Designated Safeguarding Lead Arrangements

Effective date: 25 September 2026
Review date: September 2027

1. Designated Safeguarding Lead

Motion Film Academy has a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) responsible for coordinating safeguarding and child protection arrangements.

DSL: Mark Murphy

The DSL can be contacted through the contact details provided on the Motion Film Academy website.

2. Responsibilities of the DSL

The DSL is responsible for:

  • Acting as the main point of contact for safeguarding concerns.
  • Receiving and assessing safeguarding concerns reported by staff, tutors, volunteers, students or parents.
  • Deciding what action is appropriate and whether a concern should be referred to external safeguarding services or the police.
  • Making appropriate safeguarding referrals where necessary.
  • Maintaining confidential safeguarding records.
  • Ensuring safeguarding concerns are followed up appropriately.
  • Keeping safeguarding policies and procedures under review.
  • Ensuring adults working with students understand their safeguarding responsibilities.
  • Ensuring appropriate safeguarding training and checks are maintained.
  • Working with parents or carers where appropriate and where doing so does not place the child at greater risk.

3. Reporting a concern

Anyone who has a safeguarding concern about a student should report it to the DSL as soon as possible.

A concern should be reported even where the person reporting it is unsure whether abuse or neglect has occurred. It is the DSL’s responsibility to assess the concern and determine the appropriate response.

4. Urgent concerns

If a child is in immediate danger, the emergency services should be contacted immediately by calling 999.

The DSL should then be informed as soon as practicable.

5. Absence of the DSL

If the DSL is unavailable, safeguarding concerns should not be delayed. The person with the concern should contact the appropriate local authority children’s safeguarding service or the police where necessary.

6. Confidentiality

Safeguarding information will be treated confidentially and shared only with those who need the information to protect the child or respond appropriately to the concern.

The DSL will maintain safeguarding records securely and separately from routine student records.

7. Review

These arrangements will be reviewed annually and whenever there is a significant change to the academy’s safeguarding arrangements or relevant guidance.

Next review: September 2027