Safeguarding for College/Higher Education Staff

Contributed by Abi Shrapnell

All resources in the "Safeguarding Resources" section of our resource bank have been submitted by delegates on our Level 2 Safeguarding Online courses. For more information about this practical, self-paced course, please visit

http://www.pivotaleducation.com/level-2-safeguarding-online-for-schools/and

http://www.pivotaleducation.com/level-2-safeguarding-online-for-colleges/

Safeguarding

Safeguarding

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Child Protection looks at recognising abuse and neglect and acting upon it

Safeguarding looks at keeping children, young people and vulnerable adults safe from a much wider range of potential harm, and delivers preventative action, not just reaction following incident.

Safeguarding

Who are we Safeguarding?

Definitions

Child or young person - Up to their 18th birthday

Vulnerable Adult – a person who has attained the age of 18 and:

Is receiving any form of healthcare Is receiving a service or participating in an activity which is specifically

targeted at people with age-related needs, disabilities or prescribed physical or mental health conditions or expectant or nursing mothers living in residential care

Age related needs includes needs associated with frailty, illness, disability or mental capacity(Section 59 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Act)

Safeguarding

What are we safeguarding learners from

Sexual abuse or inappropriate relationships Grooming Physical and emotional abuse or neglect Domestic violence Inappropriate parenting Inappropriate supervision by staff/volunteers Bullying, cyber bullying Self harm, risky behaviour Unsafe activities and environments Accidents Crime Exploitation including financial abuse, exploitation, forced marriage Immigration issues Potentially unsafe environments Homelessness and unsuitable housing Victimisation due to race, sexuality, faith, gender, disability

Safeguarding

So where do you fit in ?

Each member of staff

Has a legal responsibility to safeguard all learners

Must have awareness of their organisation’s safeguarding policies, procedures and systems. If they are unaware of them they should ask senior staff and raise concern about how accessible the information is.

Must adhere to their organisation’s safeguarding policies, procedures and systems

Must be vigilant and report concerns as appropriate.

Must help create a listening culture and help to ensure that learners know that they can come to them and be listened to.

Safeguarding

Legislative Framework Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 Children Act 1989 Education Act 2002 Children Act 2004 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 Sexual Offences Act 2003 Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in

Education 2007 Human Rights Act 1998 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Safeguarding

What are the organisation’s responsibilities?

Putting in place effective safeguarding policies, procedures and systems

Communicating this safeguarding approach to staff

Appointing a Designated Person for safeguarding

Ensuring all staff know who to go to with a concern – the Designated Person

Having a clear procedure for what to do if the concern is about the Designated Person – go to their deputy or report it to the leader

Involving and informing learners

Communicating with partners and other organisations

Safeguarding

What policies and procedures does college need to have place in to safeguard learners?

Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy

Student Disciplinary Policy/Code of Conduct Substance Misuse Policy Health & Safety Policy Bullying and Harassment Policy

Safeguarding

Policies

Staff Code of Conduct Staff Disciplinary Policy Whistleblowing Policy Learner IT Usage Policy Staff IT Usage Policy Recruitment and Selection Policy Learners at Risk Policy Tutorial Policy

Safeguarding

Listen Always accept what has been said without judgement Don’t question or investigate yourself Never promise confidentiality Act Write down your concern or what you have been told If arising from a conversation, this report should be

verbatim and include relevant contextual information, such as time and date.

Sign the report and take it directly to the Designated Person or their Deputy