounts.
  • Sessions are planned, recorded and agreed in advance with the referring professional.
  • Northkeepers do not give personal contact details, gifts or money, and do not accept them.
  • Social media contact with a young person or their family is not permitted.
  • Transport, lone working and activities away from usual settings are risk assessed and agreed beforehand.
  • Any situation that could be misread is reported and recorded by the Northkeeper themselves.
  • Northkeepers do not keep secrets. Young people are told at the outset what has to be passed on, and why.

Reporting a concern

If you have a concern about a child's welfare, about the conduct of a Northkeeper, or about anything you have seen in the course of our work, tell us. You do not need to be certain.

  1. Act immediately if there is risk

    Where a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact the police on 999 or the local authority children's services duty team first.

  2. Contact our safeguarding lead

    Email [email protected] with the facts as you understand them. Please mark the subject line "Safeguarding concern".

  3. Record what you saw or were told

    Write it down as soon as possible, using the young person's own words where you can, and avoiding interpretation.

  4. We respond and refer on

    Our safeguarding lead reviews every concern, takes advice where needed, and refers to children's services, the LADO or the police in line with local safeguarding procedures.

  5. Allegations against a Northkeeper

    Any allegation about a person working for us is referred to the designated officer (LADO) for the relevant local authority, and the individual has no further contact with young people while it is considered.

Anyone raising a concern in good faith will be supported and will not be penalised, including where the concern turns out to be unfounded. Our whistleblowing arrangements are available on request.

Information sharing

We ask for the minimum information needed to make a safe decision and a good match, and we handle it in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

  • Information is only shared with those who need it to support or protect the young person.
  • Records are stored securely, with access limited to the people who require it.
  • Young people are told what information we hold and who it may be shared with.
  • Consent is sought wherever appropriate — but the absence of consent will never prevent us acting to protect a child.
  • Records are retained in line with our retention schedule and then securely destroyed.

Requests to access information we hold, or questions about how we use it, should be sent to [email protected].

Who to contact

Designated safeguarding lead
[email protected]
For all safeguarding concerns, including allegations about a Northkeeper.
General enquiries
[email protected]
Emergency
Police — 999
Non-emergency police — 101
NSPCC helpline
0808 800 5000 — for adults concerned about a child.
Childline
0800 1111 — free and confidential, for children and young people.

Policies on request

Our full safeguarding and child protection policy, code of conduct, whistleblowing procedure and insurance details are available to commissioning professionals on request. Email [email protected].

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reviewed annually