1. INDUCTION WORKBOOK
SAFEGUARDING STUDENTS
2010
SQS
Welcome to the staff team at Bridgwater College. Your work here will contribute to what we
aim to be an outstanding experience for our students and customers. This awareness raising
staff development activity is designed to support you within your role.
NAME: ……………………………………………………………………
DATE: ……………………………………………………………………
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2. SAFEGUARDING STUDENTS: INDUCTION TRAINING (A GUIDE FOR STAFF)
Staff Guidelines 2010 - 2011
Safeguarding Students – a Guide for Staff
Bridgwater College is committed to safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults, and to
protecting staff from potential allegations of abuse.
An estimated 150 to 200 children die or are seriously injured in England and Wales every
year following incidents of abuse or neglect. Thousands more suffer long term emotional and
psychological problems because of ill treatment by their own parents or those looking after
them. It is estimated that ten percent of the population will have experienced some form of
abuse. This has implications for those who work with large numbers of young people.
We have a duty to support the physical and psychological wellbeing of young people and
vulnerable adults by safeguarding them from all forms of abuse.
The categories of abuse are: physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect. Increasingly
young people are at risk from emotional and sexual abuse via digital technology. The College
has both a Safeguarding Policy and an E-Safety Policy aiming to safeguard them from these
risks.
To help support students, Bridgwater College Staff will adhere to the principles and practices
of Safeguarding. By law, this includes all those under 18 and vulnerable adults; it also relates
to those over 18 who report abuse as a child.
As a member of staff you have a duty to:
Recognise Respond Record Report
any concerns you may have, or disclosures of abuse that are made to you.
Recognise - What are some of the symptoms of abuse?
Abuse can take many forms. You are not expected to be an expert in this field. However, you
will develop knowledge of the students you teach or have contact with and may ‘pick up’
changes in behaviour that may cause you concern.
The young person / vulnerable adult may:
• Have bruises and injuries that they have difficulty explaining
• May be scared, tearful and may display unusual behaviour
• May self harm or place themselves in risky situations
• Show a dramatic change in character
Respond - If a student discloses (tells you about abuse):
Take them seriously; it will have taken a lot of courage to disclose this. Reassure them that
they have done the right thing in telling you. Do not promise to keep what they tell you a
secret, but you can say that the information will only be shared as far as necessary to get
further help and to keep them safe. You can use the form Safeguarding Students 1 (SS1),
described below to help guide you through any conversations with students.
It is important to try not to lead the student, and to let them disclose in their own way. Thank
the student for telling you and follow the procedures in this leaflet. A student may tell you
about events that happened many years ago. It is important that you treat these disclosures
with equal care.
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3. Record
Make sure that you make a written record of what happened and how you dealt with it. A
form, Safeguarding Students 1 (SS1), is available on the College Extranet to help you do this.
Records should be made as soon as possible and every effort should be made to record
precisely what was said, along with the context. It is a good practice to have another member
of staff with you to act as a witness to the discussion.
Reporting issues
You should record and pass on your concerns to your Senior Tutor, or the Nominated Person
for safeguarding. Mark Nettle (Head of Student Services) is the Nominated Person for the
College appointed to liaise with the relevant agencies on Safeguarding issues.
The student’s needs are paramount, and where staff have a concern about a young person or
vulnerable adult they must share their concerns appropriately and promptly. Safeguarding
information is very sensitive so should only be shared with Senior Tutors or Mark Nettle.
This straightforward procedure is aimed at supporting both students and staff. It ensures that
concerns are dealt with effectively and in confidence. Once you have reported your concerns,
you will be informed if you need to take any further action.
Mark Nettle and the Senior Tutor team are shown here:
From left to right: Jane Morris (Senior Tutor Access, Science & Humanities), Louise
Seymour (Senior Tutor Business & Professional Studies), Sukey Elstob (Senior Tutor
Land-based Studies), Mark Nettle, Head of Student Services, Leri Ayre (Senior Tutor
Entry Studies), Bryn Youds (Senior Tutor Arts & Technology).
Protecting yourself from allegations of abuse
Although there are many different situations that create a potential risk of allegations, some
basic rules will help to protect you, and most are centred around maintaining a professional,
rather than personal, relationship with young people. So, for example, make sure you do not:
• Arrange to be alone with a young person somewhere out of the way or concealed from
others.
• Exchange personal details e.g. mobile or home number, e-mail, address
• Become ‘friends’ on Facebook or other social networking sites
• Lend personal money, or give a young person a lift in your car.
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