Trust and safeguarding
How we keep students safe
Calm, practical detail rather than reassurance for its own sake. If something here is not clear enough, tell us and we will fix the page.
Safeguarding given the highest priority
Study Links has robust systems meeting its Quality Standards and gives safeguarding the highest priority.
The four things parents ask about most
Accreditation
AEGIS and BSA accredited and regularly inspected.
Host family vetting
DBS* checks for every household member over 16, interviews, home visits, references, training and regular review.
Safeguarding process
A designated safeguarding lead, trained staff, written records and a clear escalation route to schools and local partners.
Emergency response
A 24/7 line, staff around the country, emergency homestay and transport, and a defined first hour.
* The enhanced UK Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks criminal records to help confirm a person’s suitability to host children in their home.
In their words
Caring, professional and available
Sending my child to England was difficult for me. But with the caring and professional guardianship service offered by Study Links, I felt confident that my child would be ok. They followed academic progress, which was very important to me, and the team were always available by email or telephone.
More like “family-ship”
Without question, Study Links have given me the best care during my study period in the UK. I feel like I have joined a big family. It is not just guardianship, it is more like family-ship.
Who to call, when
Most confusion in a crisis comes from not knowing who owns the problem. Here is our answer.
- 1
Anything at school
Houseparent, tutor or the school office in the first instance. Tell us too, we will follow it up.
- 2
Travel, homestay or holidays
Study Links, during office hours: +44 (0)1274 679710 or office@studylinks.co.uk.
- 3
Urgent, out of hours
The 24/7 emergency number. It is for exactly this, so please use it.
- 4
A concern about a child’s welfare
Contact us immediately and say it is a safeguarding concern. It goes straight to our designated safeguarding lead.
Training and partners
Safeguarding training for all guardianship personnel, volunteers and host families is updated regularly. Level 3 training is provided by SACPA for our designated safeguarding lead and their deputy; Level 1 training is provided by the Safeguarding Children Board for guardianship personnel, volunteers and host families; and Prevent training is provided by the UK Government.
We maintain links with our local safeguarding partner, The Bradford Partnership, and follow the requirements of the Children Act 2004 and current safeguarding guidance.
Policies
Ask us anything about safeguarding
We would far rather answer a hard question now than have you wondering.