Best practice: Welfare of under 18s in FE

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Best practice Welfare of under 18s in FE

• AISA 24 March 2009
• Janelle Cooper

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Pre-arrival

• from student/parent
• to student/parent
• other staff at college
• homestay accommodation

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Information from student/parent

• DOB (supported by photocopy of passport?)
• 24 hour emergency contact for parents
• Medical details, medicines, allergies and
  consents
• Consent relating to off-site activities
• Travel information

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Information for student/parent

• Level of care
• Meet and greet (and contact)
• Emergency contact details of homestay hosts
• Emergency contact for school

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Other staff

• age and DOB
• any medical
• accommodation arrangements

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Accommodation of students under eighteen by
further education colleges national minimum
standards, inspection regulations

• http//www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/
  Publications/
• PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4005629

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LodgingsSTANDARD 46

• 46.1 Any lodgings arranged directly by the
  college to accommodate students under 18 provide
  satisfactory accommodation and supervision, are
  checked by the college before use, and are
  monitored by the college during use.

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15 College arranged lodgings are those provided
or arranged in private houses for a student under
18 by the college, any member of its staff as
part of their work for the college, or by an
agent or organisation acting for the college,
rather than by the students parent or by an
outside agent or organisation acting on the
parents behalf. They include term time use of
lodgings instead of on-site residential
accommodation, holiday lodgings arranged for
students under 18 by or on behalf of the college,
lodgings used during block release, and students
lodging with staff members during holidays. Where
the college provides accommodation lists, these
should be accompanied by a clear statement of
whether the college, or the parent, is
responsible for the accommodation of the student
(if the college is responsible, these standards
apply if the parent is responsible, they do
not). A college is also responsible for the
accommodation of young people under 18 who are
pursuing courses at the college, but are
attending (e.g.) holiday activities or language
courses, if this accommodation is directly
arranged by the college, but not otherwise. This
standard does not apply to any type of
accommodation which is not arranged by or on
behalf of the college.
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Initial visiting homestay host
What do all hosts need to know ?
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Visiting homestay host

• The procedure for booking accommodation
  cancelling a booking how and when payment is
  made arrangements for compensation in the event
  of moving a student without notice or a student
  not arriving if and when hosts are expected to
  refund money any retainer fees applicable.
  Private arrangements made by hosts with students
  if they are no longer enrolled with the
  organisation.
• A clear description of what facilities and
  services the host must provide.
• Advice on insurance - how to deal with damage
  caused by a student, or damage caused to a
  students property advice on the tax position of
  hosts.

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• Emergency procedures.
• The organisations policy on the number of
  students with the host, the nationality mix etc.
• How the College deals with complaints from
  students and complaints from hosts.

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Homestay and under 18s

• What else is needed when the homestay guests are
  under 18?

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Homestay and under 18sYour selection visit

• The organisations expectations about the hosts
  duty of care to those students aged under 18.
• CRB checks host, family, guest
• Unrestricted access
• Supervision of under 18s left alone at night?
  coming home times?
• Other students in the house age? number?
  nationality mix?

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• Arrival and departure (meet? delivered? late
  arrival?)
• First day arrangements
• Timetable

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First 24 hours

• Getting to college
• Induction spoken, written, follow-up
• Help contact
• ID card- emergency number
• Check on accommodation

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First week

• Check on homestay how? what?

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• food enough, eat with family, conversation
• other students- how many? where from?
• other adults in the house?
• travel?

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Sources of help

• UKCISA International Students under 18 guidance
  and good practice
• British Council Safety First A personal Safety
  Guide for International Students
• www.britishcouncil.org http//www.britishcouncil
  .org/eduk-safety-first.pdf
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• EnglishUK Welfare Officers Certificate Course
  www.englishuk.com
• ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority)
  www.isa-gov.uk
• Care Standards
• http//www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/
  Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4005
  629

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Accreditation UK

• www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation
• Handbook
• Welfare
• Accommodation

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M26 Publicity (or other information made
available to students, their parents or legal
guardians before enrolment) will give an accurate
description of the level of care and support
given to students.
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Pastoral care and orientation W1 Provision will
be made for the safety and security of students
appropriate to their age, background and the
location of the provider. W2 Students will be
given pastoral care appropriate to their age,
background and circumstances. Account will be
taken of any special needs arising from religious
observance. W3 A named person or persons will be
identified to all staff and students to deal with
students personal problems. W4 There will be a
procedure, known to all students and staff, for
dealing with abusive behaviour (including
harassment, bullying, actual or threatened
violence, damage to personal property, and verbal
and other abuse based on racial, sexual or
religious differences).W5 All students will be
issued with a 24-hour emergency contact number
for the provider, in writing.
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Accommodation Please note The type of
accommodation should be described in the
following terms homestay accommodation the
hosts treat the student as a full member of the
household, eating together and sharing the common
living areas no more than four students will be
accommodated in homestay accommodation at any one
time (homes accommodating more than four adult
students should be described as private home
accommodation) private home accommodation
accommodation in a private home for adults more
than four adult students may be accommodated in
the home there may be less direct contact with
the host(s) and students may be self-catering.
(Private home accommodation is not suitable for
under-16s.) residential accommodation in student
halls or hostels, catered or self-catering Where
a self-catering option is offered, this will be
made clear to students.
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• W9 In homestay, private home and residential
  accommodation the following services and
  facilities will be made available to the student
  to ensure a comfortable living environment
  throughout their stay
• a proper state of cleanliness and repair
• adequate heating and lighting
• a sufficiently spacious bedroom with natural
  light, equipped with an adequately sized bed and
  adequate hanging and drawer space for clothes
• a table for private study (where appropriate)
• sufficient washing facilities and access to a
  bathroom, with baths or showers available daily
• a change of towels and bed linen each week and an
  adequate supply of duvets or blankets
• a laundry service (especially in the case of
  under-16s) or clearly explained laundry
  arrangements.

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W10 All accommodation allocated to students will
be visited by a responsible representative before
students are placed. W11 All accommodation will
be inspected by the provider or their agency at
least once every two years. W12 Accommodation
registers will be kept up to date with accurate
information, including records of visits.
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W13 Confirmation of accommodation booked for a
student will include accurate and sufficient
information about the type of accommodation,
location, approximate time and cost of travel
between the accommodation and teaching premises,
services provided and payment arrangements
(including cancellation penalties). Conditions
and procedures under which accommodation
arrangements can be terminated will be
included. W14 Students will be told whom to
contact in the case of any problems with their
accommodation. At an early stage in their stay,
students will be asked by the provider or its
accommodation agency if they are satisfied with
their accommodation. Problems will be addressed
promptly and action taken will be recorded.
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W15 No more than four students will be
accommodated in a homestay at any one time. W16
Before students under 16 are placed in homestay
accommodation, the prospective host (main carer)
will be required to sign a declaration that they
and other adults in the home are not unfit to be
in contact with such students will be informed in
writing that CRB checks may be required. W17
Hosts will be fully acquainted with the rules,
terms and conditions applied by the provider with
respect to the provision of accommodation
services. Booking and cancellation arrangements
will be clear. W18 No more than two students
will be accommodated in the same bedroom. Where a
student is expected to share a bedroom with
another student, this will be clearly indicated
in the providers brochure.
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W19 Students with the same first language will
not be lodged in the same home at the same time
(unless written consent of the students or their
agents on behalf of their parents or legal
guardians is obtained in advance of
arrival). W20 English will normally be the
language of communication within the homestay
home. W21 Hosts will ensure that there is an
adult available to receive students on first
arrival.