Decrypthut Limited
Effective: September 2026
Review date: September 2027
Decrypthut is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person who participates in our programmes.
The welfare and safety of the child are paramount.
No member of staff, facilitator, contractor, volunteer or other person acting on behalf of Decrypthut may inflict physical, sexual, emotional or psychological harm on a child.
Every person working on behalf of Decrypthut shares responsibility for creating safe learning environments, recognising concerns and reporting them appropriately.
This policy applies to:
It applies to Decrypthut activities delivered:
For this policy, a child is anyone under 18.
Decrypthut’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (“DSL”) is:
Michaela Carew
Founder & CEO, Decrypthut Limited
info@decrypthut.com
The DSL is responsible for overseeing safeguarding practice, receiving concerns, maintaining appropriate records, supporting staff and determining when concerns need to be referred to another organisation or statutory authority.
Where Decrypthut is delivering within a school, council facility or partner setting, the host organisation’s safeguarding procedures and DSL arrangements must also be identified before delivery.
If there is an immediate risk of serious harm, staff must contact 999 rather than waiting for the DSL.
Decrypthut will:
People working with children on behalf of Decrypthut must be suitable for their role.
Depending on the role and its eligibility under applicable law, Decrypthut’s checks may include:
A DBS check will only be requested at the level legally available and appropriate for the role.
No person should undertake regulated activity with children unless applicable safeguarding and suitability requirements have been completed.
Adults working with children must:
Staff must not promise a child complete confidentiality where safeguarding information is disclosed.
Concerns may relate to:
Staff are not responsible for investigating suspected abuse.
Their responsibility is to recognise, respond, record and report.
If a child discloses something that may indicate harm:
Records should distinguish clearly between what the child said, what was observed and any professional judgement.
Concerns must be reported promptly to the Decrypthut DSL.
Where delivery takes place within a school or other partner setting, the host organisation’s DSL or safeguarding lead must also be informed where its procedures require this.
Depending on the concern, information may need to be referred to:
If a child appears to be in immediate danger, call 999.
A concern must not be ignored simply because the person reporting it does not have complete evidence.
Any allegation that a person working for or with Decrypthut has:
must be reported immediately to the DSL.
Where the concern relates to the DSL, it should be reported to another Decrypthut director or, where appropriate, directly to the relevant local authority safeguarding service.
Decrypthut will not conduct an internal investigation in a way that compromises a police, local-authority or other statutory investigation.
Appropriate referral obligations will be followed.
Abuse between children will not be dismissed as “banter”, normal behaviour or part of growing up.
Concerns involving bullying, sexual harassment, sexual violence, discriminatory behaviour, coercion, online abuse or other harmful behaviour between children will be taken seriously and addressed through safeguarding procedures.
Both the child who may have experienced harm and other children involved should receive appropriate consideration and support.
Because Decrypthut teaches technology, online safety forms a core part of our safeguarding approach.
Relevant risks include:
Adults should use approved platforms and professional accounts when communicating with learners.
Personal social-media accounts must not be used to establish private relationships with children participating in Decrypthut programmes.
Online sessions must be delivered using appropriate safeguarding arrangements.
Where AI or other emerging technologies are used during learning, facilitators should consider:
Children should not be encouraged to enter sensitive personal information into public AI systems as part of a Decrypthut activity.
Decrypthut recognises that children with SEN, disabilities, neurodivergence or communication differences may experience additional barriers to:
Staff should take communication and support needs into account when responding to safeguarding concerns.
Behaviour or distress must not automatically be attributed to a diagnosis, disability or additional need.
Photography and filming involving children must be managed safely.
Where consent is required for promotional photography or video, appropriate permission must be obtained.
Children who do not have promotional photography permission should, where practicable, be positioned so that they are not identifiable in promotional material.
Staff, contractors and volunteers must not:
A child should not be pressured to participate in photography.
Parents, guardians or learners may request that an identifiable promotional image be removed by contacting:
Decrypthut will stop future use and take reasonable steps to remove the image from digital channels under its control where the relevant consent has been withdrawn.
One-to-one activity must be appropriately managed.
Where possible:
The safeguarding arrangements should reflect the child’s age, the nature of the programme and the environment in which it is delivered.
Where Decrypthut is responsible for supervision or collection arrangements, appropriate procedures must be established before delivery.
A child should only be released in accordance with the agreed collection arrangements applicable to the programme.
If a child cannot be located, staff must act immediately, alert the responsible programme lead and venue, and contact emergency services where necessary.
Parents, visitors, photographers or partner representatives attending Decrypthut activities must comply with venue and programme rules concerning images and safeguarding.
Permission to attend an event does not automatically give permission to photograph or publish images of children.
Safeguarding information is confidential but is not secret.
Information should be shared on a need-to-know basis where necessary to safeguard a child or comply with legal responsibilities.
The safety of a child takes priority over a desire to keep information confidential.
Safeguarding records should be:
Before delivery, Decrypthut will establish appropriate arrangements concerning:
When working in a school, Decrypthut personnel must comply with applicable school safeguarding arrangements.
People working with children must receive safeguarding information and training appropriate to their role.
Safeguarding forms part of relevant Decrypthut induction and programme preparation.
The DSL should maintain safeguarding knowledge appropriate to the responsibilities of the role.
Anyone working for Decrypthut who has concerns about unsafe practice, inappropriate behaviour or the way a safeguarding matter has been handled should raise the concern.
No person should suffer retaliation for raising a genuine safeguarding concern in good faith.
Where internal reporting is inappropriate or ineffective, concerns may be raised with an appropriate external safeguarding or statutory body.
This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where:
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Michaela Carew
Contact: info@decrypthut.com
Policy owner: Decrypthut Limited
Next scheduled review: September 2027
