Safeguarding, support and welfare
Doha College fully recognises its responsibility to safeguard, promote and protect the safety of all students in its care. This means ensuring safeguarding and child protection are at the forefront and underpin all relevant aspects of process and policy development at Doha College.
At Doha College, the well-being and safety of every child are at the core of our systems, processes, and policies. We uphold a strong commitment to ‘Child-Centered Safeguarding,’ guided by the principle that safeguarding practices should always reflect the belief that "it could happen here." We expect all staff to embrace and actively contribute to this commitment.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is a shared responsibility. Every individual who interacts with children and their families has an essential role to play. To fulfill this responsibility effectively, all practitioners at Doha College adopt a child-centered approach, ensuring that every decision and action is guided by what is in the best interests of the child.
Uzma Zaffar, Executive Designated Safeguarding Lead
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children (everyone under the age of 18 or under the care of Doha College) is defined in Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2022 as:
Protecting children from maltreatment
Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
As part of Doha College's vision, we want to enable personal growth for each student and ensure that they have the opportunity to be happy and successful. To support this, the college promotes resilience and self-reflection through the ‘well-being wheel,’ and aims to provide the students with the toolkit to cope with the everyday challenges presented in life.
Our Safeguarding Pledge
Children will:
- Get the help they need when they need it;
- Be seen by professionals like teachers or doctors, who will ensure they are not in immediate danger and prevent further risk;
- Be listened to seriously, and professionals will use their power to help children;
- Be able to discuss issues in private, if and when children want to, whilst also ensuring children are aware that their concerns cannot be kept confidential if they are considered to be in danger.
Doha College staff will:
- Be involved with children and help them understand decisions made about their lives;
- Provide children with a named adult to help them;
- Share information to protect children;
- Minimise disruption to other parts of children’s lives;
- Work together effectively on children’s behalf;
- Be competent, confident, properly trained and supported;
- Work to continually improve how and what is done to help children.
We review our policies and procedures on an annual basis.
Safeguarding Leaflet for Volunteers and Visitors
Keeping Children Safe in Education (Part 1)
Keeping Children Safe in Education (Full document)
Working Together to Safeguard Children