Make UK has a zero tolerance for drugs or any activities that may lead to threat or violence. 

·     Verbal abuse or physical abuse towards a learner, tutor/lecturer or Make UK employee

·     Breach of Health and Safety guidelines and working in an unsafe manner that puts others at risk

Purpose

This section aims to give guidance on how the training centres staff implement the search of a learner who may be involved in drug related activities, in possession of an offensive weapon or in possession of indecent / inappropriate materials.

Clarification

The Training centre’s definition of a ‘learner search’ is where a learner volunteers to show the Safeguarding Officer or a member of the training centres Senior Management Team (SMT) that they are not in possession of drugs, drug related tools, an offensive weapon, or indecent / inappropriate materials.

Responsibility 

Only the Safeguarding Lead, Centre Manager, or a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) is to conduct a learner search. Training centre staff may be enlisted for support in such situations but only as a witness and not to conduct or assist in a learner search or the suspension of a learner. 

Refusal to participate

If a learner refuses to cooperate with the instructions of a Safeguarding Lead in participating in being searched, or surrendering drugs, drug-related tools, offensive weapons or indecent / inappropriate materials, the Safeguarding Lead will immediately inform the learner that he or she is in breach of the training centres Disciplinary Procedures. Their lack of participation may lead to the Director of Apprentices & Technical Training permanently excluding them from the training centre.

If the learner continues to refuse to participate, then the Safeguarding lead will ask them to leave the training centre premises immediately and he or she will be escorted off the premises.

If the learner refuses to leave the training centres premises, then a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) is to be called who will take charge of the situation and may choose to enlist the support of the Police.

Procedure

Step1:

If any member of staff suspects a learner of being under the influence of drugs or in possession of drugs, drug related tools, an offensive weapon, or indecent / inappropriate materials, then he or she should call the Safeguarding Lead immediately

Step 2:

The Safeguarding Lead will assess whether the situation is suspicious or not. If there is a valid concern, the Safeguarding Lead will call the Centre Manager to act as a witness. If the Centre Manager is not available, the Safeguarding Lead is to call the nearest training centre member of staff to act as a witness.

Step 3:

The Safeguarding Lead will inform the relevant learner of the allegation, and that their possessions are going to be subject to a search. If the learner refuses to participate, refer to the above ‘Refusal to participate’ section.

Step 4:

The Safeguarding Lead and the Centre Manager will escort the learner to a quiet room or to an equivalent suitable private room to conduct the search.

If there is more than one learner, then the Safeguarding Lead may enlist the support of another staff member to supervise the remaining Learners. The role of the member of staff is to witness the behaviour of the learners whilst the Safeguarding Lead is conducting his / her duties.

Step 5:

The Safeguarding Lead will ask the learner to:

·     Empty all bags, turn out all pockets, open boxes, pencil cases, phones, iPad etc.

·     Take off jackets or other outer garments, unless such actions may be deemed insulting to religion, race or gender or affecting a disability or modesty.

·     Take off shoes, trainers, boots, etc.

The Safeguarding Lead will not touch a learner him / herself.

Step 6:

If the learner has been found with an item that may be deemed as suspicious, then the Safeguarding Lead is to take such item off the learner and suspend the learner until a hearing takes place, in accordance to the Disciplinary procedures. If the learner refuses to hand over the suspicious item, refer to the above ‘Refusal to participate’ section.

Step 7:

If the learner or any member of the group is not in possession of anything that may be deemed suspicious, then no learner will be suspended. However, if one member of the group is found in possession of something suspicious then the entire group is to be suspended.


Last modified: Monday, 5 September 2022, 9:50 AM