At University of Lancashire we recognise that safeguarding, which includes the Prevent duty, is everyone’s responsibility. As such, we are committed to supporting students, apprentices and visitors.
We recognise the importance of health and wellbeing in relation to an individual's academic and university experience. We aim to create an environment in which all members of our community, including those under the age of 18 and adults at risk, are safe from harm. This includes all forms of prejudice, harassment, discrimination, and bullying.
Safeguarding is about protecting children, young people (under 18) and adults at risk from harm. It's ensuring they get safe, timely and effective support. In the context of the university, this usually means providing a safe environment for individuals to study, visit and take part in activities. We also have a responsibility to act where we become aware that a child, young person or an adult at risk is at risk outside of the university.
Everyone using our facilities or engaged in university facilitated activities has an equal right to protection. This is from all types of harm or abuse and regardless of:
- Age;
- Disability;
- Gender reassignment;
- Marriage and civil partnership;
- Pregnancy and maternity;
- Race;
- Religion or belief;
- Sex; or
- Sexual orientation.
Everyone has a responsibility to report a safeguarding concern and we all need to maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’. This includes staff, students, apprentices, visitors, volunteers, agency staff and contractors. It relates to any activity organised and/or delivered by university representatives, regardless of where it takes place. External groups and organisations running activities on our campuses need to do so in accordance with approved risk assessments and associated safeguarding policies.
To prevent harm and promote student and learner welfare, support is available through several sources. This includes:
- Student support
- Mental health and wellbeing, including counselling
- Disability and inclusive support
- Personal Tutors
- Course teams
If you are a current student, you can find out more about the support available by visiting our Student Hub.
Where harm has already occurred, safeguarding is about preventing further harm and offering appropriate support. This may be provided by the university and external services.
Safeguarding children
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children includes everyone under 18. In defining our approach we draw on the definition used by the Department for Education (DfE) in Keeping Children Safe in Education:
- Protecting children from maltreatment;
- Preventing impairment of children’s mental or physical health or development;
- Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Safeguarding adults at risk
The Care Act 2014 defines an adult at risk as someone over 18 years of age who:
- has needs for care and support; and
- is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect; and
- as a result of those needs is unable to protect themselves against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.
Any adult can suffer neglect or be subjected to abuse. There are many factors which can increase an individual’s vulnerability. Indicators of possible vulnerability include:
- A mental health issue
- Dementia
- A physical or learning disability
- A condition within the autistic spectrum
- A significant difficulty related to vison (requiring more than correction through spectacles and contact lenses alone)
- A significant difficulty related to hearing (requiring more than correction through hearing aids alone)
- Complications related to frailty or a serious illness
An adult at risk may be receiving support services from the local authority, the NHS or a non-statutory agency, however this may not always be the case
To view our Safeguarding information and policies, please visit Safeguarding.