Safeguarding Code of Conduct

The following code of conduct sets out good practice in relation to dealing with children, young people and adults at risk, in all aspects of University activity:

Treat all children, young people and adults at risk equally and with dignity and respect at all times.
Try to work in an open environment and avoid being alone with a child, young person or adult at risk. Where a one-to-one meeting is required it should be conducted in an office with an open door or with visual access. An exception to this is where the student is a client of the counselling service; for counselling to be effective privacy and confidentiality need to be protected. All counsellors adhere to strict ethical guidelines to ensure good practice.
Maintain a safe and appropriate distance, avoiding physical contact which, however well-intentioned, may be misinterpreted.
Do not divulge home telephone numbers/personal mobile phone numbers, addresses or personal social media and email accounts to young people and adults at risk, ensure that there is no physical contact with them, avoid inappropriate familiarity or discuss matters of a sexual nature.
Never promise that a conversation will be kept wholly confidential. An exception to this is with counselling. Confidentiality, as delivered by professional counsellors, is an important aspect of counselling. However, counsellors always are explicit at the start of every contract about the limits of confidentiality.
Keep a record of any incident or injury sustained by a child or adult at risk. Where an accident has occurred, ensure that accident reporting procedures have been followed.
Never allow allegations made by a child, young person or adult at risk to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.
Avoid taking responsibility for tasks for which training is required but has not been provided or which a child, young person or adult at risk can do for themselves.
Ensure co-operation with all University regulations and HR policies and procedures.
Where recruitment and selection of staff or students for positions or activities which may entail contact with children, young people or adults at risk is taking place, comply with the University’s recruitment and selection policy (add link) and the University Admissions Policy.

Online/Virtual activities

The established procedures and guidance set out in the Safeguarding Code of Conduct should still be adhered to by all members of the University in an online/virtual setting. All members of the University should continue to look out for any signs that a child or adult at risk may be at risk and any Safeguarding concerns should still be reported following the usual procedure.

The University of Bradford will ensure any use of online learning tools and IT systems is in line with privacy and data protection/GDPR requirements.

University staff are advised to use University systems and virtual spaces for communicating with students and to avoid the sharing of personal contact details or use of social media for this purpose. If a member of staff does need to use their own personal device, they must ensure any phone calls are made from a blocked number so personal contact details are not visible.

The University continues to monitor wellbeing of students even when activity takes place via phone calls/online meetings and email and a record of all contact with students will be maintained.

When meeting with an U18 student, University staff should apply the same guidelines as set out in Appendix D of the University Safeguarding Policy and Procedure. As would be the case with an in-person meeting, avoid meeting with the young person alone and invite a second member of staff to join the meeting where possible. If this is not possible and a meeting recording is taken, the member of staff must ensure a Data Protection Impact Assessment is completed. In all cases, a clear record of the meeting should be logged by the member of staff on an appropriate University system depending on the context of the staff member (e.g. Microsoft Outlook, e:vision, SITs).