If you have concerns for yourself, or someone you know, we want to help as best we can. We know it isn’t always easy to share this information, but it is important that you do.
If you are concerned that there is an immediate risk of harm to a person(s) contact emergency services on 999 if in the UK or 112 if outside the UK. After this, please submit a concern through our online referral form, or send all information via email to [email protected].
If you do not believe there is an immediate danger please submit a concern through our helpdesk, linked here. Or you can send your concerns for review via email to [email protected]. You can also book an appointment with an adviser on through the Student Handbook on OCA Learn, or call 01226 978618 to speak with a member of staff or leave a message.
All contacts are during standard OCA Business Hours which are Monday to Thursday 9am – 5pm and Friday 9am – 4pm, GMT.
If you are concerned about the risk to a child/young person/vulnerable adult outside business hours and expert advice is needed, or you wish to discuss this outside of OCA, you can contact the local Children’s Social Care or Adult Social Services. Alternatively you can contact:
• NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000 Mon- Fri 8am – 10pm or 9am – 6pm at the weekends
• Domestic Abuse Helpline Tel 0808 2000 247, 24 hours a day
If you do this, please also submit through our online referral form or email [email protected] with the information that you have reported.
Safeguarding Policy
The Safeguarding Policy outlines the steps taken by OCA to safeguard all members in the OCA community. We set out how we will create a safe environment for students to learn and develop in, how we will provide training and raise awareness of safeguarding issues, and how safeguarding concerns can be reported and handled.
Safeguarding PolicyChanges from the previous policy
This is a summary of changes made to the policy for the 2024/25 academic year:
- Transfer of policy to new policy template.
- Amendments to wording throughout for clarity and readability.
- Inclusion of paragraph 2.5 (exclusion of admissions for learners under age of 18).
- Inclusion in paragraph 5.5 that relevant tutors and staff undergo Enhanced Checking with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
- Change in paragraph 7.1 from Learners in Secure Environments Policy to Criminal Convictions Policy.
Archived Policies
Page last updated
This page was last updated on 14/08/2024. The changes made include:
- Adding the new Safeguarding Policy for the 2024/25 academic year.
- Adding the Changes since previous policy section.
- Adding the Archived Policies section.
- Adding the Page last updated section.