Oxford Brookes University recognises its responsibility for the safeguarding of children and Adults at Risk (as defined by the Care Act 2014). It is recognised also that Oxford Brookes University has a general duty of care to provide a safe environment for all those working and studying at the University as well as those who visit the campus.
The University regularly invites children and young people to access its facilities and services for a wide variety of purposes. Examples include:
- outreach activities
- school visits
- residentials
- hosting of work-experience placements
- Oxford Brookes International
- Open Days.
There are also a small number of undergraduates who start studies at the beginning of an academic year who are under 18 and specific areas of the University (such as research groups and the Nursery) who have a very specific relationship with children and young people. The University may also work with Adults at Risk who are students, staff or visitors as per some of the visit examples cited above
The University's safeguarding policy is separate to that of individual departmental policies, such as the Nursery or the School of Education, but is intended to be an over-arching set of procedures so that all staff across the University, who might be working with children and/or young people, or Adults at Risk as a regular part of their normal duties, know how to respond to disclosures of abuse and/or shows signs of such. Even if you do not work with children or Adults at Risk, all staff have a responsibility towards their safeguarding.