Community Learning MK Adult Learning

Community Learning MK – Adult Learning

Children and Families Education, Effectiveness and Participation

Policy & Guidelines

Disclosure and Barring Policy

Claire Griffin Principal – Community Learning MK

Created: Agreed 2003, reviewed and updated February 2005, November 2007, August 2008; ratified by Group Director (Community Learning) September 2008, reviewed June 2009, agreed by LLC Asst Dir and HR. Updated July 13, July 2014 Review: August 2015 Background

The Community Learning MK – Adult Learning mission is to provide excellent learning opportunities to adults and young people who live in Milton Keynes which support them to achieve their full potential.

This mission is underpinned by the following principles:

 All education regardless of its recreational, social or vocational nature is life enhancing  Everyone should have access to learning opportunities which match their needs and aspirations and which promote equality and diversity  Partnership working is essential to promote the value of learning and to provide progression pathways  Everyone is different Everyone is extraordinary

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) arrangements are part of the pre- employment screening process to assess the suitability of individuals who will be working with young people or vulnerable adults.

If a course is specifically designed for a vulnerable group then the Council’s policy is to carry out enhanced disclosures on the tutor, but if the course is open generally to the public and a vulnerable person applies a DBS check will not be required.

Guidelines Children and Families – Education, Effectiveness and Participation will work within national and Milton Keynes Council guidelines to ensure that customers and staff operate in a secure environment and the risk to vulnerable customers is minimised.

Milton Keynes Council’s policy is the ‘Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex- offenders’. It states that if a DBS check is required, an enhanced disclosure will be necessary.

1 Guidelines

Community Learning MK – Adult Learning

DBS guidelines state that staff involved in ‘work in a further education institution where the normal duties of that work involve regular contact with persons aged under 18’ will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. This is reflected in the following table. Relevant staff will be checked on appointment and prior to commencing employment.

Staff And the expected Is the staff member/Course learner/customers are: member The majority of expected to take courses are more sole than 1 week long responsibility for children or vulnerable adults

Tutor: A course in the ACE  Predominantly adults Yes brochure aged over 18 yrs.  But there may be vulnerable adults within the group Tutor: A Skills for Life  Predominantly adults Yes course aged over 18 yrs.  But there may be vulnerable adults within the group Tutor: A Family Learning Adults and children Yes course Tutor: Any course Adults Yes designed for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities A Volunteer or Yes Learner Support  Predominantly adults Assistant aged over 18 yrs.  But there may be vulnerable adults within the group

Any member of the A mix of ages but Yes

2 ACE team who may including under 18 yrs or be involved in giving vulnerable adults unsupervised one- to-one advice or support to those under 18 or vulnerable adults. Any non-teaching A mix of ages but Yes member of the ACE including under 18s or team who is likely to vulnerable adults be left in charge of a group or individual on a weekly basis. Employment A mix of ages but Yes Support Officer including under 18s or vulnerable adults

Associate tutors who have not worked for ACE for one year will be subject to a re- check.