3.1) Work Experience Employer Handbook

THE CORNWALL COLLEGE GROUP Work Experience Employer Handbook Making Learning Work Who to contact Duchy College Stoke Climsland Employment & Work Experience Coordinators Johnathan Walters T: 01579 372392 [email protected] Lisa Dubois T: 01579 372423 [email protected] Cornwall College Saltash Employment & Work Experience Coordinator Tekhe Dan T: 01752 850257 [email protected] Cornwall College St Austell & Newquay Employment & Work Experience Coordinators Lindsay Adams T: 01726 226435 [email protected] Elly Isaac T: 01726 226569 [email protected] Karen Brown T: 01726 226569 [email protected] Cornwall College Camborne Employment & Work Experience Coordinators James Rowberry T: 01209 617797 [email protected] Jenna Gazzard T: 01209 617633 [email protected] Falmouth Marine School Employment & Work Experience Coordinator James Rowberry T: 01209 617797 [email protected] Duchy College Rosewarne Employment & Work Experience Coordinator Rachel Penhaligon T: 01209 722128 [email protected] Bicton College Employment & Work Experience Coordinator Peter Mathews T: 01395 562330 [email protected] Safeguarding Contacts Duchy College Stoke Climsland & Saltash – Pat Lloyd T: 07876 258321 St Austell & Newquay – Rob Cooper T: 07979 706039 Camborne, Rosewarne & Falmouth - Mel Thomas T: 07776 284930 Contents Work Placement Guidance for Employers What is Work Experience? Health & Safety Checks Insurance Employer’s responsibilities during the placement Health & Safety Induction Reporting of Accidents and incidents Safeguarding of Young People and Vulnerable Adults Learners who are under 16 Hours of work, lunch and breaks Pay Attendance & Absence reporting Data Protection Expectation of Learners The 21 Employability Competencies Placement visits and Employer feedback Appendix Summary of Cornwall College Work Placement Procedure HSE – Young People & Work Experience Prohibited activities Useful Links Please note, pages 8 through 11 contain public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence 2 Introduction Work Experience forms an essential part of the 16-18 FE study programme across the Cornwall College Group providing students with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a real life working situation. It helps young people become more employable by developing a range of specialist and ‘soft skills’ that employers say are needed in their workforce and gives them a competitive advantage over jobseekers with qualifications alone. It also offers Employers an opportunity work with the College in partnership to help develop a high quality, relevant and meaningful work experience programme for our learners whilst raising the career profile of their industry. The Department of Education states ‘there is clear evidence that well-organised work experience placements enrich student’s general education and help to improve the standard of their vocational work’ This booklet offers general guidance and practical advice to Employers offering work placements but does not constitute any formal legal advice; there are useful links to further information and advice from HSE, Government websites and related resources at the end of the handbook. As an Employer, your input is invaluable and we are grateful for your support. Thank you. Employability Team The Cornwall College Group Work Placement Guidance for Employers What is Work Experience? Work Experience is defined as ‘a placement on employer’s premises in which a student carries out a particular task or duty, or a range of tasks or duties, more or less as would an employee, but with the emphasis on the learning aspects of the experience’ From a legal standpoint, the student is regarded as an employee of that business for the purpose of work experience and the Employer is required by the College to sign a Work Placement Agreement form prior to the commencement of the placement to reflect the understanding of this status. Placements are typically undertaken during college hours, one day per week during term time or during two separate week blocks designed to fit in with specific stages of the learner’s studies but are also flexible to fit in with the requirements of the Employer’s industry in line with work time regulations. Students are expected to research and approach Employers to secure work experience under the guidance of Curriculum and Employability staff who will advise on the suitability and relevance of the placement. The Work Experience Coordinator is the main point of contact at College and will liaise with the Employer to undertake a Placement Suitability check, agree working hours and to confirm at start date once checks have been completed. For ongoing weekly placements, students are asked to liaise with the Employer towards the end of the academic year to agree an end date and inform the Work Experience Coordinator. A summary of our Work Experience procedure can be found at the end of the handbook. Placement Suitability Checks A Work Experience Coordinator arranges with the Employer to carry out a Placement Suitability Check on behalf of the College prior to the student starting their placement. The College has a duty to satisfy itself that an Employer has effective risk management arrangements in place to provide for adequate health, safety and welfare of students undertaking work experience. The Employer will be asked sensible questions in proportion to the level of risk, to satisfy the College that those arrangements are in place. All Employers must have a Healthy & Safety policy and Employers with more than 5 employees have a legal duty under the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations (HSIER) to display the approved poster in a prominent position in each workplace or to provide each worker with a copy of the approved leaflet that outlines British health and safety law (available from www.hse.gov/lawposter) Insurance All placement providers must have Public Liability and Employer’s Liability insurance. For ‘Sole Traders’ who do not have Employer’s Liability Insurance, the employer will need to contact their Public Liability insurer to see if they will indemnify the student for Employer’s Liability for the duration of the placement. The employer’s insurance company must be informed of the employer’s intention to take on the Work Experience student. Where a student will be travelling in a vehicle for the purposes of work the vehicle insurance must cover them. 3 Employer’s Responsibilities during the Placement Employers need to inform students of their main duties and tasks, the type of work, any associated specific risks, their control measures and remind the students of their responsibilities whilst on a work placement. Similarly, and in particular hazards associated with the work area and the work to be done must be explained and the importance of following safe working practices emphasised. A ‘Young Person’s Risk Assessment’ is required if the employer does not already employ young people under the age of 18 i.e. specific to the type of work and/or the needs of the student with specific reference to the learners, age, ability and maturity. Suitable and sufficient safety equipment and protective clothing must be supplied where necessary to protect from risks to safety or health as identified by risk assessment. The Employer must ensure adequate supervision throughout the placement. Supervisors should be aware of the purpose of Work Experience, have a good knowledge of Health & Safety and know something about the young person working with them. More guidance is available in the Health and Safety Executive Guide to Young People and Work Experience INDG364 Employer’s Health & Safety Induction The main responsibility for the Health & Safety of the student whilst on Work Experience lies with the employer. The employer will need to reinforce Health & Safety responsibilities at the very start of the placement through their Induction Process. Fire, First Aid and Accident Reporting procedures must be explained as will other policies that relate to safe working. The College provides a Health & Safety Induction Checklist which should be completed with the student on the first day of the placement and returned to the Work Experience Coordinator. Reporting of Accidents, Incidents & Dangerous Occurrences It is the responsibility of the employer to report any accidents, incidents or dangerous occurrences that occur on site following procedures for such reporting covered by the RIDDOR 1995 Regulations. The employer must also report any such accidents or occurrences to the Work Experience Co-ordinator. Learners who are under 16 Learners who are under 16 should be supervised at all times. The Employer must provide the college representative with a copy of their Young Person’s Risk Assessment to pass on to the learner’s parents. Safeguarding of Young People and Vulnerable Adults Employers should take account of Safeguarding issues under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. It is essential that no employee who has been disqualified from working with children comes in contact with a student on a Work Placement. Employers who would be working exclusively on a 1:1 basis with students under the age of 18 will require an Enhanced DBS certificate to offer work experience to our students. This will be discussed during the Placement Suitability checks however Employers must ensure that the Work Experience Coordinator is made aware of any changes to working practice within the organisation during the placement where lone working would be required. If Employers have any Safeguarding concerns regarding our students during the placement they must contact our Safeguarding Officer immediately - contact details are at the front of this handbook. More information on Safeguarding & reporting of Safeguarding concerns can also be found at www.online-procedures.co.uk/swcpp Hours of Work, Lunch & Breaks The Working Time Regulations apply to students on Work Experience however, the number and pattern of hours worked is normally agreed by the placement provider, parents and student.

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