Keeping Safe in College
- Safeguarding
- Student ID
- E-Safety
- Health and Safety
- The Prevent Duty
- CCTV
- Lost Property
- Accidents and Injuries
- First Aid
- Smoking
- Emergency Closure
Safeguarding – Information for Students
The College of Animal Welfare believes that all our staff and students have the right to learn and work in an environment that is safe, supportive and free from abuse, bullying (including cyberbullying), discrimination, harassment and exploitation.
Safety and wellbeing are fundamental to our community. We are committed to creating a respectful and inclusive environment where everyone is treated with dignity and where concerns are listened to and acted upon. We encourage all students to speak up if they are worried about themselves or someone else.
The College’s Principal is the member of the Senior Management Team with overall responsibility for safeguarding. The College also has a dedicated Safeguarding Team who are trained to support students and respond to concerns. Our Safeguarding Policy applies to all staff, volunteers, governors, contractors and visitors who work with or encounter our learners.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff receive safeguarding training and are expected to take appropriate action if they have concerns about a student’s welfare, safety or wellbeing.
Every student is supported by a tutor who can guide with coursework, wellbeing and accessing additional support where needed.
What does Safeguarding mean?
Safeguarding means:
- Protecting students from physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect and exploitation.
- Preventing harm to health, wellbeing and development.
- Ensuring students receive appropriate care, support and guidance.
- Promoting safe, respectful relationships.
- Helping students stay safe online and understand digital risks.
- Supporting students to make informed and positive decisions about their wellbeing and future.
What kinds of concerns can we help with?
The Safeguarding Team can support students with a wide range of concerns, including:
- Bullying, harassment or discrimination.
- Online safety and cyberbullying.
- Domestic abuse or unhealthy relationships.
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing concerns.
- Self-harm or thoughts of suicide.
- Exploitation, including criminal or sexual exploitation.
- Radicalisation and extremism concerns.
- Concerns relating to work placements or employment.
- Concerns about a family member, friend or fellow student.
- Any situation where you feel unsafe, worried or vulnerable.
What should I do if I am worried?
Safeguarding our students is extremely important to us. If you have concerns about your wellbeing, safety or rights, you can:
- Talk to your tutor
- Talk to someone in the Customer Advice Team (CAT)
- Talk to a safeguarding officer (Barbara Cooper, Claire Defries, Mel Young, Deborah Gould, Ruth Nield or Rebecca Williams) on 01480 422060 / safeguarding@caw.ac.uk (during office hours) or 01480 422070 (out of hours).
- View our safeguarding policy
What happens if I raise a concern?
We will deal with your concern sensitively, promptly and appropriately. Our priority is always your safety and wellbeing.
A member of the Safeguarding Team will listen to you; explain what support is available and discuss any next steps. In some situations, we may need to share information with other professionals or agencies to help keep you or someone else safe. Wherever possible, we will explain this to you.
Staying Safe Online
Technology is an important part of learning and everyday life, but it is important to use it safely and responsibly.
This includes:
- Protecting your personal information.
- Being aware of online scams and fraud.
- Challenging misinformation and harmful online content.
- Reporting cyberbullying or online harassment.
- Understanding the risks associated with social media, artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes and online exploitation.
If something online makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried, speak to a member of staff or the Safeguarding Team.
Remember
You do not have to deal with concerns on your own. If something is worrying you, no matter how small it may seem, please talk to someone. We are here to help and support you.
Student ID card
After you have enrolled you will be issued with a student ID card, and you will use this to gain access to the College as well as borrow books, netbooks, etc. from the library. You must carry this with you at all times whilst at College. If you are asked to show your card to any member of staff you should do so. This displays your student reference number and has the absence reporting telephone number on the reverse. If you lose your student ID card you may be charged £3 for a replacement. If you forget your student ID card you may be charged £1 for a temporary day visitor pass. The money collected through this system is paid into one of the College student charities. Staff will also wear a staff ID badge and visitors wear a visitor badge. Anyone not able to show their ID card will be asked to explain who they are and why they are in College and taken to reception. In this way we can ensure that the College is a safe environment for you to study in.
E-Safety
The college takes the safety of students online very seriously. There are many potential dangers involved with accessing information online and communicating with others virtually. As part of your extended induction programme, your personal tutor will explore with you the potential dangers, how you can avoid them and deal with them if they arise. We will help you to develop the skills to deal with the risks independently. You will also explore cyber-bullying and you will look at how to be a good ‘digital citizen’. The College has an Cyberbullying and Online Safety Policy which explains how we maintain your safety. Any misuse of electronic media via college resources or students own devices will be dealt with very seriously and may involve using the College’s Student Behaviour Policy and the Student Social Media Policy to address the issues. Cyber-bullying in any form is not tolerated at the College, and students are encouraged to think very carefully about anything they communicate to others via social networking, text or email. Students should seek support from their Personal Tutor or a member of the Customer Advice Team (CAT) if they are unsure or have any concerns.
Health and Safety
Health and Safety is an intrinsic part of all our courses and regular risk assessments are carried out on employers’ premises where students undertake work placement. Trips and other practical activities are carefully planned so that any risks are properly identified and students’ safety ensured. The College has several policies and guidance in place, such as our Bullying and Harassment Policy and our Child Protection Policy. Staff and students are trained in procedures to adopt should they have a concern which they feel they need advice about and our trained safeguarding team will advise on steps that will be taken with our students’ safety at the heart of any action. The College will listen closely to feedback from our student reps and staff to make sure that any concerns that are being reported are acted on. The College is here to facilitate opportunities for our students to grow through challenging academic and vocational learning, work placements, trips, visits, enrichment activities and celebrations – and we want everyone to feel that they can participate in all of the activities that the College has to offer whilst being free from harm. During induction, students will be given details of what to do if they need to report abuse – this will include being given names and contact details of our trained and experienced Safeguarding Officers. We have a dedicated email address safeguarding@caw.ac.uk and our Safeguarding Lead, Barbara Cooper can be contacted on 07803 903047. Throughout the year, during tutorials and student reviews, you will be engaged in projects to promote Safeguarding at the College. We want you to be involved, not only to feel safe yourselves, but to pass that message on to any of your friends who are reluctant to talk to us about their concerns.
The Prevent Duty
‘Prevent’ is part of a Government strategy which aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. From 1 July 2015, Colleges have a statutory duty under the ‘Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015’ to have ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’. Preventing terrorism also means challenging extremist views and intervening to stop people moving from extremist ideas into terrorism. The College plays an important part in allowing young people a safe space to explore their concerns and ideas, and to challenge prejudicial, discriminatory or extremist views. The College will also ensure that they are promoting fundamental British values within their ethos and curriculum. Students being drawn into extremism is a safeguarding issue which can also be a ‘child protection’ issue. This matter is therefore specifically referenced within the College’s main Child Protection Policy. The duties of the College and when the designated safeguarding lead will refer to the police Prevent team are clearly communicated in the policy. This may also lead to a referral to the multi-agency Channel meeting convened by the local authority. (Channel is a key element of the Prevent Strategy. It is a multi-agency approach to protect people at risk of radicalisation. Find out more about Channel here.)
Students and staff can take our Prevent course here.
CCTV
The College takes very seriously the safety and security of its students and staff. CCTV is therefore used at various points around the College.
Lost Property / Theft
Please only bring valuable property onto College site such as iPods, cameras, expensive phones or large amounts of money when you really need to. If you do bring money or valuables into College please keep them with you at all times. Whilst the College aims to provide a safe and secure environment thefts and losses could occur. If you cycle to College we recommend that you use the cycle storage area where there is CCTV monitoring. You should have insurance in case of theft. The College cannot be held liable for lost or stolen items. If you find an item that may be someone’s lost property please hand it in to reception. Likewise if you lose an item please check with reception in case it has been handed in there.
Personal property insurance for any expensive items could cover; theft, loss and damage. You can find statistics and compare insurance here.
Accidents and Injuries
You should report all injuries and accidents to a member of staff as soon as possible. If you are not in your classroom or workshop, report all accidents to the nearest member of staff, or reception. Any accident will be recorded and reported to a qualified First Aider.
First Aid
There are First Aiders available for emergencies, please notify a member of staff if first aid is needed so that contact can be made with a first aider.
Smoking
The College seeks to keep its students and staff safe from the effects of inhaling cigarette smoke. Therefore the College operates a no smoking policy in all of its buildings and also outside around the buildings with the exception of designated areas which are identified by a ‘smoking shelter’ or area.
Emergency Closure
The College is only very rarely closed by bad weather. If you are in any doubt and you have some distance to travel, look at the College blog, our Facebook page, check your mobile phone for College announcements, or telephone the College campuses between 8:00am- 4:.30pm.