Safeguarding students during Christmas:
At West Thames College we remain committed to safeguarding our students during these challenging times and irrespective of whether they are learning remotely or physically attending the college. The safety of students continues to be a primary focus and it's business as usual for our team, who remain on hand to provide any advice and support. A Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSL) with members of the Safeguarding Team will remain available throughout the Christmas break to ensure that we continue to respond quickly to concerns raised.
To ensure all our students are safe we:
- Practice safe staff recruitment and check the suitability of staff and volunteers that work with young students or vulnerable adults
- Raise awareness of child protection, vulnerable adults and safeguarding through staff training sessions
- Implement policy and procedures for identifying and reporting cases or suspected cases of abuse against a young person or vulnerable adult
- Support young students or vulnerable adults who have been subjected to abuse
- Listen to and support our students to ensure their learning environment is safe and welcoming
- Ensuring that our students are safe in their personal lives and in the community is critical to everything we do. The college will be providing continued advice and support to students who are considered to be vulnerable and for those who receive free college meals and bursaries.
Safeguarding and Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism
Prevent is part of the safeguarding process. It is the Government’s strategy to stop people becoming involved in supporting terrorism, in all its forms keeping them safe. Prevent works within the non-criminal space, using early engagement to encourage individuals and communities to challenge violent extremist ideologies and behaviours.
If a student has a concern about themselves or another student, please contact your Student Learning Advisor or Tutor
Contacting the Safeguarding Teams
If you need to contact a member of the safeguarding team, please contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Warm Space
The festive season can be a time of joy and spending time with loved ones but it can also be a stressful and lonely time. During this time it is important to try to remember to look after your mental health and wellbeing, if you need to talk about your feelings please see the following:
Kooth Events December 2022
Kooth is an online counselling and emotional well-being support service for children and young people aged 11 to 25. Kooth is a completely safe and anonymous website where you can go to gain advice, support and guidance from counsellors 365 days a year.
The experienced counsellors, moderated message forums and magazines can offer emotional support to you around a wide range of issues, from having a bad day or falling out with friends, to more serious issues such as bullying, stress, anxiety, depression, family relationships, sexuality, eating disorders, self-harm, abuse etc.
They can also support you if you are on the waiting list for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or if you do not meet the CAMHS criteria.
Visit Website: https://www.kooth.com
Domestic Violence Support
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/cover-your-tracks-online/
https://www.police.uk/pu/contact-the-police/
NSPCC
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/
Opening hours
We are available during normal business hours:
9.00am – 5.00pm (Monday – Thursday)
9.00am – 4.30pm (Friday).
Safeguarding Team
|
Michael Michaelides |
 |
|---|---|
|
Samantha Louisy |
 |
|
Beverley McGuire |
 |
|
Jazz Sidhu |
 |
|
|
Out of hours emergency safeguarding contacts
If there is a life threatening situation:
- Ring for an ambulance and/or contact the police on 999 or 101 non-emergency
- If you think a child, young person or vulnerable adult is being abused or mistreated or you have concerns about a child, young person or vulnerable adult’s well-being you should call the Duty Team at the relevant local authority. The emergency contact details are available on the Local Authorities website.
Click here for a list of external organisation contacts.
