Keeping our apprentices safe.
At Teesside University we take our responsibility to ensure the safety of our students very seriously.
We treat everyone with respect, will not tolerate sexual misconduct, violence, or abuse and we will take all reasonable steps to keep our campus and community safe. This also extends to our students who have chosen to study at the University as part of an apprenticeship programme.
We are committed to working together to create a fantastic learning experience for our apprentices, and to ensure the highest levels of safety and wellbeing.
The University has a clear commitment to safeguarding, which is overseen by the Lead Safeguarding Officer (LSO). Their role is to promote and implement the Safeguarding Policy, ensuring that it is reviewed regularly and acted upon. Additionally, all members of University staff undertake mandatory Safeguarding and Prevent training and have access to additional information, advice and training when appropriate.
Each School and Department has at least one nominated Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO), who undertakes enhanced mandatory training. The University includes information on safeguarding in apprentice inductions to ensure learners have the knowledge and advice on how to deal with Safeguarding and Prevent concerns, including details of our policy and procedures.
Employers have a duty to comply with all current and future UK legislation and statutory responsibilities. There is a particular expectation that an employer should take responsibility for an apprentice's welfare in the workplace and to also seek appropriate advice when they feel an apprentice may be at risk in their personal lives.
We appreciate that for many organisations, this can be a confusing and complex area. Please refer to the following pages, which explains the University support provided and some of the ways you may wish to incorporate information into your current internal procedures.
Safeguarding is the overarching term used to describe the protection of the health, wellbeing, and human rights of individuals. Under legislation, all parties involved in an apprenticeship must take reasonable action to minimise risks to apprentices. This includes aspects of the apprentice's experience, both in and outside of the workplace, as well as during any attendance at university. Many areas are considered to fall under the definition of safeguarding, including:
As part of the Counterterrorism and Security Act (CTSA) 2015, universities are required to pay 'due regard to the need to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism'.
There is no single way of identifying a person who may be vulnerable to extremist ideology, and it is often the culmination of a number of influences. These can include family, friends, or relationships they have made online. Extremism can also include non-violent action.
The University is committed to engaging with its students in relation to the Prevent Duty requirements and works with Teesside University Students' Union in this regard. This engagement includes collaboration and consultation on Prevent Duty policy requirements, as developed and delivered by the University, representation of Student Union Officers and Management on the Prevent & Safeguarding Executive and Working Groups, and ongoing dialogue to ensure that the arrangements between both parties are joined up and effective.
If you find that you need help managing a particular set of circumstances with an apprentice, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We are here to support you.
An apprentice may feel comfortable talking to some people about an issue and not others. The University will endeavour to be as transparent as possible with employers, while respecting the apprentice's trust.
Although a lot of safeguarding activity is reactive, we encourage you to have regular meetings and supervisory sessions with your apprentice so that you can act on any concerns that arise.
An apprentice may not seek help, but there are common signs which can help you to recognise when things are wrong:
If the apprentice or someone else is at immediate risk of harm please do not hesitate, call the emergency services.
All new apprentices will complete, or will have completed, a one hour Safeguarding Essentials Training Package session as part of their induction activities as a pilot group.
Apprentices already enrolled, attending the University, and actively completing modules between now and September 2023 will be advised during progress review meetings with their Apprentice Quality Coach as to when and how this training will need to be completed.
Apprentices already enrolled and returning to their programme in the new academic year will receive a specific one-hour briefing and complete the Safeguarding Essentials Training Package.
Apprentices who have entered gateway are not required to complete this learning.
Completions will be monitored monthly and managed with apprentices and line managers through progress review meetings.
We have a duty of care in respect of children, young people and adults at risk - and this training has been introduced to ensure we deliver on our aim to adopt high standards to ensure their safety.
In the first instance initial referrals to
Apprenticeship Safeguarding Contact
Nadine Baister
Senior Quality and Compliance Manager
n.baister@tees.ac.uk
Teesside University International Business School
Richard Atkinson
School Manager
r.atkinson@tees.ac.uk
School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law
James Walker
School Registrar
j.walker@tees.ac.uk
School of Health & Life Sciences
Michelle Dickson
School Registrar
m.dixon@tees.ac.uk
School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies
Caroline Laverick
School Registrar
c.laverick@tees.ac.uk
School of Arts & Creative Industries
Jill Grimwood
School Registrar
j.grimwood@tees.ac.uk
Lead Safeguarding Officer
Helen Cutting
University Secretary and Executive Director of Legal and Governance Services
h.cutting@tees.ac.uk
Safeguarding Co-ordinator
Victoria Dixon
Acting Deputy Director of Legal and Governance Services
v.dixon@tees.ac.uk