Welfare, Health and Safety Policy
Welfare, Heath & Safety
As part of our safeguarding procedures the following guidance is provided specifically for our Host families.
As a host family, you will be expected to protect the students that you host and you will be required to have a valid Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check for each member of the household or regular visitors aged 16 or over who will be present whilst students are staying with you.
l Be even handed in relationships with UK Tuition Guardians students – avoid the appearance or the reality of favouritism
l Be unambiguous in your behaviour towards guest students
l Avoid secrecy and understand confidentiality
l Respect students’ rights and privacy
l Share concerns and worries with UK Tuition Guardians’ staff
l Avoid being misinterpreted
l Understand issues concerning physical restraint
l Avoid inviting UK Tuition Guardians’ student/s to ‘friend’ you on Facebook or other social media sites
Safe Care Plan
The host family should have due consideration for the safe care of both the student/s and your family members. A SAFE CARE PLAN should be adopted and may consider the following:
l Entering the Student’s Bedroom (appropriate, respectful, knocking and allowing privacy)
l Bathroom Conduct and Routines (All need to be able to lock the door, and be given times if necessary)
l Medication locked away
l Smoking by both family, friends and possibly students (although it is banned at all boarding schools)
l Drinking alcohol, plus storage of alcohol both with family, friends, and the impact on students
l Friends visiting and their conduct towards student/s
l Internet and telephone use (see policy)
l Car driving – Who is allowed to drive the student/s and in which car?
l Bedtime routines and respect for privacy
l Sexual conduct and demonstrating affection towards both the student/s and within the family
l Rules that may be non-negotiable or guidelines. These may include:
Parent rooms are out of bounds
Adult males should avoid being alone in the bedroom or bathroom with a female student and should be appropriately clothed
Bathroom routines
Breakfast (if late, may be DIY) and other meal times
It is also your responsibility to make sure all electrical appliances are safe, particularly in the student’s room and we recommend PAT (Portable appliance testing) testing each electrical appliance annually. All gas appliances are to be inspected annually by a Gas Safe registered plumber, and a Gas Safety Certificate provided to UK Tuition Guardians Office. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms MUST be fitted in the house. Medicines and/or chemicals must not be stored unlocked in the student’s bathroom. Explain basic fire escape routes, access to the outside doors, and the location of any necessary keys. Please also ensure that they know to dial 999 for Police, Fire or Ambulance should any such emergency arise whilst they are staying with you.
Missing Students
Unexplained student absences or other situations affecting student safety, should be reported to UK Tuition Guardians immediately, via the emergency phone number (07887 718 838 / 07824 336 471). Specifically, should a student who is booked with a host family not arrive within 2 hours of when they are expected, it is the duty of the host family to advise us of this matter and we will follow up, taking all necessary actions to locate the student.
Each case will be dealt with individually and relevant actions will be taken to locate the student. UK Tuition Guardians Limited will contact parents where relevant. The local police may also be contacted. When a child returns all relevant parties will be informed.
Children Missing Education
1. All children, regardless of their circumstances, are entitled to an efficient, full time education which is suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have.
2. Children missing education are children of compulsory school age who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at a school. Children missing education are at significant risk of underachieving, being victims of harm, exploitation or radicalisation, and becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) later in life.
3. Effective information sharing between parents, schools and local authorities is critical to ensuring that all children of compulsory school age are safe and receiving suitable education.
Hosts or parents must report immediately to UK Tuition Guardians Limited via the emergency phone number (07887 718 838 / 07824 336 471) if they become have any concerns about a student missing education. Our staff will then investigate fully to find out as much as possible. UK Tuition will liaise with parents, Hosts, schools and other relevant agencies to resolve the situation and ensure that the student continues their education.
Use of Computers and Internet
Since the development of responsible, considerate and independent use of computers and the internet is important for a student’s education, but it is essential to outline appropriate computer use and provide guidelines as to their safe use. Some material accessible via the internet may be illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive.
Students should ensure memory sticks or other storage media are free from computer viruses and any software on personally owned machines is legally licensed.
Students are not allowed to use the internet for any illegal activity, this includes accessing sites meant for adults or 18 years or older such as pornographic or gambling sites. Students must not search for, or browse through, any sites that contain offensive, obscene, violent, dangerous, inflammatory, racist or extremist material. Downloading any unlicensed material such as music, video, TV programmes, games and PDF files is illegal and therefore not permitted.
Whilst use of social networking sites has brought about a communications revolution that gives young people unrivalled opportunities, it also brings risks. It is important that students understand these risks, know how to stay safe in this environment and how to avoid making themselves vulnerable to a range of issues including identity theft, bullying, harassment, grooming and abuse. They also need to learn how to avoid the risk of exposing themselves to subsequent embarrassment due to an inappropriate personal profile or inclusion on others’ profile. The Child Exploitation and Online Protection body (CEOP) provides some useful guidelines and advice for parents, guardians, host families and students.
Any type of hacking (defined as attempt to gain access to folders, databases, or other material on the network to which one is not entitled) is considered to be an extremely serious offence. To comply with the Computer Misuse Act 1990, any student who indulges in hacking or is found with hacking software/paraphernalia on their computer can expect to face serious consequences. Likewise, physical interference with any other computer is not tolerated.
UK Tuition Guardians will not accept liability for the loss or damage to any computers owned by the student or borrowed from anyone.
References
Missing Students Policy.
Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
Computer Misuse Act 1990
Reviewed October 2023
Next review date October 2024
