Prevent Duty

The University is committed to providing support to all students and staff and it recognises that its duty to prevent anyone at risk from being drawn into terrorism is no different to safeguarding individuals or assisting anyone with any other type of welfare need.

The University does not seek to vilify or discriminate against any part of the University community and is careful to ensure that its approach is fair.

The University’s main focus on Prevent is to emphasise the use of existing University processes providing welfare, support and advice to students or staff. This is not about identifying ‘extremism’ but identifying general behaviour changes that may indicate individuals require many different types of further support.

The University does not expect individual students or members of staff to identify the reasons someone may need support, therefore any concerns should be referred to your safeguarding coordinator (you can find details in the Safeguarding Policy) or the safeguarding lead as per the policy. 

Students and colleagues can also report concerns internally using  Report a Concern or by emailing report@chester.ac.uk.

Channel is a multi-agency process which ensures vulnerable people of any faith, ethnicity or background receive support before their vulnerabilities are exploited by people drawing them into harm. Channel is not a criminal matter - it is a multi-agency process to provide support to prevent a person from being drawn into terrorism.

North West Region Channel is headed by the Local Council Safeguarding Lead. Other members of Channel include social services, NHS, police and education providers.

If there is sufficient evidence of concerns that a student or staff member may be at risk of being radicalised, the University (and not individual students or members) has a legal duty to refer that individual to Channel. The University will convene a Safeguarding panel (where appropriate) to consider information from student or staff welfare concerns before deciding to refer a person to Channel.

Participation in the Channel process is voluntary, it can’t be forced on an individual and student or staff welfare concerns will always be considered before deciding to refer a person to Channel.

The Prevent Duty imposes several other requirements on the University. Most of these were already in place before the Prevent Duty came into force. We must:

• have a risk assessment and an action plan on the duty.
• undertake specific actions relating to IT facilities including specific reference to Prevent in our Acceptable Use Policy
• have policies and procedures in place for the management of events both on campus and events that are University affiliated, funded or branded but which take place off-campus, to ensure that events do not promote extremist views that risk drawing people into terrorism while balancing our legal duties in terms of both ensuring freedom of speech and academic freedom, and also protecting student and staff welfare.
• provide staff training and awareness and overview of welfare referral arrangements (please see the When to Refer document)
• engage with other partners including other universities, law enforcement and the Government.
• share information about Prevent across the University, working closely with the Students’ Union (SU) and engage and consult with elected student officers on our plans at the Safeguarding and Prevent Steering Group.
• have procedures for sharing information about vulnerable individuals e.g. internally and with relevant external agencies; and
• provide sufficient chaplaincy and pastoral support with policies for the use of faith-related facilities.

Implementation of the Prevent Duty is overseen by the Director of Legal Services who reports on a regular basis to University senior management and to Council. The University also ensures that all members of senior management is aware of the requirements of the Prevent Duty and has also provided briefings to SU sabbatical officers and staff.

Safeguarding and Prevent Steering Group:

• Chaired by the Strategic Safeguarding Lead, or by the Operational Safeguarding Lead (Students), as the designated deputy.
• Meets at least twice per year to monitor compliance with and review the University Safeguarding Policy and Protocols; to monitor training needs and organise training as required; and to plan associated communications.
• Also acts as the Steering Group to monitor and oversee the University’s compliance with the statutory Prevent duty.
• Membership to include: Strategic Safeguarding Lead; Operational Safeguarding Leads; at least one Faculty and one Service Safeguarding Coordinator; an executive representative from the Students’ Union.
• Referral to Channel, fully considering all circumstances and following advice from Wellbeing or HR.

Implementation of the Prevent Duty in the HE sector is monitored by the Office for Students (OfS). Each Higher Education Institution must provide an annual report to OfS by 1 December each year stating what it has done over the previous year to ensure that the duty is implemented. Following assessment of this report OfS writes back to the University to advise that in its opinion, the University does or does not have due regard to the need to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism.

The latest feedback from the OfS regarding the University’s annual report confirms that the University is deemed to have due regard to the need to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism.

More information on OfS's work.

Safeguarding Apprentices: Employer Responsibilities

All employers with apprentices should have an awareness of the following:

• Safeguarding
• The Prevent Duty
• British Values

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding relates to the protection of the health and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults, enabling them to be free from abuse, neglect or exploitation.

We all play a vital role in safeguarding our apprentices and, as such, it is important that employers are aware of how to detect and report a safeguarding issue.

Further information and guidance.

What is Prevent?

The duty to safeguard apprentices from harm extends to preventing them from being drawn into extremism. This forms the statutory ‘Prevent duty’ (s.26 Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015). It is important to note that ‘extremism’ covers a broad spectrum of beliefs which may include far-left, far-right, environmental, Islamist, pro-life etc. Not all extreme views are illegal however, and it is only concerning when someone is at risk of committing violence or criminal activity.

Changes in behaviour, regular appearance or dress may (but not always) indicate a concern. If you are worried about an apprentice, you should always discuss your concerns with the University of Chester.

Here is a link to further information and guidance on the Statutory Prevent Duty Guidance along with access to a Prevent e-learning training package.

What do I do if I am concerned about an apprentice?

We encourage all employers to NOTICE, CHECK and SHARE.

• Notice: you might notice an apprentice’s behaviour gives you a cause for concern. This may include extreme changes in usual behaviour (or something ‘isn’t quite right’), or you see or hear something that could constitute abuse.
• Check: Question and check your concerns with other core staff members
• Share: Report any genuinely held concerns to the University as soon as possible.

Please note, it is not your role to investigate the concern yourself, but you have a duty to pass the information on.

Safeguarding and wellbeing is discussed at every progress review meeting with the Learner mentors, however, students are not expected to wait until a progress review meeting to inform us of concerns.

What do employers need to do?

Employers should have a named contact available to discuss any safeguarding concerns. This individual should:

• Have a foundational understanding of safeguarding and the Prevent duty.
• Understand what to do in the instance of a safeguarding concern.
• Be able to report the concern to the university as soon as possible.
• Make sure that British Values are actively being promoted across the workplace.

For more information around safeguarding, codes of conduct and reporting, please refer to the Salford University Safeguarding Policy.

Safeguarding – Raising a concern.

If apprentices identify any concerns, or others raise concerns with them they should inform a Safeguarding Coordinator immediately. Please note that apprentices must wait until they have made contact with the Safeguarding Coordinator before returning to their studies or other activities.

All Safeguarding concerns should be reported to the relevant Safeguarding Co-ordinator as per the Safeguarding Policy.

The Department for Education have reinforced the need ‘to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs’.

The University of Chester is committed to upholding and actively promoting these values.

Respect and Tolerance

Our learners will develop an understanding of respect and tolerance through:

• Our chaplaincy, offering multi-faith events throughout the calendar year, and a multi-faith centre where students of all faiths and or no faith can equally find space to socialise, pray and reflect.
• Chester Pride, developing understanding and respect for our LGBTQ+ community.
• Volunteering, work experience and mentoring programmes
• University Dignity and Respect Policy
• University Dignity and Respect for Students in Placements Policy
• Our Race Advocates
• Faith Advocates
• Our Student Code of Conduct
• Our diverse curriculum

Individual Liberty

We seek to protect our learner’s individual liberty through:

• University and Chester Students’ Union Safeguarding Policies and Procedures
• Our curriculum
• Access to University support, information and guidance through Student Services
• Wellbeing and Mental Health team and access to a comprehensive suite of mental health services

Democracy

Our learners will develop an understanding of democracy through:

• Our Students’ Union, with the opportunity to stand and vote in Sabbatical elections.
• Students’ Union General Meetings (UGMs)
• A broad range of optional events and seminars, where students are encouraged to voice and reflect on their own ideas such as TEDX events and Social Capital building events.
• Being invited to participate in student surveys.

Rule of Law

Our learners will develop a respect for the rule of law through:

• Being required to wear ID badges.
• Student Code of Conduct
• Disciplinary procedures and IT protocols