Safeguarding policy statement for teaching, learning and assessment

Staff undertake safeguarding training which is updated every three years. They also undertake training in Domestic Abuse Awareness and Sexual Violence Awareness.

There are several policies and procedures to give guidance and support, please make sure you are aware of this guidance by reading the following policies:

• safeguarding policy, procedure and system including safeguarding adults and children
• safeguarding policy, procedure and system including safeguarding adults and children
• equality and diversity policy, including anti-racism and anti-homophobia

In respect of safeguarding individuals from radicalisation and extremism, the Adult Learning and Skills Service has a legal responsibility to fulfil the Prevent Duty by having due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.  

To facilitate this, staff receive training on preventing extremism and radicalisation and learners are made aware of potential risks during their learning.  

Staff will work to safeguard the learners/apprentices they work with by remaining vigilant to any concerning changes in behaviour and will report these to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (see section on Reporting Concerns).

Adult Learning and Skills Service works to the Prevent element of the Government’s Counter Terrorism Strategy, and where deemed appropriate, seeks external support for learners/apprentices through referrals to the Channel Programme.  

This programme aims to work with individuals to address their specific vulnerabilities, prevent them becoming further radicalised and possibly entering the criminal justice system because of their actions. It is recognised that radicalisation can occur to an individual from any section of society and is not particular to any racial, ethnic or social group. It is further recognised that in many instances the process of radicalisation is essentially one of grooming by others.

Read further guidance on the Prevent and Channel programme on the Education and Training Foundation website.

Please familiarise yourself with the Public Network Acceptable Use Policy Acceptable Usage Policy. This document is intended to clarify responsibilities when using our Adult Learning and Skills Service internet and computer resources.

In relation to staff personal safeguarding it is recommended that all staff must not, under any circumstances, give any personal information to learners/apprentices. This includes personal mobile numbers, a personal e-mail address or to link learners/apprentices to any personal social media sites, for example Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. Staff should supply learners and apprentices with their North Yorkshire County Council e-mail address and the office telephone number. 

Adult Learning and Skills staff are prohibited from visiting any learners or apprentices within their home. Staff must be conscious of their own personal safety and the safety of our learners and apprentices at all times and must not make compromises.

Adult Learning and Skills staff are prohibited from taking any gifts from learners or apprentices, even in the form of refreshments. 

Adult Learning and Skills staff are prohibited from transporting learners/apprentices in their own vehicle unless under strict supervision from their line manager. Staff must seek permission from their line manager, informing them of the time they will leave and arrive at their destination. If a risk assessment is required, the manager will share the paperwork with the member of staff. Staff are not obligated to transport learners/apprentices if they do not wish to do so. 

Learning partners will be asked to share their own organisational policies with the Adult Learning and Skills Service and checks will be undertaken regularly to ensure policies are in place.

If you identify a safeguarding issue (including any issues of possible radicalisation or extremism) within the teaching, learning and assessment environment, please contact us so incidents can be tracked. 

If it is necessary to make a referral to Health and Adult Services, you may be asked to fill in a report form which will be shared with Health and Adult Services.

Vulnerable adults are people over 18 who may be unable to take care of themselves and protect themselves from harm or exploitation because they are physically disabled, have mental health problems, learning difficulties or are frail, elderly or ill. 

If you or the person you are concerned about is in danger and immediate action is required, you should ring the emergency services on 999.

If you or the person you are concerned about is not in immediate danger, you should ring the Designated Safeguarding Lead on 01609 434031 or 07967 469631. Alternatively, you may contact us (this includes outside of office hours) but please follow up with a report to the Adult Learning and Skills Service Designated Safeguarding Lead. 

Read about the Code of Conduct – Safeguarding Learners (to be used in conjunction with our code of professional conduct). 

This Code of Conduct applies to all staff working for the Adult Learning and Skills Service, including volunteers.

1. Staff should, at all times, strive to establish the good reputation of the Adult Learning and Skills Service and should actively promote high quality services for learners, apprentices, the community and their colleagues.
2. All staff have a responsibility to actively promote a safe and healthy working environment. They are expected to be familiar with, and to follow, all North Yorkshire County Council Health and Safety and Safeguarding Procedures and to cooperate with Adult Learning and Skills Service managers on health and safety and safeguarding arrangements.

Online learning sessions

Since the challenging continuing circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, some adult and community learning has taken place online. The following is in place in relation to online learning:

Online agreement

Some basic agreed principles:

• sessions are private for the members of the group and only group members will be allowed to join
• sessions will have clear times and will open and close at those times for members to join
• participants should find a quiet space where they can concentrate and fully engage
• microphone should be muted unless speaking
• background noise such as radios or TV should be turned off
• participants experiencing technical issues or other problems, should email their teacher who will send any missed information

Agreed values and protocols:

• information will be confidential to the group, unless it concerns safeguarding in which case it will be shared with the Adult Learning and Skills Service Designated Safeguarding Lead
• British values of tolerance, mutual respect, individual liberty and the rule of law will be adhered to
• participants will speak one at a time and the teacher will establish a system of asking and answering questions or giving opinions
• behaviour and conduct of participants will be expected to mirror that in face-to-face to sessions so eating, smoking, drinking alcohol, swearing or states of undress will not be permitted

Safeguarding, Prevent, Inclusion and Online Safety:

• all participants should feel safe and included in the online learning. If for any reason there is a concern relating to any of these issues, learners or apprentices should contact their teacher and they will follow the procedures to deal with these issues 

Mitigating the risk - for teachers and managers

Following the National Cyber Security Centre and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency advice set out below should help mitigate the risk to individuals and organisations from malicious cyber activity related to both COVID-19 and other themes: 

• National Cyber Security Centre guidance for the public to help them spot, understand and deal with suspicious messages and emails: 
  • read about phishing: spot and report scam emails, texts, websites and calls
  • read about phishing attacks: defending your organisation
• National Cyber Security Centre guidance on home working: 
  • read about home work: preparing your organisation and staff

There is a wide range of support available for our staff. Take a look at Health Assured, our employee assistance programme. There’s a confidential 24-hour telephone helpline which can offer advice and support on a diverse range of issues, also available is an online health portal providing instant and unlimited access to videos, factsheets, personal coaching and health assessment tools.

Health Assured is 24-hour confidential employee assistance providing telephone support to all employees and immediate family members (including children aged 16-24 in full time education).

The confidential helpline is accessed via the freephone number 0800 030 5182.