Safeguarding Policy Statement

Already Doing It is an online platform that connects prospective students and early-stage learners with current university students and recent graduates ("Uni Insiders") to support informed decision-making about education and career pathways.

The platform is designed for post-16 students only, with enhanced safeguarding measures in place for users aged 16 to 17.

The purpose of this safeguarding policy is to:

• Protect children, young people, and adults who may be vulnerable while using the Already Doing It platform.
• Set out the principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and welfare.
• Provide clarity to Uni Insiders, users, and partner organisations on expected standards of behaviour and how concerns can be raised.

This policy applies to all individuals involved in or using the platform, including:

• Uni Insiders
• Customers and service users
• Platform staff, contractors, and representatives
• Any other individuals acting on behalf of Already Doing It

Already Doing It believes that:

• Everyone has the right to feel safe, respected, and supported.
• Abuse, harassment, exploitation, or inappropriate behaviour of any kind is unacceptable.
• Safeguarding is a shared responsibility and should be embedded into how the platform operates.

We are committed to promoting welfare, preventing harm, and responding appropriately and proportionately to safeguarding concerns.

Our framework is designed to align with the principles of the Department for Education's statutory guidance: Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

Already Doing It recognises that safeguarding considerations are particularly important in online, one-to-one environments and when working with young people.

Sessions are designed for post-16 students only, with enhanced safeguards in place for users aged 16 to 17.

We acknowledge that:

• Some users may be young people aged 16 or 17.
• Online conversations can increase safeguarding risks if clear boundaries and checks are not in place.
• Power imbalances may exist between Uni Insiders and users.
• There is a need for additional safeguards where users are under 18.

To address these risks, the platform operates clear age-related safeguards.

Already Doing It does not accept bookings for users under the age of 16.

At the point of booking, users are required to confirm their age as part of the booking process. Age eligibility is reinforced within booking communications and confirmation emails.

For users aged 16 or 17, additional safeguarding measures apply:

• Uni Insiders are trained to ensure that a parent or legal guardian is present at the beginning of the session.
• If a parent or guardian is not present at the start, the Uni Insider is instructed to terminate the session immediately.
• Users are informed of this requirement before booking and again in session confirmation communications.

These measures are designed to ensure transparency, appropriate oversight, and safeguarding assurance for younger users.

If, during a session, a Uni Insider believes that:

• A user may be under the age of 16, or
• A session is otherwise not appropriate to proceed on safeguarding grounds,

the Uni Insider is required to:

• Terminate the session immediately.
• Report the concern through the platform's safeguarding reporting process for review by the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Already Doing It seeks to maintain a safe environment through the following measures:

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): A named lead (Dan Muratore) oversees all safeguarding matters.
• Providing safeguarding guidance and clear expectations as part of Uni Insider onboarding.
• Setting and enforcing standards of conduct for Uni Insiders and users.
• Operating sessions within a managed online platform environment.
• Reserving the right to monitor or join sessions for quality assurance and safeguarding purposes, where appropriate and with consent.
• Responding promptly and proportionately to safeguarding concerns.
• Suspending or removing access to the platform where necessary.

To maintain a safe and professional environment:

• All mentoring sessions take place within the Already Doing It platform.
• Sessions are structured, time-limited, and purpose-led.
• Uni Insiders and students must not exchange personal contact details.
• Communication outside scheduled sessions is not permitted.
• Social media contact between Uni Insiders and students is prohibited.
• Sessions are focused on guidance and reflection, not counselling or therapy.
• Sessions are never recorded, by anyone, including Already Doing It.

Any breach of these boundaries may result in suspension or removal from the platform.

Uni Insiders are recruited based on suitability, experience, and alignment with our safeguarding expectations. As part of onboarding, every Uni Insider must agree to a code of conduct, complete a safeguarding course appropriate to their role, understand professional boundaries and reporting responsibilities, and engage with ongoing review and quality monitoring. Where required by a school or specific programme, additional safeguarding measures or checks may be applied.

We conduct a rigorous multi-stage vetting process for every Uni Insider:

• Identity Verification: Every applicant completes an identity check through a specialist third-party identity verification provider. The check confirms the authenticity of a government-issued photo document (a passport, or a UK or Irish driving licence), carries out a liveness check to confirm that a real person is present rather than a photograph or recording, and matches the applicant's face against the photograph on the document. Already Doing It receives only the outcome of that check together with the verified name, date of birth, document type and issuing country. We do not receive or store images of identity documents at any point.
• Minimum Age: Uni Insiders must be aged 18 or over. Age is confirmed from the verified date of birth returned by the identity check, and applicants under 18 cannot proceed.
• Right to Work: Eligibility to work in the UK is established from the verified identity document rather than from self-declaration. Where the verified document does not itself establish eligibility, applicants are required to provide a Home Office share code together with supporting evidence, or documentary evidence of British or Irish citizenship.
• Academic Verification: Current students verify their status using a one-time code sent to their university email address, which must end in .ac.uk. Recent graduates provide their degree certificate or academic transcript. Apprentices provide their apprenticeship training agreement or proof of active enrolment.
• Mandatory Training: Uni Insiders must complete and pass a safeguarding course covering professional boundaries, "red flags", and the "No-Contact" rule.
• Application Review: As part of their application, Uni Insiders provide a short introduction video, which a member of our team reviews against written criteria to confirm they can provide clear, objective, non-pressurised guidance. A human reviewer makes every decision; no automated or facial-analysis technology is used.

Already Doing It operates as a platform for non-regulated activity. Because sessions are strictly time-limited, conducted on a transparent platform, and, for users under 18, require the presence of a parent or guardian at the start, they do not meet the criteria for "Regulated Activity" under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. This allows us to recruit high-quality, near-peer Uni Insiders from universities across the UK who provide authentic, honest insights that traditional careers services cannot.

Already Doing It maintains a safeguarding structure appropriate to its size and delivery model.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is responsible for:

• Reviewing safeguarding concerns
• Managing escalation and decision-making
• Liaising with external agencies where required

Safeguarding concerns or queries can be raised at any time via our safeguarding reporting form (alreadydoingit.co.uk/report-a-safeguarding-concern) or by contacting safeguarding@alreadydoingit.co.uk.

Anyone using the platform can raise a safeguarding concern at any time.

Concerns should be reported via our dedicated safeguarding reporting form, which is reviewed promptly by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Dan Muratore) or an authorised safeguarding representative.

Concerns may include (but are not limited to):

• Inappropriate behaviour or communication
• Boundary violations
• Harassment, coercion, or exploitation
• Concerns about a user's welfare or safety
• Any behaviour that feels unsafe or concerning

Reports are handled sensitively, confidentially, and in line with data protection requirements.

If a concern relates to immediate risk or danger, emergency services should be contacted directly before submitting a report.

Where a safeguarding concern indicates a risk of serious harm, illegal activity, or immediate danger, Already Doing It may:

• Escalate the matter to relevant external agencies
• Share information with appropriate authorities where required by law
• Take immediate action to restrict or remove access to the platform

For independent advice or support, users may also contact:

Safeguarding information is:

• Recorded securely
• Accessed only by individuals with a legitimate need to know
• Managed in line with applicable data protection legislation

Where a concern is raised about a Uni Insider, it is recorded against that Uni Insider's record on the platform. While a concern remains open, the Uni Insider is not visible to students and cannot receive bookings, and their verification record is retained so that it remains available if the concern is escalated.

Already Doing It is designed as a home-based, parent-supported, short-term intervention.

• Flash-Mentoring Model: Sessions are designed as purposeful, one-off (or a maximum of two) honest, unfiltered consultations. This helps keep the relationship strictly professional and focused on specific educational outcomes.
• Zero Admin for Staff: Sessions are held outside of school hours, meaning no staff supervision is required.
• Parental Oversight: For students aged 16 to 17, our Uni Insiders are trained to ensure a parent or guardian is present at the session's start, providing appropriate oversight in the home environment alongside the school's own duties.
• Audit Trail: We maintain a log of all session times, durations, and participants, providing schools with the data needed for Gatsby Benchmarks 2, 3, and 7.

Schools and partner organisations are welcome to discuss our safeguarding framework directly with our Designated Safeguarding Lead. Please contact Dan Muratore at safeguarding@alreadydoingit.co.uk.

This safeguarding policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains appropriate, effective, and aligned with best practice and regulatory expectations.