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Safeguarding at Brunel

Brunel University London is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all students, staff and individual visitors who access its facilities and services.

Brunel will safeguard the wellbeing of children and vulnerable people engaged in the breadth of the University’s activities by ensuring that there are appropriate arrangements in place to deal with suspected harm, or the risk of harm, being caused to children and vulnerable people.

The full Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable People Policy can be found here.

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is a process to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable people.

A child is a person under the age of eighteen.

A vulnerable person is a person ‘who is or may need community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation’.

Safeguarding is an overarching term used to describe the protection of individuals right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. All parties involved in an apprenticeship have to take reasonable action to minimise risks to apprentices, both in the workplace and at the University. 

Types of abuse that are considered under Safeguarding include but are not limited to: 

  • Financial 
  • Physical 
  • Neglect and acts of omission
  • Sexual 
  • Psychological 
  • Organisational 
  • Discriminatory 
  • Self-neglect 
  • Domestic abuse 
  • Modern slavery 

Safeguarding Apprenticeships

Our Employer partners who work with the University to deliver apprenticeship programmes have a duty to comply with UK legislation and statutory responsibilities. Employers are expected to take responsibility for an apprentice’s welfare in the workplace and seek appropriate advice when they feel an apprentice may be at risk in their personal lives. This guide aims to guide you on the different university support services available to support you.

What should I do if I have a welfare concern for a student or member of Brunel community?

You can report any concern through our Report and Support facility here.

Prevent is part of the government's national counter-terrorism strategy and aims to stop people being drawn into terrorism or supporting terrorism. If your concern is Prevent related please see more information here.

 If you need to complete a safeguarding incident form click here.

External organisations can complete their declaration form here.

A blank safeguarding guidance and risk assessment form is available here.

Who are our current designated Safeguarding Officers?

Designated Safeguarding Lead:

Lesley O’Keeffe, Registrar

Designated Safeguarding Officers:

College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences – Annette Payne and Zear Ibrahim

College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences – Helen Blakes, Samantha McCormack, Emma Bolton (Medical School)

Professional Services – Janine Morley, Madeleine Swart.