Compliance Policy

1. Introduction

At Reliant Education, compliance and safeguarding are at the heart of everything we do. We follow UK employment laws, safer recruitment guidelines, and child protection regulations to ensure that every candidate placed in a school meets the highest standards.

This policy outlines our commitment to compliance, the steps we take to verify candidates, and the responsibilities of both schools (clients) and educators (candidates) when working with us.

2. Our Commitment to Compliance

Reliant Education adheres to the following key principles:
✅ Safeguarding First – Protecting children and vulnerable individuals is our top priority.
✅ Legal Compliance – We follow UK employment laws, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), and DBS regulations.
✅ Rigorous Screening – Every candidate undergoes comprehensive background checks and safeguarding procedures.
✅ Transparency – Schools receive full compliance documentation for every candidate before placement.

3. Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment

We implement safer recruitment practices in line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidelines and the Department for Education’s (DfE) statutory requirements.

Our safer recruitment process includes:

Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Checks

Identity and Right-to-Work Verification

Professional Qualification Checks

Reference Checks (Covering at Least the Last 2 Years)

Safeguarding and Child Protection Training

We work closely with schools to ensure that every staff member meets safer recruitment standards before placement.

4. Enhanced DBS Checks

Reliant Education requires all candidates to hold an Enhanced DBS Certificate, which must be:
✅ Issued within the last 12 months, or
✅ Registered on the DBS Update Service

If a candidate does not have a valid Enhanced DBS, we can assist in applying for a new one.

5. Right-to-Work and Identity Checks

To comply with UK employment law, all candidates must provide proof of:
✅ Identity (Valid Passport or UK Driving Licence)
✅ Right-to-Work in the UK (Visa, BRP, or Settlement Status if applicable)
✅ Proof of Address (Utility Bill, Bank Statement, or Government Letter issued within the last 3 months)

Candidates must present original documents, which we verify in line with Home Office guidelines.

6. Reference Checks

All candidates must provide at least two professional references covering the last two years.

References must be from previous employers, schools, or training providers.

At least one reference must be from a school setting if the candidate has prior teaching experience.

We do not accept character references from family or friends.

7. Mandatory Safeguarding Training

All candidates working in schools must complete Safeguarding and Child Protection Training before placement.

Training covers recognising abuse, reporting concerns, and school safeguarding protocols.

Certificates must be renewed every 12 months.

We provide access to approved safeguarding training if required.

8. Client Responsibilities (Schools and Educational Institutions)

To maintain compliance, schools and educational institutions must:

Conduct their own internal safeguarding inductions for new staff.

Ensure all on-site safeguarding policies are followed by Reliant Education candidates.

Report any safeguarding concerns or compliance issues to Reliant Education immediately.

We work in partnership with schools to ensure full compliance with safer recruitment practices.

9. Candidate Responsibilities (Educators and Support Staff)

Candidates placed through Reliant Education must:

Provide accurate and truthful compliance documents.

Follow school safeguarding policies and report any concerns to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Maintain a professional and ethical approach in all teaching and support roles.

Failure to meet compliance requirements may result in removal from the Reliant Education candidate pool.

10. GDPR & Data Protection Compliance

Reliant Education follows strict UK GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) standards to protect personal data.

All compliance documents are stored securely and only shared with schools with the candidate’s consent.

We do not store personal data longer than necessary for recruitment and compliance purposes.

Candidates have the right to request access to, correct, or delete their personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

For more details, visit our Privacy Policy.

11. Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

If a safeguarding concern arises, immediate action must be taken:

Candidates: Report concerns to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and notify Reliant Education.

Schools: Inform Reliant Education immediately if a concern arises about a candidate.

Serious Concerns: We will escalate cases to the appropriate Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or Safeguarding Board.

Reliant Education maintains a zero-tolerance approach to safeguarding failures.

12. Compliance Monitoring and Audits

We conduct regular compliance audits to:
✅ Ensure ongoing adherence to safeguarding and employment laws.
✅ Maintain updated records of DBS checks, training certificates, and references.
✅ Improve our safer recruitment processes.

Our compliance team is available to support schools and candidates with ongoing guidance and training.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Compliance Policy to reflect changes in UK employment laws or safeguarding regulations. Any updates will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Revised” date.

14. Contact Us

For compliance enquiries, safeguarding concerns, or verification checks, contact us:

📍 Reliant Education
54b Broadway, Peterborough, United Kingdom, PE1 1SB

📧 Email: info@relianteducationltd.co.uk
📞 Phone: 01733 307057

If you need further safeguarding guidance, visit the NSPCC or the Local Safeguarding Board for your area.

Last Updated: 3rd February 2025

This Compliance Policy ensures full compliance with UK safeguarding and employment regulations, providing schools and educators with the highest level of trust and security.