Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Training for Managers & DSLs

This online course will explore the roles and responsibilities of managers and Designated or Deputy Safeguarding Leads in terms of safeguarding adults in High Education.

We’ll look at specific challenges of safeguarding adult students in Higher Education for example the guidance from regulatory bodies relating to harassment and sexual misconduct e.g. The Office for Students E6, the importance of safeguarding in relation to Ofsted inspection, specific guidance for apprenticeships or students under the age of eighteen and the specific responsibilities of universities and student unions.

We’ll cover key changes within safeguarding as part of the Care Act (2014). You’ll be encouraged to identify where the key challenges to the sector are, and to seek solutions towards implementation in practice.

We’ll cover best practice, the expectations of organisations such as the Office for Students, Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and Department for the Economy (DfE) in NI, and the lessons the sector has learned from reviews of safeguarding for students.

This course is for people with a safeguarding responsibility in Higher Education or looking to develop for a safeguarding role. It’s also suitable for people looking for personal professional development.

Date and Time

This training will take place across two sessions:

• Tuesday 9 September
• Thursday 11 September

All sessions are from 9.30 am -12.30 pm with a 15-30 minute working break.

We’ll deliver the training via Microsoft Teams. You do not need to have a Microsoft Teams account to take part. However, you might wish to download the Microsoft Teams app before joining, as it can reduce technical issues.

Session 1 Aims:

• What is Safeguarding in HE? The Definitions.
• National Governing Body Themes – Culture Changes.
• The extent of abuse in Higher Education in published statistics.
• Understand what makes an Adult in Higher Education vulnerable and open to abuse.
• Different types of abuse
• Student case studies, including harassment and sexual misconduct, Ofsted inspections, hazing, work placements and apprenticeships, under 18s.
• Recognising the signs of abuse.
• Indicators relating to abuse.
• The Care Act (2014) and Mental Capacity Act (2005).
• Raising concerns.
• Dealing effectively with abuse.
• Reporting concerns.
• The specific responsibilities of universities and student unions (including the university mental health charter and suicide prevention)
• Effective record keeping with links to national regulatory bodies and Ofsted requirements.
• Making Safeguarding Personal.
• Wellbeing.

Session 2 Aims:

• Recap of previous learning.
• Barriers to whistleblowing.
• Discussion of case studies, including harassment and sexual misconduct, Ofsted inspections, hazing, work placements and apprenticeships, under 18s.
• Defensible decision making.
• Risk enablement and balancing risk.
• Safer recruitment
• National regulatory bodies (e.g. Office for Students) and Local authority roles and responsibilities.
• Safeguarding Adult’s Boards.
• Investigations.
• S42 Safeguarding Referrals.
• How to support if the situation does not meet safeguarding criteria – alternative means of support/signposting.
• Adults Safeguarding Reviews.
• Effective policy and procedure.
• How to promote open cultures and Additional Resources, support available for DSLs.
• Getting involved in the Safeguarding in Higher Education Network to keep up to date with developments across the sector.