Skip to main content

13. Safeguarding

Page last updated

Safeguarding 

  1. The Council is committed to ensuring that young people on transport travel safely to school and college and arrive ready to learn. The following safeguarding systems are in place to protect your safety and promote well-being: 

  • There are regular authorised crews on all routes; 

  • Crew members have valid DBS certificates and appropriate licences; 

  • Crew members have completed safeguarding training and know how to report any concerns they have about young people in their care; 

  • Crew members are provided with certified first-aid training; 

  • Special seating is provided for young people below 135 cm in height; 

  • Non-ambulant buggy or wheelchair users undergo a wheelchair risk assessment to verify that their buggy or wheelchair has been crash-tested for use on transport and to ensure that the correct safety equipment is used to secure the buggy or wheelchair in place; 

  • All incidents on board transport are logged and investigated; 

  • Safeguarding concerns or allegations about a transport crew member are referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO);

  • Crew members are provided with a procedure in circumstances where parents or carers are not available at their home address at the end of the school/college day, or have requested an agreed alternative destination; 

  • Taxi routes are audited on a regular basis and checked for compliance against the service specification, including compliance with safeguarding procedures. 

Local Authority Designated Officer and Adult Safeguarding

  1. Statutory guidance and procedures state that every Council has a duty to manage allegations and concerns about any person who works with children and young people in their area. This includes Council staff, staff employed by partner agencies and volunteers. The Council complies with this duty by appointing a LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer). 

  2. The LADO is responsible for investigating and co-ordinating child protection allegations made against staff and volunteers who work with young people.

  3. Referrals to the LADO will usually be made by a designated senior manager, within one working day of being made aware of the allegation. For the Transport Team, the designated manager is the Transport Manager, though any team member may refer if necessary. 

  4. Concerns should be referred to the LADO by contacting 020 8770 4776 (or via the Out of Hours service on 020 8770 5000) or by email: lado@sutton.gov.uk

  5. Any concerns relating to an adult (over 18) can be referred to the Adult Social Care [External Link] via the referral form in the link or by calling 020 8770 6770  (Out of Hours service on 020 8770 5000).

View the next page here.

View the previous page here.