It is Qube’s Policy that every student has the right to be happy, safe and secure. We are committed to our Safeguarding Policy and this is reflected in our work with students and employers.
It is our aim to ensure that all our students have confidence in our employees and believe that they will do everything they can to keep children and young people (those under the age of 18) and vulnerable adults safe from harm. Qube has a Policy of zero tolerance relating to any behaviour that may abuse or harm any of our students or employees.
Safeguarding working group
The People Services Director and People Services Manager, with representation from our Traineeship, Quality and Operations Teams meet every quarter to review Qube’s Safeguarding procedures and records. Periodically the CEO and Operations Director will also attend these meetings. Outcomes from these meetings will be disseminated via the Executive and Senior Management teams through to the rest of the business.
The student experience
At Qube we ensure that the learning experience meets the needs of each student. In the case of vulnerable students this may include additional resources, extra visits, support from others and other appropriate delivery methods. All students are informed about the Company’s safeguarding arrangements during induction and are given access to information on how to access specialist external support agencies. These messages are reinforced to students at other times and especially during progress visits when the Company’s employees systematically check on pastoral and welfare issues. A factsheet to inform students and parents about safeguarding is provided to all students. This factsheet contains details of relevant contacts for safeguarding matters.
Reporting and investigations
Should any concerns regarding the safety of the students arise, Qube will fully investigate. Qube’s People Services Director will lead all investigations, supported by the Skills Tutor/Student Support Specialist and their Manager. Records are maintained by the People Services Director and are treated as strictly private and confidential.
Employers and students are informed about the requirements to report incidents and concerns related to safeguarding to Qube as well as the normal authorities for all Educations & Skills Funding Agency funded students. Employers and / or students can report incidents or concerns directly to the People Services Director at Qube’s head office or to their Skills Tutor.
At every visit, Skills Tutors check with their students to establish if any incidents related to safeguarding have occurred and this is recorded on the visit report. Where concerns arise or incidents have occurred a report must be made by the Skills Tutor to the People Services Director.
When the People Services Director receives reports of a concern or an incident an investigation will commence. The investigation will consider if the age and vulnerability of the student contributed to the incident. Depending upon the outcome further risk assessments and supervision arrangements may be put in place. The investigation process will:
- Gather information
- Analyse information
- Identify risk control measures
- Implement an action plan
- Monitor and evaluate actions
Where an incident has occurred, regular contact will be maintained between the People Services Director and the Skills Tutor. The People Services Director may make a report to relevant agencies if necessary.
Radicalisation
Qube are determined to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to protect those children, young people and adults who participate in learning programmes from harm together. This includes colleagues who work for us. Every colleague has a responsibility for safeguarding our students. We are all responsible for supporting Prevent and reporting suspicions of any student being radicalised.
Qube Learning Personnel & Principles
Students often build strong relationships with Qube’s employees and may confide in them. Our employees are constantly vigilant to any indications of abuse and follow a strict procedure in the event of being alerted to potential problems. This involves formally and confidentially recording any incidents to the People Services Director and fully cooperating with relevant specialist agencies, when necessary.
Employee update training takes place at regular intervals and includes changes to legislation and how to work with young and vulnerable adult students.
Employees who actively recruit young students to apprenticeship or Traineeship programmes have received detailed training on appropriate working practices for these students and safeguarding.
It is Qube’s Policy that all staff and managers who come into direct contact with students have the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check carried out. Employees are supervised until a satisfactory DBS check has been received.
In addition we ensure the following steps are followed with all employees/students;
- Taking up references from former employers
- Supervising new employees until a satisfactory DBS check is received or registration is complete
- Undertaking risk assessments with each 16-19 year old student and placements where there are less than 5 employees and also every Traineeship student we work with and making sure employers are aware of safeguarding issues and fully cooperate with our procedures
- On going training and support for all employees
- Annually reviewing our Policies, procedures and practices to ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation and best practice
- Ensuring our employees are adequately updated in understanding, recognising and reporting abuse
- Monitoring our employees through our quality improvement and staff appraisal systems
- Ensuring employees understand the importance of General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and receive training