Safeguarding policy

For the purpose of this policy, we refer to the legal definition of safeguarding which reflects protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of children, young people and adults at risk, enabling them to live safely, free from abuse and neglect. This includes:

• an anticipatory element to prevent harm
• an oversight element to protect those in the course of our activities
• a quality assurance element to ensure protection standards are met; and
• a reporting element to ensure swift and effective action if concerns are raised.

Adults in a vulnerable situation are also referred to within this policy, in the understanding that ‘safeguarding’ in a wider sense involves supporting individuals who may not be identified as a child or adult at risk but may require immediate support from a welfare perspective to enable them to stay safe. 

This Policy applies to all university colleagues (including students who undertake paid work for the university), University Council members, third party employees, associates, students across all programmes of study including apprenticeships and volunteers. However, it is specifically aimed at colleagues, students, and volunteers who encounter the following groups through teaching, research, professional services, placements and outreach activities:

• Children (i.e. those aged under 16),
• Young people (i.e. those aged 16 to 18)
• Adults at risk of harm, and
• Adults in a vulnerable situation.

The individuals this Policy applies to are referred to as members of the university community from this point forward.

This policy should be consulted in conjunction with the university's policy on the Admission and support of students under the age of 18 Policy.

This policy does not cover:

• Busy Bees nursery on university premises - as an independent organisation it is covered by its own comprehensive child protection policies in accordance with legislation and Ofsted requirements
• The Students Union which has their own safeguarding policy as an independent organisation
• Campus Living Villages which has their own safeguarding policy and procedures as an independent organisation
• A general duty of care for visitors on university premises. This is referenced in the University Health & Safety Policy and subsidiary documents
• Members of the University community who are not mentioned as above

The University approach to safeguarding is to ensure the safety of the whole university community and incorporates the Prevent agenda. Further information regarding our approach and structure is available within our Safeguarding Hub.

The University wishes to ensure that it maintains the highest possible standards to meet its responsibilities to protect and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk when in contact with university students and colleagues (whether acting in a paid or unpaid capacity). However ultimate responsibility for anyone under the age of 18 will continue to remain with parents and guardians or for those in care, the responsible local authority.

While it is impossible to ensure that a child, young person or adult at risk of harm/in a vulnerable situation would never come to any harm, the adoption of this policy and associated guidance aims to facilitate the management of the risk associated with the duty to protect such individuals.

This policy does not seek to discourage working with vulnerable groups but rather to support the safe delivery of these activities.

To achieve its aims in respect to safeguarding the University focus spans six key areas:

• Risk assessment
• Recruitment, selection and employment procedures
• Dealing with suspicions and allegations of abuse
• Training and support
• Under 18s
• Sexual violence and harassment

The duty to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk of harm extends to protecting them from involvement with groups that set out to radicalise individuals.  Section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act (2015) places a duty on Higher Education providers to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. This is known as The Prevent Duty.

The University of Salford fulfills its responsibilities to protect vulnerable people from radicalisation and extremism as part of the wider Safeguarding duty.  More information is available on The Prevent Duty.

The University operates a Freedom of Speech Policy intended to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including Prevent duty guidelines, whilst protecting its duty to ensure freedom of speech for colleagues, students and visiting speakers on the University’s premises.

The Department for Education encourages universities to promote fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. The University’s commitment to this is contained in our Statement on British Values.

In circumstances where referral of a member of the university community to Prevent is being considered (i.e. who may be vulnerable or susceptible to radicalisation), please refer to the Guidance set out in Annex J: Prevent Referral Guidance. In any event, concerns that you may have regarding an individual must be raised with the Prevent Lead or Prevent Officer who will be happy to advise and discuss appropriate actions.

All colleagues that intend to, or may be put in the position of, working with children, young people or adults in a vulnerable situation should ensure that they understand the implications of this policy before commencing any programme, event, visit or other activity.

Colleagues who are contracting external parties to work on the university’s behalf or allowing or enabling external parties to use University estate or facilities, should also ensure that where those bookings include children or adults at risk of harm, those external parties are familiar with the university’s Safeguarding policy procedure and guidance.

A designated individual should complete a risk assessment before any new or changes to existing programmes, events, visits or any other activity which involve children, young people or adults at risk of harm are undertaken, or before admitting or employing an individual under the age of 18.

All those involved in the risk assessment process should understand that the risk assessment is not only a way to mitigate or remove any potential risks but may also be a prompt to consider alternative working practices.

The university applies safer recruitment principles and will take all appropriate steps during the recruitment and assessment process to ensure the safeguarding of all employees, students and those who use the campus. This includes measures to ensure that unsuitable applicants are prevented from working with children, young people under the age of 18 and adults in a vulnerable situation at the university.

Where a risk assessment has identified that students or colleagues are likely to have regular contact with or encounter children, young people under the age of 18 or adults in a vulnerable situation (which might include regular processing of information), appropriate checks into their eligibility for employment will be required.

Where colleague roles are identified as involving regulated activities, HR will undertake any checks or screening for individuals.

• All roles will include 2 references from their most recent employers and a DBS check where required
• Dependent on the nature of the role, some roles may require additional or enhanced checks.

Failure to satisfy the necessary screening requirements may result in a withdrawal of offer or termination of employment.

The university will ensure that any colleague or any student who will have substantial one-to-one contact with children, young people under the age of 18 or adults in a vulnerable situation or at risk of harm, and their role falls within the regulated activity criteria, will be regularly required to undertake a DBS check. The DBS process for colleagues is managed by the HR function at the university. 

Concerns for the safety and well-being of children, young people under the age of 18 and adults in a vulnerable situation or at risk could arise in a variety of ways at the university and in a range of different settings. For example:

• a person may report or display signs of abuse
• someone may hint that a child, young person under the age of 18 or adult in a vulnerable situation and / or is at risk of harm or that a colleague is an abuser
• an individual may witness or hear about abuse
• a child, young person under the age of 18 or adult in a vulnerable situation is in the presence of abuse, whilst not being the recipient

Concerns may be encountered as student to student, colleague to student, colleague to colleague or as part of duties or study being undertaken.

It is essential to act quickly and professionally in all cases of suspected abuse. Genuine concerns of abuse should be reported early, regardless of obtaining evidence.

Any allegation by a child, young person under the age of 18 or adult in a vulnerable situation or at risk of harm against a colleague, another student, someone external to the university or a volunteer should be reported immediately to the relevant designated individual who has responsibility under this policy (See Annex B).

Where a member of the university community has a suspicion that a child, young person under the age of 18 or adult in a vulnerable situation or at risk may be experiencing harm or abuse, these suspicions should be reported to the relevant designated individual as above.  In dealing with any such allegation or suspicion, the University has a duty of care both to the child, young person under the age of 18 or adult in a vulnerable situation or at risk of harm concerned and to the colleague, student or volunteer against whom the allegation is made.

Colleagues and students on work-based placement learning in clinical settings, health care and social care may come into regular contact with children, young people under the age of 18 and adults in a vulnerable situation or at risk. Students on work-based placement learning are encouraged to refer to the safeguarding policy and procedures of the organisation in which they are carrying out their placement. However, if this is not appropriate or if no action is taken, students are encouraged (with the support of their Personal Tutor or Placement Tutor) to follow this Safeguarding Policy for reporting of safeguarding concerns (Appendix B).

Education institutions which are partner organisations to the University will have their own safeguarding policy and reporting procedures in place. Members of those institutions are advised to consult with and follow their own organisation’s safeguarding policy as the first course of action.

Where activities take place on campus that involve children, young people under the age of 18 and adults in a vulnerable situation or at risk from other institutions (e.g. summer schools or campus visits) the colleagues responsible for organising and managing these events are expected to familiarise themselves with the Safeguarding Policy and any other relevant policies and procedures (Summer School Safeguarding Policy).

Where there is an allegation against a colleague of the university, checks will be made by HR to determine whether that individual undertakes regulated activity with children, young people under the age of 18 and / or adults in vulnerable situations or at risk, as part of the investigation process. In cases where it is established that regulated activity with children, young people under the age of 18 and / or adults in a vulnerable situation or at risk, the appropriate Safeguarding Leads will be informed about the case and depending on the allegation may be required to inform the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and/or DBS.

Where a safeguarding allegation is made against a colleague who teaches, supports or has influence on health or social care related courses, as part of the investigation process, the appropriate safeguarding leads will be informed about the case and may seek advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or the appropriate Adult Safeguarding Team on possible action needed.

In instances of alleged sexual misconduct, even if the alleged victim is not a child, young person under the age of 18 or an adult in a vulnerable situation or at risk of harm, as part of the investigation process, the appropriate safeguarding leads will be informed about the case and may seek advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or the appropriate Adult Safeguarding Team on possible action needed.

Where the University becomes aware of a safeguarding concern relating to a student on a programme of study that includes placements with children, young people under the age of 18 or adults in a vulnerable situation or at risk, the AD(SE), Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Designated Safeguarding Officer linked to the school, will work with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to ensure appropriate information is shared, risk assessments are completed and the appropriate action is taken to ensure safety of patients/service users.

To assist you in your decision-making regarding dealing with suspicions or allegations, please see flowchart attached in Annex H: Learner Risk Flow Chart and Annex I: Apprentice Risk Flow Chart - REWORD

Risk assessments will be completed for all students under the age of 18 who are studying with the university.

Please see the Admission and Support of Students under 18 years of age Policy for a full description of how the university manages the admission and support of students under the age of 18. 

The University employs a Sexual Violence Liaison Officer(s) / Domestic Abuse Caseworker(s) to support with reports of sexual violence and harassment from students. Such cases are assessed on a case-by-case basis, a process which includes the completion of a risk assessment for reporting students, responding students and any wider risk to the university.

Where a case involves a student-on-student allegation, the University may take action through the Student Misconduct Procedure or Fitness to Practice Policy. These cases will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, through the Student Case Management Group (or school in cases of fitness to practice) who will appoint an investigator from a pool of colleagues who have received specialist training in this area (See related documentation). 

Where a case involves an allegation by a student against another student, both students will be contacted and offered wellbeing/welfare support.

Allegations of sexual violence/harassment against a university colleague will be managed through Human Resources. In cases where such reports involve a colleague who is identified as having access to students who are under the age of 18 or adults at risk, Human Resources will notify the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

In cases where a colleague is alleged to have committed sexual violence/harassment and leaves the organisation before an investigation is complete, the investigation will continue in their absence and The Designated Safeguarding Lead will be informed of the outcome. 

Where a safeguarding concern has been raised and identified as requiring Social Services support (with the support of a DSO), it must be reported and discussed with the relevant team in Social Services (and/or the Police). This will ensure that the risks are managed, and appropriate action is considered. It is not an option to ‘wait and see’ or to dismiss the concern as not relevant.

Failure to report suspicions/allegations of harm, abuse or exploitation (including concerns around radicalisation) as per the Reporting Process in a timely or appropriate manner will be treated seriously and may be investigated in accordance with the relevant university disciplinary policy. Where appropriate, failures to report safeguarding concerns may also be referred to external agencies such as the Police or Social Services for consideration of further action.