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Safeguarding at LSBU

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It’s everyone’s responsibility

LSBU is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students, staff and visitors. We recognise our particular duties of care towards children and adults at risk who study at, work at, attend or visit LSBU. We believe that individuals of all ages have a right to learn, work and develop in a safe environment.

Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone in the University community. We all have a role in keeping ourselves and each other safe. We all have a duty to act if we are concerned for the wellbeing of someone else.

You can read LSBU’s Safeguarding Policy on our Policies and Procedures page.

What to do if you have a safeguarding concern

In an emergency/urgent concerns

In an emergency (for example where you or someone else is in immediate danger of harm, or where you have witnessed a crime), call emergency services on 999.

As soon as you can, inform LSBU by emailing helpsafeguard@lsbu.ac.uk. Your concerns will be taken seriously and responded to.

Less urgent/other safeguarding concerns or queries

Email helpsafeguard@lsbu.ac.uk.

Emails are received by one of the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officers. Your concerns will be taken seriously and responded to.

If you have a concern about any member of the University community, no matter how small, please contact to helpsafeguard@lsbu.ac.uk. We all have a duty to ensure the safety of our community and sharing your concern as quickly as possible is very important.

Remember you can report anything that is making you feel concerned without needing to identify the type of abuse or harm that is taking place. You just need to explain what you have seen or heard that is worrying you. LSBU’s Designated Safeguarding Officers will determine what action will be taken.

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding is about protecting a person's right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect.

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children (under 18) identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.

Types of abuse and how to spot the signs - children

Children (anyone under 18)

There are four main categories of abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect, as well as others set out below.

  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Child sexual exploitation
  • Neglect
  • Domestic abuse
  • Online abuse
  • Female genital mutilation (FGM)
  • Bullying
  • Cyberbullying
  • Grooming
  • Harmful sexual behaviour

The signs of child abuse aren't always obvious, and a child might not feel able to tell anyone what's happening to them. Sometimes, children don't even realise that what's happening to them is abuse.

There are different types of child abuse and the signs that a child is being abused may depend on the type.

For example, the signs that a child is being neglected may be different from the signs that a child is being abused sexually.

Some common signs that there may be something concerning happening in a child’s life include: unexplained changes in behaviour or personality; becoming withdrawn; seeming anxious; becoming uncharacteristically aggressive; lacks social skills and has few friends, if any; knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their age; running away or going missing.

For further information on the types of child abuse and spotting the signs please see these guides from the NSPCC:

Remember you can report anything that is making you feel concerned without needing to identify the type of abuse or harm that is taking place. You just need to explain what you have seen or heard that is worrying you.

If you think you may have a children’s safeguarding concern and want to seek advice and guidance, contact LSBU’s Safeguarding Officers: helpsafeguard@lsbu.ac.uk.

Types of abuse and how to spot the signs – adults at risk

Adults at risk

The Care and support statutory guidance identifies ten types of abuse, these are:

  • Physical abuse
  • Domestic violence or abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Psychological or emotional abuse
  • Financial or material abuse
  • Modern slavery
  • Discriminatory abuse
  • Organisational or institutional abuse
  • Neglect or acts of omission
  • Self-neglect

The Social Care Institute for Excellence provide guidance on circumstances that make an adult ‘at risk’ of abuse:

The signs that an Adult at Risk is being abused may depend on the type of abuse. For example, the signs of financial abuse may be different from the signs of physical abuse.

Signs of abuse may include changes in behaviour, absence from lectures or social groups, physical marks or bruising, lack of personal care, missing personal possessions, an unexplained lack of money.

For further information on the types of abuse and spotting the signs please see these guides from The Social Care Institute for Excellence and The Ann Craft Trust.

Remember you can report anything that is making you feel concerned without needing to identify the type of abuse or harm that is taking place. You just need to explain what you have seen or heard that is worrying you.

If you think you may have an adult safeguarding concern and want to seek advice and guidance, contact LSBU’s Safeguarding Officers: helpsafeguard@lsbu.ac.uk.

What to do if you have concerns

Out of hours safeguarding guidance

Do you need urgent help while the University is closed?

Are you worried about yourself, a friend or a relative?

Please use this guide - there are places that can help.

If you are feeling unwell and you cannot be treated by over the counter medicines at home then the first person to speak to is your GP who will talk to you about what will be most helpful and can refer you to the appropriate source of support.

However, if it is an emergency, for example:

  • You or someone in your household are in immediate danger of harm
  • You or someone in your household are seriously ill

Then call the emergency services (dial 999 and ask for the police or ambulance service) or visit Accident and Emergency or a Police Station.

If it is a non-emergency, but you require police presence, call 101.

Metropolitan Police websit

If you need to speak to someone urgently about your mental or physical health, or someone you are concerned about, don't delay in seeking help. You can contact the following organisations if you need support, including in a crisis.

  • Your doctor/GP
  • Accident and Emergency at your local hospital
    The nearest A&E to LSBU at Southwark is at St Thomas', Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH. You can call them on 020 7188 7188.
  • NHS Direct
    For health advice and reassurance, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year you can speak to someone from NHS Direct on 111 or visit the NHS Direct website. You can also find out specific mental health information on their website.
  • The Samaritans
    You can get confidential support if you are in a crisis, despairing or having thoughts of suicide by calling the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • South London and Maudsley (SlaM) NHS Foundation Trust
    You can get help in a crisis from their website.
  • Papyrus
    Support for young people in crisis: http://www.papyrus-uk.org/ and 0800 068 4141.

If you need to raise a concern about a child/young person under 18 or up to 25 with a learning difficulty or disability, contact social services:

London Borough of Southwark
Telephone: 020 7525 1921
Out of Hours: 0207 526 5000 (24 hours)
Email: RAD@southwark.gov.uk
Southwark Police: call 101

London Borough of Lambeth
Telephone: 0207 926 3100
Out of Hours Tel: 0207 926 5555
Email: helpandprotection@lambeth.gov.uk
Brixton Police: 020 8649 2025

London Borough of Croydon
Telephone: 020 8726 6464
Out of Hours: 020 8726 6400 (24 hours)
Daytime Emergency Telephone: 020 8255 2888 (For immediate attention)
Email: childreferrals@croydon.gov.uk
Croydon Police: call 101

If you require any other borough please Google the relevant borough’s Children’s Services Department for their contact details.

If you need to raise a concern about an adult at risk, contact social services:

London Borough of Southwark
Website
Visit the website to select the contact number for the appropriate team
Southwark Police: call 101

London Borough of Lambeth
Website
Telephone (including out of hours): 020 7926 5555
Lambeth Police: call 101

London Borough of Croydon
Website
Telephone (office hours): 020 8726 6500
Croydon Police: call 101

If you require any other borough please Google the relevant borough’s Adult Safeguarding Department for their contact details.

Keeping students and apprentices safe

We take our responsibility to ensure the safety of our students very seriously. This applies equally to our students who are studying an apprenticeship at LSBU.

Our Wellbeing team and Designated Safeguarding Officers are here to support the safety of our University community.

Students and apprentices – how to access support or share a safeguarding concern

Wellbeing team

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing service exists to support you when you need it, and to help you get the most out of your time at University. If you are experiencing personal, emotional or mental health difficulties that are impacting on your studies, we’re here for you. We provide a supportive space to discuss difficulties. We advise on what might help you feel better and work together with you to create a support plan.

Knowledge: What happens in a Mental Health and Wellbeing appointment? (lsbu.ac.uk)

To book an appointment, please log in to MyAccount and select ‘my support’ to choose an appointment that suits you.

Emotional support 24/7

Access 24/7 emotional support – our online emotional support programme, Togetherall is a safe, online, peer community where you can anonymously connect with people with the same experiences as you. You can also take self-assessments, complete short wellbeing courses, and speak with a mental health professional if you want to.

You can sign up for free with your LSBU email address here.

Staying Safe – safeguarding and safety advice for students and apprentices

Part of your online wellbeing toolkit at LSBU is the Staying Safe module, providing practical, non-judgmental advice to help you make healthy and informed decisions about alcohol and drug use; to deal with relationship issues, including respect and resolving conflicts, and sexual health issues; and to learn how to stay safe online. Access the Staying Safe module on Moodle.

How to report a safeguarding concern

You may have a concern about yourself or someone else – you’re not on your own and there’s always someone to talk to. You can share your concern and access support in the following ways:

  • Talk to the Wellbeing team – access support through MyAccount (select ‘my support’ to book an appointment with the team), email studentwellbeing@lsbu.ac.uk , or call via the Student Life Centre on 0207 815 6454.
  • Email helpsafeguard@lsbu.ac.uk. Emails are received by one of the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officers. Your concerns will be taken seriously and responded to.
  • Visit LSBU’s Report and Support pages for specific and expert advice and support relating to hate, harassment, or sexual violence.

Employers - how to access advice or share a safeguarding concern

If you have a safeguarding concern about an apprentice or student, please contact helpsafeguard@lsbu.ac.uk. Emails are received by one of the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officers. Your concerns will be taken seriously and responded to.

Prevent

As part of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, universities are required to pay ‘due regard to the need to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism’. There is no single way of identifying a person who may be vulnerable to extremist ideology and it is often the culmination of a number of influences. These can include, family, friends or relationships they have made online. Extremism can also include nonviolent action.

If you are concerned about someone who may be vulnerable to extremist ideology, please contact helpsafeguard@lsbu.ac.uk.

British values

An important part of Prevent, is also the promotion of British values. These are the norms that shape our society and which are enshrined in law, through legislation such as the Equality Act 2010. British values are described as:

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty and mutual respect
  • Tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs

Staying safe online

We are committed to the online safety and wellbeing of our students and apprentices – we have a range of resources and guidance for students and apprentices to access to stay safe online: