Safer practice, safer learning

Safeguarding vulnerable learners

Conference

Monday 2 July 2007

Venue: Thistle Marble Arch

Bryanston Street, Marble Arch, London W1H 7EH

In 2008 the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act will become active legislation, bringing with it a new barring body, the Independent Barring Board.

Background

Safety of vulnerable learners is a topic that is rarely out of the news. High profile cases of abuse of children have highlighted the importance of vigilance in both appointing and supporting staff.

Thorough guidance on recruiting staff to work with children and young people in the further education system were published in December 2006. These have been followed by a Department for Education and Skills-funded resource for learning and skills sector providers working with vulnerable adults. These guidelines, ‘Safer practice, safer learning’, advocate a whole organisation approach to promoting a safe learning environment and include learner information materials. Other professional organisations have issued supporting information for education providers and learners.

This conference will give Vulnerable Adult Protection Officers in education provision, those involved in staff and volunteer recruitment and teachers and managers interested in promoting personal safety and awareness an opportunity to consider abuse, review recent advice and guidelines and share good practice.

Outcomes

Participants will

·        receive a copy of Safe Practice Safe Learning Guidelines with posters and learner information materials

·        be aware of guidance from the DfES on the safe recruitment of staff and

consider how they might prepare for inspection of safeguarding procedures

·        be informed of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act

·        identify actions that provision should take to prepare for the legislation;

·        understand the different forms of abuse

·        be aware of the new Independent Barring Board and its activities

·        share experience of creating a safe learning environment and

·        discuss how to embed rights and responsibilities into the curriculum.

Who should come?

The conference is aimed at staff in further education, adult and community learning and work based learning, for example:

-         Human Resources staff

-         Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection designated staff

-         Curriculum Managers

-         Teaching Staff

-         Governors

-         Senior and Middle Managers in education provision

-         Voluntary and Community Sector organisations delivering education

-         Learning and Skills Councils staff

-         Ofsted and ALI

-         Department for Education and Skills staff

-         All staff from Further Education

-         Work based learning

-         Adult and Community Learning

-         Governors

-         Vulnerable Adult Protection Officers

-         Counsellors

-         Learner support staff

Arrival and Registration is at 9.45am.  The conference ends at 4.00pm.

Conference Fee:  £270;  £210 for NIACE members for the first applicant and £190 for subsequent member applicants from the same organisation

(The fee includes lunch, tea/coffee and a copy of ‘Safer Practice, Safer Learning Guidelines’ with posters and learner information materials)

For further details and to reserve a place, look up:

http://www.niace.org.uk/conferences