Safeguarding guide for apprentices
We take our responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our apprentices seriously. This guide gives you information on safeguarding and the support services we offer for apprentices.
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding is everyone’s business. It is about protecting children, young people (under 18) and adults at risk from abuse or harm. In the context of UCLan, this usually means providing a safe environment for them to study, work, visit and participate in activities. We also have a responsibility to act where we become aware that a child, young person, or vulnerable adult is at risk outside of the university.
In all our activities, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of staff, students (including work-based learners or apprentices) and visitors.
Our aim is to:
- Ensure UCLan is a safe place to study, work. visit and participate in;
- Act when we become aware of risk that may be occurring in/outside of the University or workplace;
- Protect children, young people (under 18) and adults at risk from abuse or harm.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility
If you have a concern, pass it on. Contact our Safeguarding Leads.
Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on universities to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.”
The Terrorism Act 2006 defines ‘terrorism’ as an action or threat designed to influence the government or intimidate the public. Its purpose is to advance a political, religious, or ideological cause.
The Prevent duty is about safeguarding people from harm by preventing them from being radicalised and drawn into terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups. It is about safeguarding our apprentices to keep them safe and within the law. The Prevent duty is not about preventing apprentices from having political and religious views and concerns. It's about supporting them to use those concerns or act on them in non-extremist ways.
Terrorism is an action that:
- Endangers or causes serious violence to a person or people;
- Causes serious damage to property, or seriously interferes with or disrupts an electronic system;
- Is designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public.
Extremism is defined by the government as “vocal or active opposition to British values”. This includes democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths. Extremism and radicalisation might include the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups, and other causes.
Radicalisation is the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies. It is defined by the government as “the name given to the process that moves a person to legitimise their support or use of violence. It’s where terrorism begins.”
To help protect you from the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism, you are required to complete the Prevent training which is available on OneFile.
Several factors may show that a person is more vulnerable to radicalisation. Whilst none of these factors are individually conclusive, they may show that a person is in need of support.
- Isolation;
- Low self-esteem;
- Anger or frustration;
- A sense of injustice;
- Personal grievances;
- Encouraging conspiracy theories;
- Offering inaccurate answers or falsehoods to grievances;
- Blaming specific communities for grievances;
- Encouraging the use of hatred and violent actions to get justice;
- Encouraging ideas of supremacy;
- Promoting an ‘us vs. them’ mentality.
Channel is a multi-agency programme that supports at risk individuals, and which delivers the strategic aim of Prevent. Having identified an individual in need of support, a referral may be made to the Channel panel. They will assess the nature and extent of the risk. Then they will develop the most appropriate support plan for the individual concerned.
Engagement in the Channel process is on a voluntary basis.
An important part of your development is an approach incorporating key British values:
- Democracy;
- The rule of law;
- Individual liberty; and
- Mutual respect and tolerance.
This values-based approach centres on valuing our community. It celebrates diversity and helps people from all walks of life make the most of their individual potential. It forms part of our safeguarding culture to ensure UCLan is a safe place to study, to work and to visit.
We aim to develop a sense of citizenship amongst our apprentice community. One where everyone matters and there is support for all. We believe differences are to be celebrated and that we can all learn from one another.
It is important to ensure that you get information on how to stay safe online. You can visit our online safety and security webpage for detailed information.
For personal, social and work-related reasons, being online and having an online presence is important. It is sometimes and essential part of people’s lives. Technology presents opportunities for learning and development. But it can also expose apprentices to different types of risks. You are at risk of harm online as well as face to face. So it's important that we safeguard our your digital wellbeing too.
To help you protect yourself from harm, it is important that you understand what the risks are. You need the skills to use the digital technology safely. Then you can take proactive steps to ensure the security of your personal data.
Online risks include:
- Bullying;
- Harassment;
- Non-consensual sharing of indecent images;
- Money muling;
- Abuse;
- Identity theft; and
- Grooming, phishing and malware.
Developing critical thinking and analytical skills is an integral part of your learning. You should challenge, question and evaluate the reliability of information, whatever the source. These skills will support your development, both academically and from a safeguarding perspective.
Terrorism and radicalisation
The popularity of social media and online gaming has given extremists more opportunities. They often use these platforms to reach out to others in an attempt to radicalise people. Radicalisers use techniques to groom people and draw them in, this may seem or look harmless in the beginning.
Terrorists can use the internet to provoke individuals to carry out attacks in the UK.
A video or a post can influence vulnerable people online and can inspire other extremists and terrorists. It is important to tackle online terrorism by reporting any suspicious activity you may come across.
Examples of terrorist or extremist activity online may include:
- Speeches or essays calling for racial or religious violence.
- Videos of violence with messages in praise of terrorists.
- Postings inciting people to commit acts of terrorism or extreme violence.
- Messages intended to stir up hatred against any religious or ethnic group.
- Bomb-making instructions.
- Advice on how to make weapons.
We have responsibilities in line with our safeguarding and Prevent policy and the Prevent duty to make sure that:
- Relevant training is provided to university staff to ensure staff are aware of their Prevent Duty obligations;
- Clear procedures are in place so concerns can be raised to designated safeguarding leads regarding the Prevent duty;
- All employers know who the designated safeguarding leads are;
- Opportunities to explore and raise Prevent awareness and promote British values are embedded into learning;
- An environment is provided that supports free speech and ensures apprentices can express views respectfully;
- All employers are aware of their safeguarding obligations;
- Apprentices have an awareness of safeguarding and citizenship at UCLan and know how to access our student support and wellbeing services;
- University employers working with apprentices have completed all relevant mandatory safeguarding training;
- University staff working with young and vulnerable people are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as appropriate;
- Opportunities are created for apprentices to apply their learning to relevant situations and contexts;
- Apprentices are encouraged to respect each other and their differences, in line with the Equality Act 2010.
We provide you with information to be able to protective themselves from extremist views contrary to British values. We are dedicated to embedding British values into our teaching practice. We monitor online activity, and vet visitors who deliver sessions.
We have a Wellbeing Team who can offer support to all students and apprentices in relation to their mental health and wellbeing. This includes substance misuse, domestic violence and care leavers. We also have a range of support services which you can access including student support, inclusive support and careers.
If you have a concern, please pass it on. In the first instance, please speak to a trusted member of your course team or employer, who will be able to help and advice on UCLan safeguarding procedures.
Alternatively, to report a concern, or if you would like more information or have any questions, please email our Operational/Principal Safeguarding and Prevent Leads. Or you can call +44 (0) 1772 893020 and a member of our team will raise your concerns.
If you have a concern about the safety and wellbeing of yourself or someone else, you can also report these to the University using our Report + Support platform.
Any urgent concerns where there may be a serious risk to someone’s safety or wellbeing should be reported to the police:
- 999 (emergency)
- 101 (non-emergencies - do not require an immediate response)