1. An introduction to Child Protection and Safeguarding

2. Procedures and safeguards have been developed to help with this.
As a student Mentor it is important that you are aware of the issues surrounding Child protection.
We have a duty of care to help protect you and the young people you will be working with.
Procedures and safeguards have been developed to help with this.
These safeguards are designed to protect YOU as well as the young people.
Facilitator- This presentation gives a general introduction to the subject of Child protection and safeguarding. If your student mentors will be working regularly with young people they should receive a more focused and in-depth training session on the subject.
________________________
Although Child Protection information can seem daunting, it is important to be aware of.
Serious child protection issues are rare in the work you will do as mentors.

3. University of Worcester Safeguarding Children Policy
Be aware of University policy and practice.
The University of Worcester has a policy on safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
You should familiarise yourself with its contents.
It can be found on the personnel pages of the University website under Health & Safety – Children/ Work experience (
Facilitator - Ensure you have read the policy before giving this presentation and make sure that all participants are given copies in the training session. Give time in the session to look over the policy and draw their attention to those sections most likely to be relevant.

4. Student mentor conduct:
Ensure that the young people are safe.
Treat everyone equally with the same fairness and respect you would expect to be treated with, whether staff or young person
Respect participant’s background, culture and traditions and be aware certain behaviour may offend his/her beliefs.
Discourage negative or abusive attitudes or behaviour (e.g. ridicule, racism, exclusion, bullying)
Inform young people if their behaviour is inappropriate
Be aware that you are a role model for the young people you are working with
If there is a problem raise it with school staff or your Project leader
 Students we work with are from a wide range of backgrounds; ethnicity, family support, income, experiences.
Treat people with respect and they are more likely to respect you and what you have to say to them.
People will really look up to you – they can identify with you. For example, Year 11 students are being told to think about their a-level choices, decisions that you have all recently been through and can understand.
Be aware that your behave will affect the dynamics and behaviour of young people. Be professional and remember you are acting as a representative of the University.
Dress appropriately for work,
Don’t make suggestive remarks or gestures within the hearing or sight of young people.
You are not their teacher but its OK to state when a person's behaviour is inappropriate

5. As a student mentor you should:
Ensure you are never left alone with a young person. Work in pairs or ensure a member of school or project staff are present.
Avoid any physical contact with the young people
Never give out personal contact details or accept friendship requests on social networking sites
Never meet or make contact with a young person outside the designated hours and location of the session
Keep your mobile phone on during an event in case we need to contact you, but keep it on a discreet setting; Photos should only be taken if using a camera supplied by project staff for the event. Never use camera phones.
Ensure your own protection. These procedures are in place to protect YOU as well as those you are working with.
Avoid being left alone with young people. If speaking to an individual young person, do so in sight or hearing of other adults. (Leave the door open if you find yourself alone in a room).
Facebook requests – politely decline any friend requests from the young people you are working with
Meetings – you should only be meeting in pre-arranged locations in schools, colleges or on campus. No where else.
Dress – as students you are not expected to wear suits but be sensitive in what you wear - practical and modest! Avoid offensive or political slogans. If you are provided wit a University T shirt you should wear it!
Don’t let people take your photo – it might end up on Facebook
Photos of events should only be taken using the camera supplied by the University project team. Check with school/college staff before taking photo’s. Not all young people with have parental consent for photo’s to be taken.
Ensure that Bluetooth is switched off on your phone

6. Signs of Abuse
We all have a duty of care to the young people we work with.
If you have any concerns, report them to UW project staff or your contact at the school/ college you are working in.
It is important to be aware of the different types of abuse and of how you should act if you have concerns.

7. There are four main areas of abuse:
Neglect - the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development.
Physical - may involve hitting, shaking, burning or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.
Sexual - forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
Emotional - the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.
Facilitator
A young person could suffer from one or several types of abuse at the same time.
Possible abuse = Anything that causes you to worry for their welfare – even bullying at school for example.

8. Be alert for signs of abuse:
Listening to and watching young peoples interactions with others
Look for changing behaviour
Difficult or challenging behaviour
Obvious signs of distress / signs of abuse
Young persons appearance
If because of someone’s behaviour, speech, attitude or appearance you suspect abuse or have concerns, you should refer it on.
Facilitator
When working with young people you have a responsibility to act on any information that indicates that the young person may be at risk.

9. Confidentiality
Young people may on some occasions reveal confidential information about themselves. This may be anything from their home address and phone number to personal details about their life and circumstances. The information may be given in conversation or written.
When a young person does give out confidential information, they need to be sure that the information will not be passed on to anyone else without their permission.
Facilitator
All information about the young people you are working with should be treated with respect and confidentiality.
Do not discuss any of the young people with friends or relations outside of the project team.
If you feel the need to talk about any of your sessions the University project staff will be available to support you and talk through any concerns or issues you may have.

10. Confidentiality
However, when you are working with young people you have a responsibility to act on any information that indicates that the young person may be at risk.
This includes anything that is illegal for young people e.g. drinking, sex and drug taking. Legality does not depend upon your personal feelings or what you might feel is acceptable behaviour.
In order to develop a trusting relationship with young people, you must make explicit the kind of information that you cannot keep secret. You should do this at the beginning and reiterate the situation if you feel you are having a conversation in which something may be revealed.
Facilitator
When working with young people you have a responsibility to act on any information that indicates that the young person may be at risk.
Use of drink, drugs, sex
Signs of abuse
Make it clear that you cannot keep secrets

11. Confidentiality
Situations in which confidentiality will need to be broken include:
1. Disclosure or evidence of physical, sexual or serious emotional abuse or neglect
2. Suicide threatened or attempted
3. Disclosure of serious self harm including drug or alcohol misuse that may be life threatening
4. Evidence of serious mental illness
Facilitator
When working with young people you have a responsibility to act on any information that indicates that the young person may be at risk.

12. Do not try to investigate or resolve the issue yourself.
In the event of a child protection issue, pass on all information as soon as possible to a member of staff at the school or college or to the project team.
Do not try to investigate or resolve the issue yourself.
Facilitator
When working with young people you have a responsibility to act on any information that indicates that the young person may be at risk.

13. Disclosure If a young person makes a disclosure:
Listen and accept what they say.
Don’t ask any leading questions or offer an opinion.
Record the disclosure in their own words.
Take what the person is saying seriously.
Acknowledge the young person and explain your intended action.
Do not reassure or promise confidentiality.
Be open and honest about your own responsibility.
Do not attempt to investigate.
Do not collude with the young person.
Pass onto staff to deal with. Do not try to deal with it yourself.
Facilitator
It is extremely unlikely that a young person will disclose something to you!
Few events provide prolonged contact with a young person such that they may choose to disclose (exceptions include mentoring, residentials)
IF a young person asks if you can keep a secret, you must say no – even if that means they then decide not to disclose. Explain to the young person that you have a duty to report what they have disclosed.
This is not something you should try to deal with alone – If you have ANY concerns report them to your line manager or school contact immediately.

14. Summary Never place a young person at risk.
If you have any concerns about the welfare of a child report them to a member of the project or school/college staff.
Ensure your own protection. These procedures and safeguards are in place to protect YOU as well as those you are working with.
Be aware of University policy and practice. The policy on safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults should be read & can be found on the personnel pages of the University website (

15. Any Questions?