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Safeguarding Children Policy

1. Introduction
1.1 Lymo Rides (“the Company”) is a private hire transport operator providing passenger transport services, including (where contracted) home-to-school transport.

1.2 The Company is based at:
Lymo Rides
Trading Office, 2 Station Road, Romford, Essex, RM3 0DA

1.3 Lymo Rides is managed by a management team (“the Team”). A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is appointed with specific responsibility for safeguarding children and young people.

1.4 This policy applies to all those working for or on behalf of Lymo Rides, including:

  • employees
  • directors and managers
  • drivers and passenger assistants
  • contractors
  • volunteers and students

All such persons are required to read, understand and comply with this policy.

2. Purpose of this Policy
2.1 This policy is intended to protect children and young people under the age of 18 who receive services from Lymo Rides, including children of adults who use our services.

2.2 Lymo Rides believes that no child or young person should experience abuse, harm or neglect. We are committed to:

  • promoting the welfare of children and young people;
  • taking reasonable steps to prevent abuse and harm; and
  • responding promptly and appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

2.3 This policy provides overarching principles and guidance for all staff and representatives of Lymo Rides in relation to child protection and safeguarding.

3.Risks to Children
3.1 While most children grow up safely, we recognise that there are circumstances where children may be at risk of:

  • sexual abuse;
  • grooming and exploitation;
  • physical and emotional abuse;
  • neglect;
  • domestic abuse;
  • bullying and cyber-bullying;
  • violence, aggression or victimisation in or around our vehicles;
  • self-harm;
  • unsafe environments or activities;
  • criminal activity or criminal exploitation.

3.2 All staff, drivers and passenger assistants must remain alert to signs of abuse or neglect and act in accordance with this policy.

4. Safer Recruitment, Disclosure & Barring
4.1 Where Lymo Rides provides services involving children (including home-to-school transport), all drivers and passenger assistants engaged on such work must:

  • undergo an enhanced DBS check (with children’s barred list check where required); and
  • renew this check at least every three years, or more frequently if required by the contracting Local Authority.

4.2 Staff are encouraged to subscribe to the DBS Update Service where appropriate to facilitate ongoing checks.

4.3 Any allegation or concern relating to the conduct of a member of staff, driver or representative of Lymo Rides towards a child must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):
Senior Training Manager on Duty, 2 Station Road, Romford, Essex, RM3 0DA. Office: 01708 344 10. Email: info@lymorides.com

4.4 The DSL, in consultation with the Team, will:

  • assess the immediate risk to any child;
  • make any necessary referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), children’s social care or the police; and
  • consider suspension, removal from duties, or other disciplinary action in accordance with Company procedures.

5. Health & Safety
5.1 Where Lymo Rides provides regular transport for children (e.g. school transport), a risk assessment will be carried out and recorded, covering:

  • pick-up and drop-off points;
  • vehicle safety;
  • behaviour and supervision;
  • any specific needs of individual children.

5.2 Reasonable steps will be taken to minimise identified risks. Parents, carers and (where appropriate) children will be informed of any significant risks and relevant safety measures.

5.3 Drivers and passenger assistants must be familiar with emergency procedures and must contact head office or the relevant Local Authority as soon as it is safe to do so in the event of an incident, accident or safeguarding concern.

6. Prevention of Bullying
6.1 Lymo Rides operates a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, harassment or victimisation of children by adults or by other children.

6.2 If an incident of child-on-child bullying or aggression occurs in a vehicle:

  • the children involved should be separated and supported as far as is safely possible;
  • the incident must be reported to head office and the contracting Local Authority without delay;
  • a record must be made of the incident.

6.3 Any allegation of bullying, harassment or abuse by a member of staff, driver or passenger assistant will be treated as a safeguarding concern and dealt with under section 4 above.

7. Photographs and Images
7.1 No photographs, videos or other images of children may be taken by Lymo Rides staff, drivers, contractors or volunteers in connection with Company transport services, under any circumstances.

7.2 If any person is seen or suspected to be taking photographs or filming children in connection with Lymo Rides services without appropriate authority, this must be reported to head office promptly and, where necessary, to the Local Authority or police.

8. Managing Behaviour, Discipline and Restraint
8.1 Corporal punishment or any form of degrading, humiliating or abusive treatment is strictly prohibited.

8.2 Drivers and passenger assistants should use calm, verbal de-escalation and clear boundaries to manage behaviour.

8.3 Physical restraint may only be used where it is reasonable, necessary and proportionate to:

  • prevent immediate injury to the child, another person or the driver; or
  • prevent serious damage to property.

Any restraint must be the minimum necessary and used only for as long as required to manage the immediate risk.

8.4 Any incident involving physical restraint of a child must:

  • be reported to head office as soon as possible;
  • be recorded in writing; and
  • be notified to the relevant Local Authority and/or contracting body, in line with their reporting procedures and guidance.

9. Legal and Policy Framework
This policy is informed by and should be interpreted in line with applicable UK law and statutory guidance, including (as amended):

  • Children Act 1989 and 2004
  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
  • Human Rights Act 1998
  • Sexual Offences Act 2003
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
  • Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
  • Children and Families Act 2014
  • Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
  • UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018