Safeguarding for Families

Your child’s safety is our priority. We recruit, vet and support Buddies to standards equivalent to school settings, and we stay involved throughout your placement.

How we vet Buddies

• Identity & right to work verified.
  
• Two+ references (including the most recent; child-work where applicable), all verified.
  
• Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List for every Buddy or Manny (the correct level for child-facing roles; Basic is not sufficient). We encourage the DBS Update Service and re-check regularly.
  
• Safeguarding induction & refreshers before and during placements.
  
• Code of Conduct signed (boundaries, communication, online safety, safer working practice).
  

Our agency standards

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Jill Chantry – office@mybigbuddy.com.
  
• Core staff hold current Safeguarding training, Safer Recruitment training, and DBS checks, to a level equivalent to school settings.
  
• We follow UK guidance including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
  

What to expect in your placement

• Clear agreement on hours, duties, routines, travel, and any medical needs.
  
• Support to set house rules, photo/filming permissions, and communication boundaries.
  
• Ongoing check-ins from the agency and a transparent incident/feedback process.
  

If you have a concern

• If a child is at immediate risk, call 999.
  
• Otherwise, contact our DSL: office@mybigbuddy.com. We’ll log, advise and, where appropriate, liaise with the LADO or relevant services.
  

Data protection

We keep safeguarding records secure and confidential, with access limited to authorised staff, and we retain/dispose of records in line with data protection law.