• Derek Weir, Head of Legal Services
  Email: derek.weir@qub.ac.uk
• Mary Gallen, Legal Services Officer
  Email: M.Gallen@qub.ac.uk
• Nichola McKay, Legal Services Officer
  Email: n.mckay@qub.ac.uk
• Natasha Moroney, Legal Services Coordinator

The University’s safeguarding policies and arrangements are available on the University’s intranet site.

The current arrangements and policy documents were launched on 28 June 2021.  The information has been formatted into sections to be easily accessible for each user group e.g. line managers/responsible people, countersignatories and those working with children and adults at risk.

Working with Children and Adults at Risk

If you have applied for a post or course of studies that involves working with children and adults at risk, but you do not yet have access to the intranet site, the information you need is available on the Working with Children and Adults at Risk pages.

Safeguarding Concerns

If you have any safeguarding concerns about a child or adult at risk that the University engages with, you can raise these with the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) or Deputy Safeguarding Officer at the following email address legalservices@qub.ac.uk. However, if you are a child or adult at risk, you may not feel comfortable speaking with a stranger.  If so, please speak to someone who you feel you can trust.  This may be: 

• a parent/carer 
• another family member 
• a teacher/classroom assistant 
• someone within the University that has worked with you – this could be a safe person or a key contact 
• Childline (Contacting Childline | Childline) 

If you are the parents/carer of a child, you will have received an information sheet which sets out the contact details for the safeguarding contact for the activity your child is involved.  In the first instance you may want to contact the safeguarding contact for the event/activity.  You can, of course, contact the Designated Safeguarding Officer directly. 

It can be difficult to raise concerns, especially if you suspect there is an issue, but are not certain, or have no evidence.  Uncertainty can prevent people from coming forward as they worry that they are wrong.  However, be assured that it is for professionals to consider the information available to determine whether further investigations are required, or not.  The best thing to do is share the information you have, or your concerns, so the appropriate action can be taken by relevant people. 

All concerns will be fully investigated by the University and referrals will be made (where appropriate) to the PSNI, the relevant Social Services Gateway Team, and/or the Disclosure and Barring Service for a barring decision.

Internal

A number of other University Departments provide advice on particular legal topics and should be contacted in the first instance:

Data Protection Issues and Freedom of Information - contact the Information Compliance Unit, Registrar's Office

Insurance / Commercial Contracts - contact the Finance Directorate

Intellectual Property and Contracts - contact the Research and Enterprise Directorate

Health and Safety - contact the Occupational Health Service and the University Safety Service

Planning and Property - contact the Estates Diretorate

Research Grants and Collaborations - contact the Research Finance Office

Student Discipline - contact the Directorate of Academic and Student Affairs

Diversity and Equality Issues - contact the Diversity and Inclusion Unit

Support for Students with Disabilities - contact Disability Services

External

The following organisations are useful additional sources of information in relation to staff/student cases and legislative updates:

Students - Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education

News and Educational Resources for College Professionals and Teachers - Times Higher Education Supplement