Safeguarding
All UWC entities are required to comply with the UWC Common Standards for Safeguarding, which include nominating a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and the DSL undertaking mandatory safeguarding training provided by UWC International.
UWC Definition of Abuse
As defined in the UWC Common Standards for Safeguarding, the major categories of Abuse are:
Physical Abuse which includes any physical action which can result in injury (including emotional injury) to a Student;
Emotional Abuse is any action or series of actions (generally understood as ill-treatment) which cause or is likely to cause severe and persistent effects on the Student’s emotional development;
UWC does not tolerate Sexual Abuse. Sexual abuse includes any sexual activity involving:
an adult (regardless of role who is not a Student) and a Student (regardless of age)
an adult (regardless of role) or a Student and a child who is not a Student
non-consensual contact or interaction between a Student and another Student
All of the above may include, but not limited to, physical or non-contact activities, such as inappropriate communications, involving students/children in looking at or producing pornography or inappropriate displays of nudity. These contacts or interactions may be carried out against the Student/child using force, trickery, bribes, threats or pressure. Actions will be Abusive even if the Student/child appears to consent if that consent is not valid because of the age of the victim or the effect of alcohol or drugs.
Abuse by Neglect is the persistent failure to meet the Student’s basic physical and/ or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the Student’s physical or cognitive development.
Abuse and Students over the age of consent. It is made clear that actions by staff members or other UWC Movement adult non-Students, which would be considered abusive to a Student under the age of consent (within any jurisdiction) are, for the purposes of UWC, to be considered Abusive even if the Student is over the age of consent and maintains that that consent was freely given. The reason for this is the position of trust and the unequal balance of power of staff members and others within the UWC Movement and Students.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
As part of receiving UWC endorsement, you had to show a commitment to implementing UWC's Common Standards for Safeguarding, along with assigning a DSL. All DSLs are required to complete EduCare Safeguarding trainings online ahead of the short course taking place. If your short course is being organised by a school or college or national committee with an existing DSL on team, it's advised that they too take on the role of DSL for the short course as this will save time and resources. All DSLs must be over 18-years-old, so student-run short courses may have to nominate the supervisor as the DSL.
Once the DSL has carried out the mandatory online training, which takes a few hours, they must then feedback to the whole short course team (including all facilitators and guest speakers), ensuring that all team members are appropriately informed of the policy and trained to an appropriate degree (i.e. what to look out for).
Organisers must nominate their DSL as part of the endorsement form, and UWC International will send details to them, allowing them to complete the mandatory training, and additional training if they wish. For existing short courses, please nominate your DSL via this form and we will send them the training.
The Standards and thorough guidelines on how to implement these are provided below.
2018 01 31 Designated Safeguarding Lead - Role Description.pdf20181028 UWC Common Standards for Safeguarding_Approved by Board in October 2018.pdfSafeguarding guidelines for NCs and short course organisers.
Safeguarding Guidelines for NCs
EduCare Training
UWC International has partnered with EduCare, an online training provider, to provide safeguarding training to DSLs. All DSLs are required to complete the following training courses:
Safeguarding Young People for International Schools (4 hours)
Mandatory
Sexual Violence and Harassment Between Children and Young People (2 hours)
Mandatory
Staying Safe Online for International Schools (4 hours)
Mandatory for Online Short Courses
Raising Awareness of Peer-On-Peer Abuse (1.5 hours)
Recommended
Safer Recruitment for International Schools (4 hours)
Recommended
Preventing Bullying for International Schools (4 hours)
‘Module 1 - What is Bullying Behaviour’ is Recommended
To login in to Educare, please use the login details that were sent to your DSL. Once you have logged in, please click on 'My Courses' and select the courses from the list provided above.
There is no need to confirm whether you have completed the training with us directly as we will be able to see your progress through the Educare site.
Other Resources
The following procedures have been researched and collated by the Council of International Schools, detailing the criminal background checks which apply to countries and territories across the globe.
Criminal_Background_Check_Procedures.pdfHere is a safeguarding risk assessment form, to help you understand and assess the risk level of various activities, with a specific regard to safeguarding.
