Multiverse has a duty to ensure each Apprentice’s wellbeing and safety. In this context, Safeguarding means having clear processes to protect Apprentices from physical or emotional harm, and encouraging them to develop and thrive as healthy, functioning global citizens. To effectively carry out this duty, we want to work closely with employers to ensure proactivity in promoting the Apprentice’s wellbeing and quickly resolving issues should they arise. Our full Safeguarding policy can be found on our website, and if you’re in the UK, you can find a full employer safeguarding playbook at this link. This article will explain how to disclose a safeguarding concern to Multiverse’s safeguarding team.

Although any apprentice safeguarding concern should be dealt with in the same way as a regular employee, the Multiverse Safeguarding team is happy to advise and must be informed if the apprentice is at risk in some way. Our normal hours of operation are Monday - Friday 09:00 - 17:30. In the event of an emergency, 999 should be dialed.

If there is any doubt at all about whether a concern is a safeguarding issue, please get in touch with Multiverse (details below). We are always happy to discuss any issues that arise. It is better to over-report than delay the resolution of an issue.

In extreme cases, any concerns for the Apprentice’s immediate safety must be directed to the emergency services.

Ideally, the employer should tell the apprentice they have a duty to report concerns. The employer should not promise confidentiality, but reassure the apprentice that anything disclosed will only be shared on a need-to-know basis and in a secure manner.

If the apprentice asks for confidentiality, the employer should respond “If I believe you or someone else is at risk, I must pass this information on as I have a responsibility for your welfare”. This conversation can then be reported.

The employer should listen carefully and take what is being said seriously and without judgment. They should ask open questions, and let the Apprentice talk.

They should write down what the Apprentice says in their own words as soon as possible while the information is fresh.

The employer should contact the Multiverse coach as soon as possible, or if they are not available contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead (details below). If it’s an emergency the employer must call Multiverse’s Safeguarding team as soon as possible (details below).

The Multiverse Safeguarding team will triage, log the concern, and take any action required. This may include: signposting to relevant external sources of support and offering 1-2-1 wellbeing calls. In other circumstances, they may call a special meeting with the Senior Leadership Team to discuss the concern, and/or make a referral to the local authority. Further information can be found in this Safeguarding and Prevent Disclosure Process.

Multiverse will keep the employer informed and advised as appropriate and within GDPR. Multiverse will contact any relevant external agencies should the matter require their support.

This is a Prevent Duty concern and you must report it immediately to the Safeguarding team via [email protected]. If it’s an emergency you must call Multiverse’s Safeguarding team as soon as possible on +44 (0) 7484 091148.

Prevent is about safeguarding people and communities from the threat of terrorism. It is part of the Government Counter Terrorism strategy called CONTEST. It aims to stop people from becoming terrorists, supporting terrorism, and violent extremism. Further Education and Higher Education institutions are subject to the Prevent duty.

British Values are seen as underpinning what it is to be a citizen in a modern and diverse Britain and Ofsted requires all training providers to promote fundamental British Values. They allow us to create environments free from discrimination, intolerance, and hate. They help us to challenge prejudice and stereotyping, whilst strengthening relationships within the community. Multiverse actively promotes these values and works hard to embed them into the curriculum.

The British Values are as follows;

Yes, this awareness course is for anyone new to Prevent. If you're unsure what Prevent is and what signs to look for when it comes to risks of radicalisation, awareness is the first course in our Prevent duty training.