Safeguarding

The College has a responsibility to make sure you are safe and we will try to help you if you are in a situation where you are unsafe. This is called Safeguarding and includes emotional abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, violence, physical abuse and exploitation. The College’s Safeguarding procedures are on the Student Portal or you can get a copy from the Student Centre.

If you or someone else could be at risk, please tell us by speaking to your tutor, a Pastoral Mentor or by contacting the Safeguarding Team directly on safeguarding@gbmc.ac.uk as soon as you can. 

You can also use the KEEP SAFE text number: 07739 615 265 starting your message with GBMCKEEPSAFE or press the KEEP SAFE button on the Student Portaland complete the form. If you are in urgent need of help, always speak to a member of staff in person. We assure you that whatever you tell us will be taken seriously. We will do our best to get you the advice and support you need.

Anti-discrimination 

A key part of keeping safe is that the whole College community believes that the College, our Study Programmes and wider environment should be open, accessible and welcoming to people from different backgrounds. If we are aware of any bullying or harassment it will be challenged and action will be taken. If it happens to you, we will support you in dealing with those responsible. If you feel you are being unfairly treated or abused because of who you are, then report any incidents to your tutor, the Student Centre or a member of the Pastoral Mentor team. 

ID badges 

You are required to bring and display your College ID badge every time you attend college. This is a safety measure to ensure the whole college is secure and you will be stopped by staff if it is not visible. You will be issued with an ID badge when you join the college and you will need to purchase a replacement if you lose it.

Anti-bullying

Bullying is any behaviour that is unwanted, unwelcome, inappropriate and unacceptable to the person receiving it, causing them unease, stress, distress and a possible loss of self-esteem.

The MET is committed to ensuring that all students are part of the college environment free from any form of harassment or bullying. The College will not tolerate any form of bullying or harassment, including cyber bullying, and will take firm and decisive action to protect students from harm. Our Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy is on the Student Portal or you can get a copy from the Student Centre.

We want the College to be a place where you can study and feel safe, respected and listened to regardless of your background, how you look or any other aspect of your life. We want you to feel confident that you can speak out and know you will be heard.

The College needs to know if you or someone you know is being bullied or is having to deal with unwelcomed behaviour. Bullying may take various forms; in person, via Social Media, by text, or email. Please tell a member of staff.

Any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination is absolutely unacceptable.

Prevent

The Prevent Strategy is the Government’s response to a rise in terrorism and extremism activity in the UK and abroad. This means intervening to stop people becoming involved in extremism, terrorism, or far left or far right political extremism. People who are vulnerable to becoming involved in terrorism can be any age, from any group, faith, ethnicity or background. The MET has a legal duty to protect students from the risk of radicalisation. Every member of staff at the College has received Prevent training and the Safeguarding team are always available if there are concerns in this area.

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information sharing partnership enabling schools and colleges to offer immediate support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. Information is shared by the police with a school or college's trained Key Adult (DSL) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident thus enabling appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

Children experiencing domestic abuse are negatively impacted by this exposure; domestic abuse has been identified as an Adverse Childhood Experience and can lead to emotional, physical and psychological harm. Operation Encompass aims to mitigate this harm by enabling immediate support, making a child's day better and giving them a better tomorrow.

Operation Encompass believes that children are victims of domestic abuse in their own right and should be acknowledged as such.

Click here for more information. 

Staying safe online

Our computers, online resources and networks are a great resource that we want you to use to help your studies, but when doing so you must ensure you do so responsibly and safely. 

We make every effort to ensure you keep safe when using our technology, but we ask that you: 

• Listen carefully to instructions from your tutors or other college staff members. 
• Read the IT Acceptable Use Agreement before signing at either enrolment or when logging onto the College computers. The agreement explains very clearly what you can and can’t do  when using the College systems. 
• Never share your passwords with anyone, for any site or system you use. 
• Never attempt to use the username or password of another person. 
• Never give out or post personal information about yourself when online. 
• Think very carefully about who can see any content you post online before you do so. Would you be happy for strangers, parents or possible future employers to see it? 
• Immediately report any unpleasant or inappropriate behaviour, material or messages  that make you feel uncomfortable to the Student Mentor team or your teacher. 
• You can use the KEEP SAFE button on the Student Portal to contact the Pastoral Mentor Team directly.

Some of the risks you should be aware of when using technology are:

• It is not always easy to know who can see personal information or images on the internet. 
• When communicating with others on the internet, it is difficult to know if someone  is who they say they are. People can often be dishonest about who they are and their intentions. 
• Personal information or images may be posted on the internet without your consent. 
• Cyber-bullying via text or social media sites can happen. Ensure you report it immediately so we  can help you. 
• Opening email attachments from unknown people or downloading software or materials from the internet will greatly increase your  chances of getting a computer virus.

Please remember that:

• For your safety and security, the College monitors your use of all our IT systems, which includes things like your use of the internet, email and Google/Moodle. 
• You are responsible for your own actions both in and out of the College. 
• If you do not follow the IT Acceptable Use agreement and are found to be using technology inappropriately, it will be treated as a disciplinary matter as explained in the Student Behaviour Code.

Health and safety

The MET places great importance on the health, safety and welfare of our students and visitors.

You will have a health and safety introduction at the start of your Study Programme so that you are familiar with important health and safety information such as, what to do when the fire alarm sounds or an accident happens and what risks are present in your vocational area.

If you have any health, safety and welfare questions or concerns, please tell your tutor.

More information is in the Health and Safety Booklet or on the College VLE.

What are you entitled to?

• An induction to health and safety at the start of your Study Programme and at each new location or placement
• Full information on the College’s (and where appropriate, the work placement or employer’s) health and safety policy, responsibility and procedures
• Information on supervision arrangements
• Information on any risks associated with the Study Programme
• Advice on, and ready free access to, suitable personal protective equipment or facilities
• Information on restrictions, which apply to any action or activity you might be involved in - for example, restrictions on the use of certain machinery or vehicles

What to do in an emergency:

On discovering a fire:

• Sound the nearest fire alarm and leave the building immediately 
• Go to the appropriate assembly area. On the way, inform the Duty Caretaker of the location of the fire if it is safe to do so.

On hearing the fire alarm:

• Leave the building immediately and assemble in the area indicated on the nearest fire notice. Please note your Fire Evacuation Symbol.
• DO NOT stop to collect personal belongings
• DO NOT use the lifts
• DO NOT re-enter the building until authorised