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.
