This page outlines our approach to the safeguarding of young people under 18 and adults at risk.

 

The Safeguarding Framework details how staff and students can report concerns, suspicions or allegations of harm.

If you're concerned that someone is in immediate risk of harm you should contact emergency services on 999 and contact BSU Security 24/7, who can escalate to an on-call senior manager: +44 (0)1225 875555. 

Safeguarding – it's everybody’s business 

Bath Spa University is committed to:

  • safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children (i.e. under 18s) and adults at risk who access its activities or services
  • discharging its legal and regulatory duties. 
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What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is about protecting a person’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It’s about working together to protect those most at risk of, or currently experiencing, abuse or neglect.

Safeguarding at Bath Spa University includes children and adults at risk (sometimes referred to as ‘vulnerable’ adults) who are connected with University activities or who visit our premises.

Safeguarding can sometimes be linked to domestic violence, gender-based violence, racial and/or sexual harassment and hate crime. 

Our approach to Safeguarding also covers how we prevent and detect people being drawn into terrorist or extremist activities, which forms part of our response to the Prevent Duty. 

How does Safeguarding affect me?

Safeguarding affects all individuals in society, and we all have a role to play in safeguarding children and adults at risk.

Abuse can happen anywhere, in any situation. It can come in many forms and can be very difficult to detect. Sometimes it's visible, but many times it's not. It doesn't discriminate and can occur in any situation, privileged or not.

Staff and students have a duty to be alert to the possible signs of abuse and then act by reporting concerns promptly.

The Safeguarding policy applies to all university staff, applicants, students, volunteers, anyone representing the University and visitors to the University. The policy applies to face-to-face activities and activities delivered online, both in the UK and abroad.

These include:

  • visits to the campus
  • registered students who are under 18
  • children and adults at risk who come onto University premises as part of organised activities (such as visits, conferences or summer schools)
  • University staff and students engaged in activities off campus, including outreach activities (e.g. in local schools or on campus) and volunteering
  • students who, as part of their course, work with or undertake research or placements bringing them into contact with children or adults at risk.

Follow the four steps for safeguarding:

1. Listen

  • Acknowledge information about allegations of concerns of abuse. 
  • Take the person seriously. 
  • Stay calm, offer support and reassurance to the person making the disclosure. 
  • Do not make promises regarding confidentiality or offer to 'keep a secret'. 
  • Explain what you will do. 

2. Respond

  • If there is an immediate concern of risk to life, of violence or other emergency situation, staff or students must contact the emergency services by calling 999 and/or Security. 
  • The action must then be followed up by reporting to a member of staff (students) or to a DSL (staff) and completing the 'report a concern' form. 

3. Record

  • As soon as possible, make a record of what has been said, heard and/or seen. 
  • Note down any times, dates and parties involved. 
  • Do not investigate the situation. 
  • Ensure that you only record fact and not opinion or speculation. 

What are the types of abuse and how do I spot the signs? 

Abuse and neglect come in the following forms: 

  • Physical abuse 
  • Domestic violence or abuse 
  • Sexual abuse 
  • Neglect or acts of omission 
  • Modern slavery 
  • Psychological or emotional abuse, including bullying/online bullying 
  • Financial or material abuse 
  • Organisational or institutional abuse 
  • Self-neglect 
  • Discriminatory abuse. 

Sometimes the person involved might tell you about what is happening to them or you may observe or hear things that make you concerned for them.  

The signs that abuse or neglect might be occurring can include:

  • changes in behaviour
  • absence from class or social groups
  • physical marks or bruising
  • lack of personal care. 

What should I do if I have a concern? 

Safeguarding is everybody’s business.

If you have a concern about anyone linked with our University community, you must report this using the Safeguarding Report Form.

Raise all concerns. Even if you're not sure the concern constitutes safeguarding or think it might be a small thing, it's your responsibility to report it.

The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) will determine what actions(s) will be taken. 

Report an issue 

It is not your responsibility to investigate, make judgement or provide a response to safeguarding matters. If you have a concern, simply follow the safeguarding process for guidance on what to do.  

If you need to report an issue, email safeguarding@bathspa.ac.uk or complete the safeguarding reporting form. 

Help with reporting an issue 

While safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, there are people who support staff and students to report a safeguarding issue.

We have a network of Local Safeguarding Leads (LSLs) and Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) who are here to manage all Safeguarding concerns. 

Safeguarding team 

We have a single point of contact (SPOC) for Safeguarding: Head of Student Wellbeing Services. 

Bath Spa University has a SPOC for all external enquiries related to Safeguarding and they can be contacted via: safeguarding@bathspa.ac.uk.

Find out more about the University process on Safeguarding and Prevent Concerns/Allegations in this BSU flowchart document.

Further info and resources

For further information on the types of abuse and spotting the signs please see these resources: 

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children have a number of resources online, including a whole section on different types of abuse.

The Government’s statutory guidance document, “Keeping Children Safe in Education” includes helpful information on emerging types of abuse, including “child-on-child abuse”, harmful sexual behaviour and the sharing of nude images online (see Part Five and Annex A).  

This piece from the Social Care Institute for Excellence gives guidance on safeguarding vulnerable adults.