Safeguarding
Coventry College takes all reasonable steps to promote and safeguard the welfare of all staff and students engaged in any college activity. The college pays close attention to and works within the legislative safeguarding requirements documented in keeping Children Safe in Education and the statutory Prevent duty. As a result of this students at the college feel safe and know how to raise concerns with regards to themselves and others who may be at risk of harm.
The college is proactive in assessing safeguarding risks and takes appropriate action to prevent harm.
Coventry College is committed to ensuring that young people and vulnerable adults at the College are offered the information, advice and support that they need to stay safe and actively participate in college life.
Coventry College is part of Operation Encompass, this project reports to schools and colleges, prior to 9am on the next college day, when a child or young person has been exposed to, or involved in, any domestic incident.
If you have a safeguarding concern or would like to speak to a member of the safeguarding team please telephone 024 76 932 932 and ask for a Safeguarding Officer
Prevent
Section 21 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on certain bodies such as Further Education colleges to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.
The Government’s Prevent Strategy was published in 2011 and forms part of an overall Counter Terrorism Strategy known as CONTEST. The Contest Strategy has four elements which are detailed below:
- Pursue
- Protect
- Prepare
- Prevent
Prevent is a key part of the Contest Strategy which aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Early intervention is at the heart of Prevent in diverting people away from being drawn into terrorist activity as Prevent happens before any criminal activity takes place. It is about recognising, supporting and protecting individuals who might be susceptible to radicalisation.
The 2011 Prevent Strategy objectives are as follows;
- Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those that promote it.
- Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate support.
- Work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address.
The United Kingdom currently faces a range of terrorist threats. All terrorist groups who pose a threat to the UK seek to radicalise and recruit people to their cause. A system of threat levels has been created which represents the likelihood of an attack in the near future. The current Government threat level from international terrorism in the UK is ‘severe’ which means that a terrorist attack is a strong possibility.
To ensure that the College effectively manages risks, is able to deal appropriately with issues around radicalisation and extremism and meets its statutory duty Coventry College will:
- Understand the nature of the threat from extremism and how this may impact directly or indirectly on the College and individuals working and studying here
- Understand and manage potential risks within the College and from external influences including the display of extremist materials and the hiring of college premises
- Respond rapidly and appropriately to events in local, national or international news that may impact on the college community.
- Report any concerns around extremism or radicalisation via the College safeguarding reporting channels
- Provide effective support services which provide clear information, advice and guidance on preventing students from being drawn into extremism and radicalisation
- Ensure measures are in place to minimise the potential for acts of extremism within the College
- Ensure plans are in place to respond appropriately to a threat or incident within the College
- Adopt effective ICT security and responsible user policies and promote these to all staff and students