Prevent Risk Assessment

Prevent Risk Assessment


Prevent is a strand of the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy CONTEST. Velocity is, via its levels of engagement with learners of all ages and from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, able to contribute towards the aim of preventing individuals from being drawn into terrorism or extreme violence. 

As an education and training provider, Velocity has a statutory duty to prevent people being drawn into terrorism under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act (2015). 

Objectives 

As part Velocity approach to Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity and the promotion of fundamental British values, we will: 

  • Promote fundamental British values and Citizenship by ensuring that there is a culture of openness within our delivery and team and the opportunity for learners to explore what this means to them. 
  • Challenge segregation, promoting cohesion and building learner resilience with the aim of our learners and staff contributing actively to wider society. 
  • Operate a clear and consistent anti-bullying approach which challenges harassment and discrimination and enables learners and staff to feel safe and supported. 
  • Provide support, advice and guidance for learners and staff who may be at risk or radicalisation. This may include referral to Channel, the process by which multi-agency support is provided to individuals who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism. 
  • Ensure that staff, learners and employers are aware of their roles and responsibilities in preventing radicalisation and extremism. 
  • Have a leadership team which actively promotes the core values of shared responsibility and well-being for learners, and staff ensure that these are at the heart of everything that we do. 

Prevent Strategy 

This document should be read in conjunction with our Safeguarding Strategy. Accountability and responsibility Velocity Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) is the companies Prevent Officer. 

The DSO is responsible for making all decisions regarding referrals to Local Authority Channel Panels. 

All staff should be vigilant to extremist behaviour as a wider part of their safeguarding duties and report their concerns to the DSO in line with our wider safeguarding procedures. 

Learner facing staff will deliver learning and assessment which reflects fundamental British values and Citizenship. 

We will seek to actively safeguard all learners and provide welfare support at the point of need for learners identified to be at risk of harm as defined within Keeping Children Safe in Education (2015). 

We will implement anti-bullying strategies and challenge discriminatory behaviour. We will respond to identified community needs. 

We will promote a culture of vigilance and operate a whistleblowing blowing procedure which includes reference to the Prevent agenda.  

Teaching and Learning 

We will provide a curriculum that promotes fundamental British values and Citizenship with the view to encourage learners to participate in their local communities and use their voice to make positive changes. 

We will take every available opportunity to match curriculums to local priorities whist offering learners the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills. 

We will use topical and relevant examples to stimulate thinking and actively tackle discrimination. 

Learners will be encouraged to explore fundamental British values and Citizenship in a safe and supportive environment, without fear of discrimination. 

Use and monitoring of ICT 

IT equipment provided to both staff and learners is subject to monitoring. In addition to monitoring filters are applied to Velocity’s systems which will restrict access to harmful content. This will be overseen by the Director of Systems. 

Staff identifying inappropriate use will report this to the DSO to enable this to be investigated for safeguarding purposes. 

Esafety is part of the safeguarding policy which reflects the requirements placed upon us by the Prevent Duty. 

We will ensure that there is a shared understanding amongst staff and learners as to the risks posed within the training environment by extremist behaviour by raising awareness through training and information sharing. 

Steps will be taken to mitigate the risk posed to staff/learners by individuals vulnerable to radicalisation on a case by case basis. 

Referrals to Channel will be made on a case by case basis and with consideration being made to the need for a multi- agency approach in advance of any referrals. 

We will operate a critical incident management plan in dealing with terrorist related incidents. This will form part of our Disaster Recovery Plan. 

We will ensure that there are plans in place which respond to any direct threats within our buildings. We will develop effective policies which promote responsible use as well as seek to monitor usage. 

All display materials, including externally produced leaflets and posters, will promote fundamental British values and have due consideration to the Equality Act. We will seek to promote this ethos within employer premises. 

Velocity will only promote its services within organisations that share its values for the need to safeguard, promote equality and prevent extremist behaviour. Where required risk assessments will be undertaken to consider the appropriateness of venues before agreements are made to provide information and advice to individuals within that organisation. 

The culture of vigilance extends to our external relationships. Where employers with whom Velocity is engaged are found to be either in breach of the Equality Act or advocating extremist views or behaviour this will be addressed as a Safeguarding issue by the DSO. 

Staff Awareness and Training 

All staff will undertake online Prevent training during induction to Velocity. 

Mandatory Safeguarding Training will equip staff with the ability to recognise signs that a learner or colleague might be on the path to becoming radicalised and outline the process by which concerns should be raised. 

All training will be refreshed on an ongoing basis or as required by legislation. 

Velocity will actively promote our Prevent Duty to staff, learners and employers alike. Where relevant, information sharing protocols will be developed with Prevent partners. 

Multi-agency support will be sought as part of our approach to early help for any individual felt to be at risk from or vulnerable to extremism. 

This policy is reviewed annually or as required by a change in legislation.  

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