Skip to content
Horizonsshort breaks
Refer

Our commitment

Safeguarding at Horizons.

Every young person who comes to Horizons has the right to be safe, respected, and listened to. Safeguarding is not a policy we keep on a shelf — it shapes how we recruit, train, plan, and run every session.

Our standards

  • All staff and regular volunteers hold an enhanced DBS check before they work with young people.
  • We follow safer-recruitment practice: identity, qualifications, and at least two references are verified before any offer.
  • Every staff member completes safeguarding induction at Level 2, with our Designated Safeguarding Lead trained to Level 3.
  • Staff are trained in SEND and trauma-aware practice, with annual refresher training.
  • We work in line with the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) and Keeping Children Safe in Education.

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) oversees all safeguarding concerns and is the single point of escalation for staff, families, and partner agencies. The DSL is named in our safeguarding policy, which is shared with referrers and families on request.

Raising a concern

If you are worried about a young person attending Horizons, contact us straight away.

If a young person is at immediate risk of harm: call 999 or contact your local Children’s Services / Adult Social Care out-of-hours team.

Complaints

We take every complaint seriously and respond within five working days. See our terms for the full complaints procedure.