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Policies & Procedures

Safeguarding & prevent.

We take the safety of all our students seriously. All staff are trained in Safeguarding and students hear about our safeguarding procedures when they start in college.

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All students get a copy of the Staying Safe leaflet during induction.  

If you have any safeguarding concerns or worries about extreme views or possible radicalisation, call 07832 970 882

 

 At Charis Counselling & Training Academy we regard the welfare of our students as our highest priority and are committed to protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm. This policy acknowledges our legal safeguarding duties in respect of: 

• Working with other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children [The Children Act (1989) and (2004)]

 • Ensuring that we have effective procedures in place for reporting and managing safeguarding concerns [Education Act (2002)] 

• Ensuring that staff understand their special legal position in relation to students under the age of 18 [Sexual Offences Act (2003)], and their mandatory reporting duty in relation to FGM [Serious Crime Act (2015), Working together to safeguard children (2018)] 

• Working with other agencies to report allegations against staff and promote safer recruitment, [Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)], [Working together to safeguard children (2018)] 

• Protecting students from radicalisation and violent extremism [Counterterrorism and Security Act (2015) and CONTEST (2018)] 

• Compliance with data protection law [Data Protection Act (1998), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (2016)]

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adult is everyone’s responsibility.

• All staff should be familiar with this policy and with the procedures by which we report and manage safeguarding concerns. 

• All staff should be receptive to any disclosures from students, and alert to possible signs of abuse or self-harm. 

• All staff should be familiar with the Staff Code of Conduct and demonstrate high standards in their professional behaviours. 

• All staff should complete mandatory safeguarding training, and complete updates and attend additional safeguarding related training as required.

 • All staff should read and maintain a good working knowledge of Keeping Children & vulnerable adult Safe in Education Part 1 2.2 The Academy will allocate sufficient resources to promote the welfare and safety of its students. 

• The Academy will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and specially trained Safeguarding Officer (SGOs) to ensure that our safeguarding processes are applied swiftly and effectively trained Safeguarding Officer (SGOs) to ensure that our safeguarding processes are applied swiftly and effectively.

The Academy will take all reasonable steps to prevent its students from being drawn into terrorism. 

• The Academy recognises the positive contribution it can make towards protecting its students from radicalisation and violent extremism. The Academy will continue to empower its students to create communities that are resilient to extremism and protecting the wellbeing of particular students who may be vulnerable to being drawn into violent extremism or crime. It will also continue to promote the development of spaces for free debate where shared values can be reinforced.

 • The Academy will seek to ensure that all its staff and students have a clear understanding of the government’s Prevent strategy, and how it affects them. 

• The Academy will share information to facilitate multi-agency intervention if this is deemed necessary to protect students from radicalisation and violent extremism. 

• Any Prevent concerns will be reported via the Safeguarding Procedures. The Academy will comply with all current data protection legislation. The college will ensure that all student data in relation to safeguarding is processed in a lawful manner.

 • The Academy will seek to maintain student confidentiality wherever possible but will always prioritise the sharing of information when this is deemed necessary to keep students safe.

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Students

EQUALITY & DIVERSITY POLICY.

Charis Counselling & Training Academy is committed to advancing equality of opportunity for all. The Academy celebrates and values the diversity brought to its workforce and student body by individuals and is committed to meeting the needs of a diverse learner population within a multi-cultural society. This policy seeks to comply with the requirements of the (Equality Act 2010) and best practice.

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CCTA seeks to ensure that individuals and communities have equal access to learning programmes and facilities, to be responsive to the changing demographic of the local area, and to play an active role in community cohesion. The Academy will treat all employees, workers and students with respect and dignity, and seeks to provide a working environment free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation. CCTA will seek to eliminate discrimination on grounds of age, class, disability, employment status, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or special needs. CCTA aims to create a working and learning environment where there are positive relations between different groups of people. To this end, the college undertakes to provide training and support and to consult with staff about their experience of the working environment, and to provide diverse images in any material that it produces. The aim is to create an inclusive ethos where issues of racism, bullying, stereotyping and discrimination can be discussed openly, where there is a shared commitment to challenging and preventing all kinds of discrimination, and where there is respect for diversity and difference.

 

This single scheme covers all issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion at Charis Counselling & Training Academy. The policy aim is to clarify the Academy’s commitments to provide equality, fairness, and respect for all learners and staff whilst working or learning within our spaces, whether temporarily or permanent, part-time or full-time 

To confirm that we will not unlawfully discriminate against those with protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which include of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation 

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  •  To oppose and avoid all forms of unlawful discrimination. This includes in pay and benefits, terms and conditions of employment, dealing with complaints and grievances and discipline, dismissal, redundancy, leave for parents, requests for flexible working, and selection for employment, promotion, training, or other developmental opportunities or in access to learning and the quality of our provision

Corporation members, staff, students and their sponsors (including work placement providers) are aware of our single equality scheme and the action needed for its implementation.

 

  • Staff, students and their sponsors (including work placement providers) are aware of the value placed upon equality of opportunity and that action will be taken in the event of any breach of this scheme. Corporation members and staff have access to comprehensive information and training, which assists them to plan, implement and monitor actions to carry out their responsibilities under this scheme. 

DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS.

CCTA will seek to provide a supportive environment for those who make claims of discrimination or harassment. Acts of discrimination (direct or indirect), harassment, victimisation or abuse will be treated as serious disciplinary offences.

 

STAFF:

All staff have responsibilities for promoting equality and fostering good relations between different groups. All staff have responsibilities to eliminate discrimination on grounds of race, gender, disability or any of the protected characteristics. Staff are responsible for ensuring that: 

 

  • They are aware of the Academy’s statutory duties in relation to legislation 

  • Their schemes of work, lesson content and teaching resources demonstrate sensitivity to issues of equality 

  • They challenge inappropriate behaviour by either learner, work placement providers or other members of staff 

  • It is the responsibility of the College and each of its individual members of staff to confront discrimination, whether witting or unwitting, whenever it occurs. Students as key stakeholders also have a role and responsibility to comply with policies: 

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STUDENTS:

  • Students should be made aware of the College ethos and policies at induction, through publicity and events, and through the embedding of EDI in teaching and learning. 

  • Students should make every effort to understand and support the College’s single equality scheme. They should treat all other students, staff, and visitors with respect and dignity. 

  • Students must show respect for other people’s cultural traditions and religious beliefs and participate in initiatives designed to promote good relations. 

  • Students should report any incidents of discrimination, harassment, or bullying using the College’s anti-bullying and harassment and complaints procedures.

 

EQUALITY AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEME.

 Positive action: 

The Academy will seek to ensure that all policies and procedures (e.g., recruitment and selection procedures for staff and learners) are non-discriminatory, and that the monitoring and positive action processes are regularly reviewed and monitored. 

 Positive action Equality and diversity objectives and an action plan will be produced annually. This should highlight Academy’s progress in meeting its general and specific duties

COMPLIANCE 

Sanctions Students:

Any discriminatory behaviour by students, including that directed against staff, will be dealt with under the student disciplinary procedure. Any student who suffers discrimination, or who is aware of it happening to someone else, should report it to one of the following: their Personal Tutor, the Centre Manager, The Course Director or Head of Safeguarding and EDI. 

Disciplinary action can then be taken against those responsible. Incidents will be investigated according to the College’s anti-bullying and harassment or complaints procedures. Staff who feel they are being discriminated against by other members of staff should raise the matter under the grievance procedure or anti-bullying and harassment procedure, which may, if the accusation is upheld, lead to the use of the staff disciplinary procedure. Members of staff may report incidents to their line manager, The Administrator.

Assessment Malpractice & Maladministration Policy. 

  

Malpractice consists of those acts which undermine the integrity and validity of assessment, the certification of qualifications; and/or damage the authority, reputation or credibility of the Academy or Group.  

  

Examples of malpractice are listed within this Policy.  

  

This policy aims to ensure that:  

 

  • The risk of malpractice by staff or learners is identified and minimised.  

  • Any incident of alleged malpractice is promptly and objectively responded to 

  • Appropriate penalties and/or sanctions are imposed on learners or staff where incidents (or attempted incidents) of malpractice are proven.  

  • Conflict of interest in relation to assessment practice is avoided.  

  

Staff Responsibility   

 

All staff (whether employed under a contract of employment or a contract for services) are required to work within the terms of this Policy to ensure the integrity and validity of assessment, the certification of qualifications and prevent damage to the authority of those responsible for conducting the assessment and certification.  

  

Staff or contractors must ensure that they:  

 

  • Are aware of and comply with the Awarding Organisation and Academy requirements for internal and external assessment.  

  • Ensure that relevant plagiarism software is used where this is appropriate.  

  • Report any instances of maladministration or malpractice.   

  • Inform learners of the Malpractice and Maladministration Policy  

  • Design assessment opportunities that limit the opportunity for malpractice  

  • Check that learners’ work is their own.  

  • Work within the Academy Internal Verification and Moderation Policy 

  • Declare any conflict between personal, professional or business interest that will impact on assessment practice as per the Academy Conflict of Interest Policy 

  • Co-operate fully with an enquiry into an allegation of Malpractice or Maladministration   

  • Seek to avoid potential malpractice by using the induction period and published information to ensure learners are aware of and understand the policy on malpractice and the penalties for attempted and actual incidents of malpractice.  

  • Show learners the appropriate formats to record cited texts and other materials or information sources.   

  • Ask learners to declare that their work is their own and wherever possible submit work through software that checks for plagiarism this is a requirement for learners working at a higher level.  

  • Ensure that learners are aware of the virtual learning environment being used in the curriculum area and the expectations for submitting learner work following the correct process.  

      

Investigating alleged Malpractice and Maladministration 

  

Any alleged incident of malpractice will be investigated in line with this policy.  

  

The Academy will:  

 

  • Conduct an investigation in an open, fair and equitable manner. This will be conducted by a manager that does not form part of the case. 

  • Make the individual fully aware at the earliest opportunity of the specific nature of the alleged Malpractice or Maladministration and the possible consequences should Malpractice or Maladministration be proven.  

  • Give the individual the opportunity to respond to the allegations made.  

  • Inform the individual of the avenues for appealing against any judgment made.  

  • Document all stages of any investigation.  

  • Report suspicions or actual incidents of Malpractice or Maladministration to the Awarding Organisation within the specified timeframe as per their policy  

  

Where Malpractice or Maladministration is proven, the Academy will apply penalties/sanctions in accordance with the Awarding Organisation and / or the Academy’s disciplinary procedures.  

  

The QAA has twelve themes to comply with the mandatory HE Quality Code these can be found on the link below e.g. Admissions, assessment and work placements etc: 

https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/advice-and-guidance  

  

Definition of Malpractice by Learners  

 

This list is not exhaustive and other instances of Malpractice may be considered:  

  

  • Plagiarism of any nature, including direct quotation without acknowledging the source 

  • Collusion by working collaboratively with other learners to produce work that is submitted as individual learner work including through eLearning platforms.  

  • Copying (including the use of ICT to aid copying)  

  • Deliberate destruction of another’s work  

  • Fabrication of results or evidence  

  • False declaration of authenticity in relation to the contents of a portfolio or coursework  

  • Impersonation by pretending to be someone else in order to produce the work for another or arranging for another to take one’s place in an assessment/examination/ test.  

  • Failing to abide by the instructions or advice of an assessor, a supervisor, an invigilator or Awarding Organisation conditions in relation to the assessment /examination/ test rules, regulation and security misuse of assessment/examination materials.  

  • Introduction and use of unauthorised material contra to the requirements of supervised assessment/examination/test conditions, for example: notes, study guides, headphones, mobile / smart phones or other similar electronic devices  

  • Obtaining, receiving, exchanging or passing on information which could be assessment/examination/test related (or the attempt to) by means of talking or written papers/notes during supervised assessment/examination/test.  

  • The alteration of any results document, including certificates  

  • Cheating to gain an unfair advantage.  

  • Attempting to declare an illness to get assistance in exams.   

 

Definition of Malpractice and/or Maladministration by Staff  

 

This list is not exhaustive and other instances of malpractice may be considered:  

  

  • Improper assistance to candidates  

  • Inventing or changing marks for internally assessed work (coursework or portfolio evidence) where there is insufficient evidence of the candidates’ achievement to justify the marks given or assessment decisions made.  

  • Providing centre assessment grades or adaptation without sufficient evidence under the Ofqual Extra-Ordinary Framework  

  • Failure to keep candidate coursework/ portfolios of evidence secure.  

  • Fraudulent claims for certificates  

  • Inappropriate retention of certificates  

  • Failure to follow Awarding Organisation policies and procedures for administrating the internal or external assessment processes.  

  • Assisting learners in the production of work for assessment, where the support has the potential to influence the outcomes of assessment, for example where the assistance involves staff producing work for the learner  

  • Producing falsified witness statements, for example for evidence the learner has not generated  

  • Allowing evidence, which is known by the staff member not to be the learner’s own, to be included in a learner’s assignment/ task/ portfolio/ coursework  

  • Facilitating and allowing impersonation  

  • Misusing the conditions for special learner requirements, for example where learners are permitted support, such as a scribe, this is permissible up to the point where the support has the potential to influence the outcome of the assessment  

  • Falsifying records/certificates, for example by alteration, substitution, or by fraud  

  • Fraudulent certificate claims, that is claiming for a certificate prior to the learner completing all the requirements of assessment  

  • Failing to keep assessment/ examination/ test papers secure prior to the assessment/ examination/ test obtaining unauthorised access to assessment/ examination/ test material prior to an assessment/ examination/ test  

  

Note:  

  

Details of managing Malpractice and Maladministration can be seen by referring to the  

JCQ Suspected Malpractice Policies and Procedures here.It is important to refer to the JCQ and Awarding Organisations Malpractice and Maladministration Policies when managing suspected cases of Malpractice and Maladministration.

 

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. 

Working & Learning As a student at Charis Counselling & Training Academy you are expected to: 

• Have an attendance and punctuality record which is 90%, meeting the standards set by your teachers for your success 

• Be punctual and attend all lessons both on-site and online as required by your timetable, including main programme, tutorial, work experience/industry placement and any other sessions as directed by the Academy.

• Report your absences to the College absence line, make any appointments outside of your timetabled sessions, unless for an emergency. You must take responsibility to catch up on any missed work

 • Work hard and to the best of your ability 

 • Meet all your work deadlines and ensure that work you submit for assessment is your own

 • Ensure that you observe classroom management practice both on-site and online 

 • Respect the needs of others to concentrate on studying by restricting the use of mobile phones to areas outside the learning, teaching and study areas. 

 • Behave in an honest and fair way in assignments and examinations, avoiding all forms of cheating and plagiarism.

 

When working online you are expected to:

 • Help create a safe online environment by speaking and communicating calmly and politely, avoiding words and actions that may be interpreted as abusive or threatening.

 • Show respect for Academy online property and the online digital work and materials of others who work in the organisation. 

 • Only use your I.D log on personally and never lend it to others nor use it or share links allowing others to access college online materials and classrooms. 

 • Only log in to sessions that your teacher has invited you to attend. 

 • Refrain from sharing your screen with others unless requested by a member of staff and be mindful of your surroundings! 

 • Respect that others need to concentrate on studying, so restrict the use of personal communication to areas outside online learning, teaching and study areas. 

 • Conform to the Academy’s Policy on the receipt and transmission of emails and other electronically transmitted information.

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BEHAVIOUR

As a student at CCTA you are expected to: 

 • Ensure that your ID card is worn and visible at all times and if requested, hand it to a member of staff for inspection 

 • Value people equally respecting our democratic values of freedom of speech, appreciation of different beliefs, the rule of law and individual liberty and be kind, hard-working, respectful and polite at all times 

 • Be polite and treat everyone with respect, in person and online

 • Show respect for Academy’s property and the possessions of others who work in the organisation including digital work.

 • Not possess (other than those prescribed for medical conditions), supply or distribute alcohol, drugs or other illegal substances on the premises.

 • Not be in possession of an offensive weapon. You will be removed from the College immediately and where necessary, the Police will be involved 

 • Avoid damaging the reputation of the Academy when off campus with inappropriate language, excessive noise and over exuberant behaviour 

 • No smoking or drinking alcohol while at the Academy.

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Those found in breach of this code will be subject to disciplinary action.

 

 

GDPR STATEMENT.

Charis Counselling and Training Academy would only keep relevant data, it will be stored securely, and it won’t be kept longer than needed, in accordance with GDPR regulations. CCTA comply with the GDPR of Great Britain. Any data collected by Charis Counselling and Training Academy through any means either verbal, electronic form or written would be held and processed by the data protection principles set out in the data protection act 2018 and the General data protection (GDPR) for the sole purpose of which consent has been given to provide the service that has been requested by CCTA, and to meet the legitimate interests of the organisation. 

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