Work experience policy and procedure

Disclosure and Barring Service 

Providers are not required to carry out enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on employers or staff supervising young people aged 16 to 17 on work experience.

Young people intending to undertake work experience in the healthcare and early years sectors will need to have an enhanced DBS check before starting on their placement. Staff will need to factor in the time it takes to complete an application (which could be up to four weeks).

Work experience procedure

• every learner that attends InspireU will receive one-to-one support as part of their programme. They will:
  • discuss their career aspirations
  • be supported to access a variety of careers advice and guidance
  • complete a guidance record
• during the discussion, learners will be set SMART targets. This will enable them to work towards their career aspirations
• further discussions will take place to ascertain:
  • if the learner is ready for work experience
  • if they are not ready, what steps could be taken to support the learner
• learners will undertake employability as part of their programme and any other relevant preparation
• learners preferences and aspirations are matched with a suitable employer
• employment officers will contact employers to arrange work experience
• in most cases the employer will interview learners to check suitability for the role. The employment officer will support leaners to discuss and agree the type of placement offered with the employer
• if learners are successful, the employment officer or job coach will complete:
  • a health and safety assessment
  • a risk assessment
  • the work place agreement with both the employer and learner
• dates and times are organised for the learner to start. This will be organised once the employer is deemed suitable following the health and safety assessment
• during the work experience, the employer and learner will be visited on a regular basis. The visit will be made by the employment officer or job coach. They will complete a placement review and check on general progress
• all learners will have access to a job coach to:
  • offer one-to-one support on work placement
  • support the learner in the placement as required (all job coaching hours and support will be agreed on an individual basis)

Cancelling a work experience placement

The employment officer or job coach should be consulted if an employer or learner wishes to:

• reduce a placement
• cancel a placement during, or in advance of the expected end date

 A mutual end date should be agreed.

Insurance

The insurance industry has committed to treat work experience students as employees. This will ensure they are covered by existing employers’ liability compulsory insurance policies. An employer, or voluntary sector organisation, that has employers’ liability compulsory insurance cover already, does not need to buy additional cover.

If the voluntary organisation only has public liability insurance, they will need to obtain temporary employer liability compulsory insurance for the duration of the placement.

The Association of British Insurers has published guidance for employers planning to take on work experience students.

It is the duty of the employer to protect the learner on work experience in respects of accidents, damage, and loss for which the employer is responsible. Therefore, learners should only be on placement with employers who have current employer liability.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

All staff at InspireU have undergone information governance training through Lincolnshire County Council. This is updated annually.

All information provided by learners and employers is:

• treated confidentially
• only disclosed to other organisations in the interests of safeguarding and to secure support and work experience for learners