Safeguarding

Under the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 and the Education Act 2002 all FE and Sixth Form colleges have a statutory duty to create and maintain a safe learning environment for children and young people. The Children Act defines a 'child' as a person under the age of 18.  As of the 1 April 2008, these safeguarding responsibilities were extended to learning and skills providers in respect of “vulnerable adults” who are training with them.

Stoke on Trent College’s recruitment processes are designed to help prevent people being appointed to our roles who may pose a risk to children or vulnerable adults.  These processes have been developed from the Safer Recruitment Guidance provided by the Department for Education and Skills and also in line with legislative requirements for certain checks to be carried out on individuals wanting to work in the sector.

Full details are set out in our Recruitment Policy and Procedures document.

Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) Disclosure Checks

All staff appointed to the College are required to have a CRB Disclosure.  The level of Disclosure applicable to each vacancy is specified on the job description.  Full details of the Criminal Record Disclosure Checks that are required to be carried out are set out in our Disclosure Policy .  Please note that individuals will be required to pay for their CRB Disclosure and payment will be deducted from the first salary payment.  The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure is £36.

As an organisation using the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosures service to assess applicants' suitability for positions of trust, the College complies fully with the CRB Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly.  It undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of conviction or other information revealed.  Our full Recruitment of Ex Offenders Policy is contained within the Disclosure Policy.

In addition to the CRB Disclosure Check, all appointed staff will also be subject to the following:

• verification that the applicant is legally permitted to work in the United Kingdom.
• the receipt of references considered suitable by the College.
• verification of all relevant qualifications referred to in the applicants application form.

These checks must all be in place prior to commencing in post and must be completed without delay following the offer of appointment.  Individuals will be invited to attend a pre-employment check meeting with Human Resources prior to the offer of appointment being confirmed.