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LEARNER HANDBOOK Gower College Swansea 0 Gower College Swansea v2
LEARNER HANDBOOK
Gower College Swansea
CONTENTS
02 03 04 05 06
Welcome to Gower College Our core values Code of Conduct Benefits of being a learner Smart Assessor
Vision Guiding principles Student ID card and Apprentice Extra The apprenticeship
Mission Statement Apprenticeship is a three way card team
commitment Additional learning needs Your learning team
Using College Wi-Fi
07 09 10 11 13
The apprenticeship journey Absence Assessment, appeals and Complaints, compliment or Equality and diversity
malpractice suggestions
National minimum wage Health & Safety
14 15 16 17 18
Prevent and British values Forms of abuse/Peer abuse Help and support ESDGC and Wellbeing of future Chaplaincy
Radicalisation and extremism Cyber-bullying and being Supporting organisations generations (Wales) Estyn
safe Policies Welsh skills study Apprenticeship progression
Safeguarding Wellbeing Managing your talent Learner voice
Respect initiative Learner feedback
19 20
Privacy notice and GDPR Notes
Careers information, advice
and guidance
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WELCOME TO GOWER Award Winning Provision
Gower College Swansea won 2 categories in the
COLLEGE SWANSEA Annual Apprenticeship Awards 2019:
Gower College Swansea is one of the UK’s leading Health & Science Apprenticeship Provider of the
organisations in the delivery of apprenticeships, Year 2019.
we have a strong background in adult education
Outstanding contribution to
and have worked with thousands of learners in
the development of
Wales and now England.
apprenticeships (Individual):
Our success is a result of our commitment to our Steve Williams (Gower College
learners. We aim to engage and challenge our Swansea) 2019.
learners’ whilst creating a culture of learning and
innovation.
We are delighted that you have taken this step into
professional development with us and we will
support you in any way you need us to. Wales Apprentice of the
OUR TRACK RECORD IN year
APPRENTICESHIP PROVISION Sally Hughes (Tata Steel
& Gower College
Gower College Swansea have been successfully Swansea won the
delivering apprenticeships for many years. Apprentice of the Year
In the last 7 years 2,996 learners have successfully Award in Apprenticeship
completed their apprenticeship with the college Awards Cymru 2018.
and its delivery partners. Gower College Swansea views the apprenticeship
We offer 82 different apprenticeships from level 2 programme as a partnership between our learners
through to degree level apprenticeships. and employers, we wish to become part of your
team and want you to be part of ours. To have a
In 2018/2019 Gower College and its delivery
true partnership we will always follow work in
partners worked with: accordance with your company’s values and we
• 1,997 apprentices in Wales ask that you do the same.
• 78% of apprentices successfully completed
their apprenticeship framework
Vision
Our vision is to be the best choice for learners.
Mission statement
To inspire and support our learners to achieve their
full potential through the highest quality of
education and training.
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enjoyable and relevant training to meet our
Our core values customers’ needs.
Be respectful – we are a team. We shall always
treat each other and our customers with trust and
respect.
Gower College Swansea will make every effort to
ensure that your learning experience is as positive
and fulfilling as possible. If you feel that any
member of the team has fallen short of either
companies values, please let us know as soon as
possible by following the college complaints
procedure on page 11. We will make it right.
Apprenticeship is a three way
commitment
Prior to the commencement of the apprenticeship
Gower College Swansea’s Core Values programme, each learner and employer is required
to sign a commitment statement to the
Our guiding principles apprenticeship, which is countersigned by the
training provider. An overview of some of the
Our core values are under-pinned by a set of clear
commitments within this statement are detailed
guiding principles:
below and act as an agreement by all parties to
Learners come first – our learners are the ultimate support the achievement of the apprentice
end users of our service and their achievement throughout their leaning journey.
means our success.
Learner Commitments:
High quality is essential – we will never
• I will work with my Assessor and Employer to
compromise on our quality or integrity and view
develop a learning plan to enable me to
every obstacle in our way as a challenge to be
achieve my Apprenticeship.
overcome.
• I understand that I will not achieve my
Be passionate – we shall always be enthusiastic Apprenticeship unless I complete and achieve
about making a positive difference to learners and the qualifications that are planned.
employers. • I agree that I will make contact with my
Help employers to succeed – we regard our Assessor at least every 4 weeks.
employer customers as partners with a common • I will record my progress on this apprenticeship
aim of improving business efficiency and profits. course with my Assessor and my Employer at
regular intervals and update my Individual
Go the extra mile – never forget our customers are
Learning Plan.
people and a personal touch will help us meet their
• I agree to complete to Education and Training
needs.
Foundations online modules on Radicalisation
Be responsive and flexible – we will never become and Extremism, Staying Safe online, What can
complacent and will always deliver innovative, you Trust and British values.
https://www.etflearners.org.uk/
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Employer Commitments: • We will implement the Learning Plan as agreed
or adjust it in agreement with the employer
• We will employ the apprentice in line with
and the Apprentice
employment law, including paying at least
appropriate national minimum wage. • We will provide teaching, learning and
assessment to enable the Apprentice to
• We will release and support the apprentice’s
achieve their qualifications
learning during working hours. We recognise
that an apprentice may need additional time, • We will communicate regularly with the
for example if they need English and Maths. Employer Mentor to ensure on-the-job learning
• We will appoint a Mentor to work with the is progressing according to the learning plan
Apprentice on a day to day basis who will
provide on-the-job training, coaching and Code of conduct
support to the Apprentice
Understanding your commitment and obligations
• The appointed Mentor will work with the
under the rules of the apprenticeship programme
Apprentice and the Assessor/Tutor to develop
is especially important. This may be your first
a detailed learning plan for the Apprentice
experience of work-based learning, or you may be
which we, the Employer, will approve. This will
consolidating years of experience and upskilling
outline how the required learning hours will be
through a recognised apprenticeship. As a
met.
responsible learner, you will need to be able to
• We will participate in regular progress reviews demonstrate that you are committed to your
with the Apprentice and a Training Provider
apprenticeship programme and that you are
representative (usually the Assessor/Tutor)
prepared to play an active part in your
usually once a month or as requested by the
development. You are expected to act and behave
Training Provider (subject to the needs of the
in a professional manner at all times, both at work
Apprentice). and during learning sessions. This includes a
• We will meet our Health & Safety obligations to commitment to full attendance, punctuality and
the apprentice, including providing appropriate responsible and respectful behaviour and British
training and identifying prohibited activities to values.
maintain their safety. We will inform the
training provider of any accidents or health & You will also be expected to complete all work set
safety concerns regarding the apprentice. by your tutor assessor and ensure that the work
• We agree for staff involved in supporting the you produce is to the highest standards.
apprenticeship to complete The Acceptable Use Policy is for both staff and
www.foundationline.org.uk modules on learners which outlines responsibilities when
Prevent for Employers 2019 to ensure accessing college resources and systems. If you are
Safeguarding compliance. using college systems please see the following link
Provider Commitments: for acceptable use.
• We will work with the Apprentice and the https://www.gcs.ac.uk/sites/default/files/ISMS-
Employer representative to develop a detailed C_DOC_8.1.3%20Acceptable%20Use%20Policy%20
learning plan for the learner which includes: %28in%20College%20Format%29.pdf
- qualifications to be studied
- assessment methods to be used
- a learning plan for each qualification which
schedules how the qualification will be
completed and achieved
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=Branded%20Search%20-
Benefits of being a Gower College %20SKAG&utm_term=%2Bapprentice%20%2Bextra
learner &utm_content=04.%20apprentice%20extra
The card costs £11 and is valid for
• Supported by well qualified and experienced 12 months.
tutors;
• Access to learner coach and careers information,
advice and guidance;
• Access to our library services. This includes Additional learning needs
online journals, books and media resources;
We provide specialist support for learners with
• Library assistants who can help with revision,
Additional Learning Needs or disabilities. If you
writing, assignment and presentations.
require specialist equipment or assistance, we will
• E-portfolio is used so that you can work more
work with you to assess your needs and apply for
efficiently;
funding for additional equipment and support. Let
• Student ID cards;
us know as soon as possible, ideally during initial
• Wellbeing services;
assessment, to ensure we can provide the right
• Access to sports facility and discounted support for you.
membership.
• Access to Broadway for Hair, Beauty and Holistic A range of support can be made available e.g:
treatments available at discounted prices. • Support worker – one to one;
• Eligibility to apply for an Apprenticeship Extra • Support worker – small groups;
NUS student discount card (see below); • Additional time for exams and assessments;
• Access to Moodle/Canvas learning resources for • Specialist support for visually impaired learners;
your studies – see link below for further • Communication for deaf and hearing-impaired
information. learners;
https://www.gcs.ac.uk/staff-student-portal • Specialist equipment – upon assessment and
request;
Student ID card and Apprentice Extra • Material available in large print and Braille.
card If we know what you need we can make all
reasonable adjustments to help you succeed. All
Safeguarding
As an apprentice learner with Gower College disclosures will be treated sensitively. Additional
Swansea, you have a student ID and are therefore learning resources are also available, such as
entitled to a student ID card. Having a student ID computers, laptops and educational software to aid
card will allow you to receive discounts in various literacy.
retailers and online. If you would like student ID
card please contact Ross Forster on 01792 284387. Using College Wi-Fi
As you are an apprentice you can also apply for the
How to connect to Gower College Swansea Wi-Fi
Apprenticeship Extra Card, the official student ID
network:
card. You can receive offers, giveaways and
exclusive discounts on 100’s of top brands. You can https://www.gcs.ac.uk/eduroam
purchase your card at this website:
https://cards.nusextra.co.uk/affiliate/APPppc10?ut
m_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign
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Smart Assessor Your learning team
Smart Assessor is the e-portfolio system we use for
our learners. We will provide learners and
employers with a unique login and training to use
Assessor Trainer
the system. You can access Smart Assessor at any
time to suit you to access training resources and
upload work. Progress reviews are also completed
through Smart Assessor
Essential Skills Learner Coach
Employers can access all their learners’ portfolios to Tutor
view individual progress, assessor comments and
provide comments and feedback for progress
reviews. Learning Area Compliance
Manager Team
The apprenticeship team
When you commence your qualification with
Gower College Swansea you are assigned a team of Internal
Quality Team
Quality Assurer
professional, qualified assessors and administrators
to support your achievement.
Your first point of contact will be your
trainer/assessor who will contact you to Head of Work
introduce themselves and arrange your induction, Based Learning
programme launch and sign up to the
programme.
To support your training, development and
progression through the standards you will also be
assigned to an Internal Quality Assurer (IQA).
The role of the IQA is to ensure you are:
• Engaged with your assessor;
• Progressing in line with your (Individual
Learning Plan) ILP’s;
• Receiving the service and support you need
from Gower College Swansea;
• Developing your skills in line with your
expectations.
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to ensure all are aware of the apprenticeship
The apprenticeship journey programme needs and commitments from all
parties. This is built into an individual commitment
statement agreed and signed by the apprentice,
Initial employer and training provider representatives
Assessment
and Sign Up
2. Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Teaching, We will plan with you and your employer, the
Celebration Learning and
Assessment
knowledge, skills and behaviours training and
experiences needed to complete the
apprenticeship qualification within your
organisation. We will agree teaching, learning and
assessment procedures for on and off the job
Essential
learning. These will be selected from a variety of
Qualification
Achievement
Skills and
WEST Toolkit
training and assessment methods. We will work
with your organisation to ensure the best methods
Monitoring for your business and learners are utilised during
and
Reviewing the design and delivery of the programme. This will
Progress
ensure that not only are you receiving the best
quality training to support your career, but we are
able to gather the best evidence for you to show
1. Initial Assessment and Sign Up your knowledge and skills in your e portfolio.
To ensure the appropriate level of training is All learners must receive both on and off the job
delivered to you we undertake an individual initial training to develop the knowledge, skills and
assessment. This will allow the training team to behaviours needed to complete their
plan and individualise your apprenticeship delivery apprenticeship. This is provided by tutors,
to meet your needs. You will complete an online assessors, mentors, managers and peers, recording
initial assessment to gauge your literacy, numeracy their learning along the way. In addition to this
and digital literacy skills using the Welsh Essential they must receive assessment of their knowledge,
Skills Toolkit. This is used in the apprenticeship skills and behaviours against the relevant
programme to develop the skills in these areas. apprenticeship standard or framework. This can be
Learners who have attended a Welsh Medium through various formats, the most frequently used
Comprehensive School also complete a Welsh in apprenticeship training are:
Language Communication Assessment. Observations
To access Apprenticeship funding, you are required Apprenticeship observations are usually carried out
to complete a series of sign up documents to by a member of our assessment team.
ascertain eligibility to the programme and declare Observations are a recorded commentary of the
your agreement and commitment to the activities carried out by the apprentice during their
apprenticeship programme. Sign up paperwork, normal working duties. Observations are a detailed
depending on the learner’s ability, can take around account of the duties carried out by the individual
2 hours. Initial Assessment and Sign up sessions and are mapped against the learning criteria within
will be planned prior to the commencement of the the apprenticeship standard or framework.
programme to ensure minimal operational impact. Question and answer sessions are used to support
During initial assessment, we will also discuss needs observations, enabling the learner to reflect upon
with your line manager or employer representative,
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and recount the activities that they have Off the Job Learning
completed. This gives more depth to the evidence To provide the learner with the required
collected during the observation visit and allows knowledge, skills and behaviours across the
the learner to show transferable knowledge and apprenticeship programme, apprentices are
skills. required to undertake off the job learning (OTJ) to
Professional Discussions develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours. By
definition, OTJ is new learning undertaken by an
Professional discussions are pre-planned
apprentice during their normal working hours
conversations with learners to discuss specific
which is directly relevant to the apprenticeship
criteria within the apprenticeship programme. The
qualification that they are undertaking. Further
learner is usually given time to prepare for these
discussions, however it is not uncommon for information on off the job learning can be found in
the Learner Experience Handbook.
observations or other methods of assessment to
lead into a professional discussion. This provides During the programme design, the process for off
additional supporting evidence to further capture the job learning will be planned around your work
the learning outcomes planned within that visit. A commitments to ensure you receive the best
professional discussion is usually recorded with the quality training without significant impact on the
knowledge and consent of the learner. daily operations of your organisation. Planning for
this will incorporate 1-2-1 learning, workshops,
Reflective Accounts and Assignments
online learning, shadowing, coaching and
Both Reflective Accounts and Assignments are mentoring; this is not exhaustive of OTJ learning
popular methods of assessment. They allow the methods utilised during the apprenticeship
learner to critically analyse the required learning programme. The OTJ may be undertaken on a
outcomes against real life situations that they have regular day per week, or planned in block release
experienced within their job role. They are based sessions, whichever best meets learner and
around either an event or situation and cover a employer needs.
variety of assessment criteria for their portfolio.
3. Essential Skills Wales and WEST toolkit
Alternatively, a learner may be asked to reflect
upon a specific learning outcome as a standalone Essential skills qualifications enable learners to
piece of evidence. Assessors will mark the learner’s develop their knowledge and application of
submissions against assessment criteria to qualify number, communication and digital literacy.
the effectiveness of the submitted evidence. Learners develop and demonstrate they can apply
Product Evidence these skills in a range of situations whilst in work
and learning. Essential skills achievement is
Naturally occurring work product evidence within required to complete the apprentice framework.
your organisation is a great source of evidence for Exemptions may apply if a learner has already
learner to contribute to their portfolios. Learners achieved GCSE at the required level e.g. English at
may have conducted a task or project that grade C and above is equivalent to Communication
evidences knowledge, skills and behaviours Level 2. In this case the learner would be offered
required within the apprenticeship. Emails, call logs the opportunity to develop their skills at level 3 if
and appraisals are also effective forms of evidence they wish.
for assessment of the qualification. Where work
product evidence is confidential, an expert witness Wales Essential Skills Toolkit (WEST)
can write a testimony to demonstrate this, or the Before starting an apprenticeship we initially assess
tutor assessor will view the product and record key your skills in communication, number and digital
facts to maintain confidentiality. literacy using the WEST online toolkit. This allows us
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to identify your strengths and development areas. Apprenticeship, it is important to recognise the
We will provide you with a unique WEST login to achievement and hard work of each learner. Your
use the toolkit for online learning to develop your employer may hold Graduation and Celebration
skills to support your essential skills and Events. We also hold annual apprenticeship award
apprenticeship completion. Your assessor will plan ceremonies and submit applications to regional and
and discuss your use of the WEST toolkit during national external awards.
progress reviews. There are many progression opportunities upon
4. Monitoring and Reviewing Progress successful completion of the apprenticeship
programme, including promotion and higher level
To ensure your apprentices are progressing in line
qualifications within the same sector. This is a
with the apprenticeship expectations and
timescales, we will monitor the your progress and great way to support your career progression. We
will contact leavers who have successfully
learning quality against your individual learning
completed their apprenticeship, or withdrawn
plan, commitment statement and previous progress
early, to identify their learning and employment
reviews. A progress review is a three way meeting
progression after they have completed their
between you, your employer (often line manager or
mentor) and your tutor assessor. Progress Reviews apprenticeship.
contain information about progress to date, action
planning, forward planning of learning activities and Absence
components of learning. In addition to updating
It isSmart Assessor to inform your assessor of
your responsibility
direct line managers and/or mentors during the
any absence (sickness, long term sickness,
progress review, we will ensure that nominated
appointments and holidays) that has or will prevent
senior members of the organisation are updated on
you from achieving your monthly learning targets.
a monthly basis, to discuss the programme progress
and agree any actions where issues are identified. If you are not able to attend arranged workshops or
Progress reviews can be conducted in person or via assessment sessions, you will need to let your
video or phone conference. assessor know in advance. Your assessor should be
notified if you are unable to attend your
5. Qualification Achievement
assessment visit on the morning of the visit at the
During and on completion of the practical learning latest. Cancelled appointments will flag a risk and
period each learner will submit their e portfolio of your employer will be notified. Your assessor will
evidence collated during the qualification for record all details of all absences and this will be
Internal Quality Assurance (IQA). In order to reported in your review.
achieve the Apprenticeship Framework the learner
If you are unable to produce any of the
must complete all required components.
independent learning material set by your assessor
• Competence qualification certificate you will be asked to explain why during your
• Technical Certificate i.e. Care Certificate, monthly progress review and work with your
Prince2 (knowledge) assessor to provide an action plan. All comments
• Essential Skills Certificates (or GCSE and actions will be reported back to your employer.
exemption certificates) If you are unable to attend a session due to work
Once all components have been completed we will commitments your assessor must be notified 48
apply for apprenticeship framework certification. hours in advance, in most cases a heavy workload
will provide positive sources of evidence towards
6. Celebration and Progression
your qualification or opportunities for observation
Following successful completion of the
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so contact your assessor to discuss how we can essential part of teamwork and this must be
work together rather than cancel an appointment. made clear in your work;
If you are going to be off sick, you will need to let • Impersonation: pretending to be someone else
your assessor know as soon as possible. This is in order to produce the work for another or
because you are allocated a period of time to arranging for another to take one’s place in an
complete your apprenticeship and long term assessment/ examination/ test;
sickness will have an impact on this. To make sure • Fabrication of results and/or evidence;
that you do not lose any time on your • Failing to abide by the instructions or advice of
apprenticeship, you will be temporarily suspended an assessor, a supervisor, an invigilator, or
until you notify your assessor to advise your return Awarding Body/validating HEI conditions in
to work and apprenticeship. relation to the assessment/ examination/ test
rules, regulations and security;
If at any point you feel you are struggling to attend • Misuse of assessment/examination material;
or there are barriers to you continuing in learning; • Introduction and/or use of unauthorised
don’t give up! Speak to your assessor, learning material contra to the requirements of
team member or employer as soon as you can so supervised assessment/examination/ test
that you can discuss the best course of action. conditions, for example: notes, study guides,
personal organisers, calculators, dictionaries
Assessment, appeals and malpractice (when prohibited), personal stereos, mobile
phones or other similar electronic devices;
Gower College Swansea is committed to providing
• Obtaining, receiving, exchanging or passing on
high quality teaching and support to our learners.
information which could be
Assessment is the process of monitoring learners’ assessment/examination/test related (or the
progress against the Awarding Body criteria in attempt to) by means of talking or written
order to ensure that all learners’ work meets the papers/notes during supervised
required standards. It provides a continuous check assessment/examination/test conditions.
on the quality of work produced by a learner.
If you feel and assessment decision is unfair you
Examples of malpractice: can appeal. For further information about our
• Plagiarism: copying and passing off, as the assessment, appeals and malpractice policy please
learner’s own, the whole or part(s) of another visit our website https://www.gcs.ac.uk/policies-
person’s work, including artwork, images, and-procedures
words, computer generated work (including
Internet sources), thoughts, inventions and/or National minimum wage
discoveries whether published or not, with or
All employees (including apprentices) are protected
without the originator’s permission and
by a series of basic legal rights. Changes to these
without appropriately acknowledging the
rights are occurring all of the time and you should
source.
always seek detailed advice about your individual
• Collusion: working collaboratively with other
circumstances.
learners to produce work that is then
submitted as an individual learner’s work. From Day 1 you are entitled to:-
Learners will not be discouraged from • An itemised pay slip or statement;
teamwork, as this is an essential key skill for • Equal pay;
many subject areas, but the use of minutes, • No discrimination on the basis of sex, racism
allocating tasks, agreeing outcomes, etc. are an sexual orientation, religious beliefs and age;
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• A limit of 48 hours on the maximum average • in writing using the Compliments, Complaints
working week; and Suggestions form or by telephone if support
• 20 days of paid leave every year; is required to put the complaint in writing:
After 1 months service you are entitled 01792 28 4000 - Tycoch
to: 01792 28 4400 – Jubilee Court
• One week’s notice of dismissal. What happens next?
After 2 months service you are entitled The Vice Principal Academic Services will refer the
to: complaint for investigation – this will normally be
• A written statement of your terms and carried out by a senior member of staff.
conditions (NB a contract of employment legally If a group of learners have complained the person
exists as soon as you have received payment for carrying out the investigation may meet with the
work, most employees are given a written full group of learners to ensure all views are fairly
contract before or upon starting work). represented.
After 1 years’ service you are entitled You will receive a written response to the complaint
to: within three weeks and will also be told how to
• Redundancy pay; appeal if you disagree with the outcome.
• Protection against unfair dismissal. The full complaints policy including information on
There are different levels of national living wage appeals is available on Moodle and on the college
and NMW, depending on your age and whether you website.
are employed as an apprentice or an employee. Compliments or Suggestions
You can access this on We welcome positive feedback and on your
https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates suggestions on how we can improve our
apprenticeship experience. You can submit
Complaints, compliments or compliments and suggestions to your tutor assessor
suggestions or apprenticeship support team using the above
process.
The college is committed to providing you with an
excellent service and welcomes feedback to help us Health and safety
continually improve your experience at the college.
How to Make a Complaint As a business Gower College Swansea is committed
to achieving high standards of safety, health and
If you have a complaint, your assessor can help you environmental control in all our college
resolve the issue initially. If this is not possible, undertakings. For further information in relation to
contact the learner coach or Learner Services and our health, safety and environmental policy please
Quality Coordinator to discuss the matter.. visit our website:
If you are not satisfied with the outcome then you https://www.gcs.ac.uk/policies-and-procedures
can submit your complaint via the Quality Unit to Fire Safety during College hours
the Vice Principal Academic Services in the
following ways: It is important that you follow all instructions from
• in writing to members of staff and designated Fire Marshalls
Beverley.hunt@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk during emergency situations, who will oversee
emergency evacuations. In emergency situations
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you must follow emergency instructions (especially Your assessor will also complete a prohibitions
if you are not under direct supervision at the time form when you start to make it clear on things
of the alarm): you cannot do until you are fully trained. For
example use of machinery or access to
If you discover a fire:
hazardous areas;
• Raise the alarm by shouting fire and breaking the • Consult and work with you and your health and
glass on the nearest fire alarm point (located at safety representatives in protecting everyone
intervals in corridors and near final exits). from harm in the workplace;
• Never attempt to extinguish a fire! • Free of charge; give you the health and safety
• Leave the building immediately by the nearest training you need to do your job;
safe exit. • Free of charge, provide you with any equipment
Upon hearing the alarm: and protective clothing you need, and ensure it
is properly looked after;
• Leave the building immediately by the nearest
• Provide toilets, washing facilities and drinking
safe route and exit (do not run and try to remain
water;
calm).
• Provide adequate first-aid facilities;
• Do not use the lifts.
• Do not stop to collect personal belongings. • Report major injuries and fatalities at work to
• Go to the nearest assembly point. HSE Incident Contact Centre: 0845 300 9923
• Report any fellow students who you think should Report other injuries, diseases and dangerous
be at the assembly point but have not arrived to incidents online at www.hse.gov.uk
the Assembly Point Coordinator or Fire Marshall • Have insurance that covers you in case you get
(the person in the Hi-Viz vest). hurt at work or ill through work. Display a hard
• Do not re-enter the building until you have copy or electronic copy of the current insurance
received the all-clear instruction from the certificate where you can easily read it;
Assembly Point Coordinator. • Work with any other employers or contractors
• Do not leave the College site unless authorised sharing the workplace or providing employees
to do so. (such as agency workers), so that everyone’s
• If you are unable to negotiate stairs, safe areas health and safety is protected.
have been identified with evacuation chairs and What you must do
trained members of staff to help.
• Follow the training you have received when
• Do not operate a vehicle while an evacuation is
using any work items your employer has given
in progress. Immediately stop your vehicle,
you;
leaving access for emergency vehicles.
• Take reasonable care of your own and other
What your employer must do people’s health and safety;
Decide what could harm you in your job and take • Co-operate with your employer on health and
precautions to stop it. This is part of a risk safety including any prohibitions on use of
assessment. equipment or access to restricted areas;
• Tell someone (your employer, supervisor, or
• In a way you can understand, they must explain
health and safety representative) if you think
how risks will be controlled and tell you who is
the work or inadequate precautions, are putting
responsible for this. Before you start on your
anyone’s health and safety at serious risk.
apprenticeship programme, your assessor will
have completed a vetting document to make
sure that you employer has adequate safety
controls/measures in place to keep you safe.
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If there is a problem • not discriminate against or harass other learners,
If you are worried about health and safety in your staff or service users. This can include insulting,
workplace, talk to your employer, supervisor, or excluding or intimidating others.
assessor; At Gower College Swansea we aim to give all young
people the chance of a positive future by helping
• If, after talking with your employer, you are
them to learn in ways that motivate and stretch
still worried contact Gower College Swansea
them and enable them to achieve; engage in
Learner Coach.
positive developmental activities; make informed
choices about their lives and benefit from high
Equality and diversity
quality, targeted support before problems
Learners, staff, partners and service users are escalate.
responsible for ensuring that their behaviour is We aim to offer all of our young learners better
consistent with advancing equality and valuing information, advice and guidance about issues that
diversity and are expected to report discriminatory matter to them, delivered in the way they want to
practices or behaviour. College staff will help receive it. Better support when they need extra
advance equality across the organisation and help to deal with problems. Good Information,
ensure that the College meets its equality Advice and Guidance (IAG) is essential and Gower
objectives by: College Swansea are committed to helping young
• treating learners, colleagues, partners, people make the right learning and career choices
employers and other stakeholders with respect and enabling them to find answers to the
and not harassing or discriminating against questions and issues which can arise in their
anyone on the basis of a protected personal lives.
characteristic; Gower College Swansea is committed to the well-
• fostering good relations and positive attitudes to being of all learners including children and young
equality and diversity and challenging people under the age of 19 and vulnerable adults.
stereotyping and prejudice; Our aim is for every learner that engages with
• dealing appropriately with discriminatory Gower College Swansea, whatever their
behaviour, harassment and victimisation; background or their circumstances, will have the
• making services, facilities and education support they need to:
accessible and providing everyone with the
opportunity to achieve to their full potential and • Be healthy
participate in college life; • Stay safe
• taking steps to meet the needs of people from • Enjoy and achieve
protected groups where these are different from • Make a positive contribution
the needs of other people and to remove or • Achieve economic well-being
minimise disadvantages experienced by people Gower College Swansea will work closely with
due to their protected characteristics; local communities and partners to gather and put
• encouraging people with protected forward the views of the most vulnerable people
characteristics to participate in activities where in society, and we will promote their involvement
their participation is disproportionately low. in the work of our employers whose decisions and
We expect learners to: actions affect them.
Gower College Swansea aims to identify at an early
• treat other learners and staff with respect;
stage if any of our learners at risk of social
• report discriminatory practices or behaviour;
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exclusion, and make sure they receive the help and and by vetting visitors who come into our training
support they need to achieve their potential. centres to deliver sessions.
All our staff are subject to DBS (Disclosure and
Prevent and British values Barring Service) checks. It is our expectation that
an employer will follow the same guidelines as that
Prevent is a government strategy about
of Gower College Swansea and ensure that every
safeguarding people and communities from the
learner can raise concerns or receive support
threat of all types of extremism and radicalisation,
through joint working relationships.
including terrorism. It is also about the promotion
of British values. Please find a useful link for further information on
prevent and British values:
Extremism and radicalisation might include violent
religious groups, the extreme right wing and other https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governme
causes. Safeguarding children and adults is at the nt/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/
heart of Prevent providing early intervention to 445977/3799_Revised_Prevent_Duty_Guidance__
protect and divert people away from being drawn England_Wales_V2-Interactive.pdf
into extremist terrorist activity.
British values include:
Radicalisation and extremism
• Democracy; The current UK definition of terrorism is given in
• Individual liberty and mutual respect; the Terrorism Act 2000. This defines terrorism as
• The Rule of Law; an action that endangers or causes serious violence
• Tolerance of difference faiths and beliefs. to a person/ people; causes serious damage to
property; or seriously interferes or disrupts an
What does this mean in practice?
electronic system. The use or threat must be
Many of the things we already do help learners to designed to influence the government or to
be positive, happy members of society, which will intimidate the public and is made for the purpose
contribute to prevent. of advancing a political, religious or ideological
These include: cause.
• Exploring other cultures and religions and Extremism is the vocal or active opposition to
promoting diversity; fundamental British values, including democracy,
• Challenging prejudices and racist comments; the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual
• Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, respect and tolerance of different faiths and
positive self-identity; beliefs. This also includes calls for the death of
• Promoting spiritual, moral, social and cultural members of our armed forces, whether in this
development; country or overseas.
• Active promotion of British values. Radicalisation is the process by which a person
We will provide learners with information so they comes to support terrorism and forms of
understand how to protect themselves from extremism leading to terrorism.
extremist views that go against British values. They What do I do if I suspect someone is becoming
may encounter these now or later in their lives. We radicalised or involved in extremism?
use a range of methods to protect learners from
Report it to someone, a manager at work, your
the risk of radicalisation, such as filters on
tutor assessor, your learner coach, a parent or
equipment that access the internet, to make sure
relative or even speak to your local police and
they can’t access extremist and terrorist material;
Prevent Coordinators for your area.
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Nigel Lund (North Wales) 07385 452146 cause reactions and enjoy the fact it causes
someone to get distressed.
Chris Rowell (South/West Wales) 07384 872518
Impersonation – this is when someone will hack
Forms of abuse/Peer abuse into someone’s email or social networking account
and use the person's online identity to send or post
Abuse can mean a lot of different things such as vicious or embarrassing material to/about others.
neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. It is The making up of fake profiles on social network
not always easy to know if you or someone you sites, apps and online are common place and it can
know is being abused, but the important thing to be really difficult to get them closed down.
remember is that no-one has the right to hurt you
Outing and Trickery – this is when someone may
or make you do anything that feels wrong.
share personal information about another or trick
Peer on Peer abuse is behaviour by a person or someone into revealing secrets and forward it to
group who intend to physically, sexually or others. They may also do this with private images
emotionally hurt others. This can include: bullying, and videos.
physical abuse, sexual harassment or violence,
Cyber Stalking – this is the act of repeatedly
sexting. As an education setting, safety of learners
sending messages that include threats of harm,
is a priority and any issues relating to this can be
harassment, intimidating messages, or engaging in
reported to any member of staff, assessors, tutors,
other online activities that make a person afraid for
learner coaches or safeguarding officers.
his or her safety. The actions may be illegal to
depending on what they are doing.
Cyber-bulling and being safe
Exclusion – this is when others intentionally leave
Cyber-bullying is any form of bullying which takes someone out of a group such as group messages,
place online or through smartphones and tablets. online apps, gaming sites and other online
This includes through social networking site, engagement. This is also a form of social bullying
messaging apps, gaming sites and chat rooms such and a very common.
as Facebook, XBox Live, Instagram, YouTube, If you have any concerns in relation to your online
Snapchat and other chat rooms. safety, please contact your learner coach on:
Types of cyber-bullying Tim Buckler - 01792 28 4387
Harassment - this is the act of sending offensive, Nicola Hughes – 07138 28 4155
rude, and insulting messages and being abusive.
Nasty or humiliating comments on posts, photos Safeguarding
and in chat rooms. Being explicitly offensive on
gaming sites. If you have any concerns about your safety in work,
in the community or online, contact your tutor
Denigration – this is when someone may send
assessor, learner coach or workplace mentor.
information about another person that is fake,
damaging and untrue. Sharing photos of someone Alternatively, you can contact a designated
for the purpose to ridicule, spreading fake rumours safeguarding officer in the college:
and gossip. This can be on any site online or on Ann Pitman: Safeguarding and Welfare Manager
apps. 01792 28 4223 or email anne.pitman@gcs.ac.uk
Flaming – this is when someone is purposely using Adele Bubear: WBL Quality and Learner Services
really extreme and offensive language and getting 01792 28 4385 or email adele.bubear@gcs.ac.uk
into online arguments and fights. They do this to
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Help and support Policies
During your time on programme, you will have The Safeguarding and all other polices/procedures
access to learner coaches who are there to provide relating to you as a learner are available on our
information, advice and guidance or if you have website:
issues with any part of your apprenticeship or https://www.gcs.ac.uk/policies-and-procedures
within the workplace.
Nicola Hughes: 01792 28 4155 - Based at Tycoch Wellbeing
Tim Buckler: 01792 28 4387 – Based at Jubilee
As a college we are mindful of all apprentices
Court
wellbeing and have provided a range of wellbeing
resources/tutorials which can be accessed on our
Supporting organisations Canvas and Moodle platforms.
Childline www.childline.org.uk 0800 1111 Personal/health problems?
Samaritans www.samaritans .org 08457 90 90 90 Our learner coach or student support officers and
CALL (Community Advice & Listening Line) health advisors will all offer advice and direct you in
www.callhelpline.org.uk 0800 132 737 a suitable pathway.
Meic Cymru www.meiccynru.org 0808 80 23456
Mind www.mind.org.uk 0300 123 3393 Financial problems?
Saneline www.sane.org.uk 0845 767 8000 Speak to your learner coach or our student support
NSPCC www.nspcc.org.uk 0808 800 5000 officers and health advisors will all offer advice and
Victim Support www.victimsupport.org.uk direct you in a suitable pathway to gain financial
0300 303 0161 advice. We have different funds open to give you
NHS Direct www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk 0845 4647 the support you may need.
Sexual Health Line 123 7123
Sexwise www.sexwise.fpa.org.uk Respect initiative
National Careers Service 0800 028 4844
Women’s Aid 0808 80 10 800 The college has a respect initiative where we
Smoke Free 0808 278 6119 encourage learners to respect themselves others
FRANK (24 hour drugs helpline) 0300 123 6600 and the environment in relation to health,
National advice line 03444 111 444 consumption and waste, choices and decision,
Housing Shelter (Urgent Housing Problems) natural environment, global warming, identify,
0345 075 5005 culture and wealth and poverty.
CALM www.thecalmzone.net 0800 58 58 58
Young people and Self-Harm www.selfharm.org.uk
Young Minds www.youngminds.org.uk
Eating Disorders Association www.edauk.com
Stonewall https://www.stonewall.org.uk/
Safer Wales-Women’s Safety Unit 029 2022 0033
Welsh Woman’s Aid 029 2054 1551
Swansea Woman’s Aid 01792 644683
All Wales Domestic Abuse 0808 80 10 800
16 Gower College Swansea v2LEARNER HANDBOOK
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The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act is
ESDGC & Wellbeing of future about improving the social, economic,
generations (Wales) environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. It
will make the public bodies listed in the Act think
Education for Sustainable Development and Global more about the long-term, work better with people
Citizenship and communities and each other, look to prevent
Seven themes of ESDGC problems and take a more joined-up approach.
This will help create a Wales that we all want to live
Consumption and Waste in, now and in the future
Understanding that resources are finite and that Wales faces a number of challenges now and in the
this has implications for the people’s lifestyles, future, such as climate change, poverty, health
industry and future generations inequalities and jobs and growth. To tackle these
Choices and Decision we need to work together. To give current and
future generations a good quality of life we need to
Understand that choices and decisions have
think about the long term impact of the decisions
consequences and that conflicts are a barrier to
we make. More information on the work of the
development and a risk to us all and why there is a
Future Generations team, useful ideas and
need for their resolution and the promotion of
resources and information on how you can get
harmony.
involved can be found here:
Health
https://futuregenerations.wales/
Understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle
and acknowledging that basic needs must be met Welsh skills study
universally.
Climate Change There are a lot of opportunities within the College
to improve your Welsh skills, whether you are a
Recognise the importance of taking individual fluent Welsh speaker or looking to learn.
responsibility and action to make the world a better
place and understanding the range of alternative Anna Davies Welsh Champion
ways to both save and generate energy. anna.davies@gcs.ac.uk
Natural Environment • Looking to learn Welsh?
• Welcome to Work Welsh
Developing respect for all living things and • Not a fluent Welsh speaker?
acknowledging the relationship between people
• Want an extra skill for your CV?
and the environment.
Complete this 10 hour online course in tutorial or at
Identity and Culture
home. https://learnwelsh.cymru/work-
Understanding, respecting and valuing human welsh/about-work-welsh/work-welsh/
diversity and cultural, social and economic and
recognising the negative impact of discrimination Managing your talent
and prejudice on individuals and groups.
As part of your Skills 4 Employability this Welsh
Wealth and Poverty
course will help you in work scenarios.
Understanding how people, the environment and
To register:
the economy are inextricably linked at all levels
from local to global. • Access the above link
17 Gower College Swansea v2LEARNER HANDBOOK
Gower College Swansea
• Click Create account • Promote yourself to your employer for career
• Follow instructions to register. Then login. progression;
• Click Start learning • Improve your skills to develop your competency;
• Choose Gower College Swansea in the • Work from a tailor made training programme;
Getting Started section. • Receive nationally recognised accreditation for
your efforts;
Chaplaincy • Progress to a higher level qualification.
For information on chaplaincy support please visit Learner voice
our Moodle for signposting. We have a list of
chaplaincy support in all areas where our learners At Gower College Swansea our main focus is YOU
are living and working. the learner and we want to provide each of our
learners with the best possible learning
Estyn experience.
Gower College Swansea recognises that in order to
Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for make training as enriching and fulfilling as possible
Wales. Its name comes from the Welsh language we need to listen to our learners.
verb estyn meaning "to reach (out), stretch or
extend". Its function is to provide an independent In order to gain the most accurate feedback Gower
inspection and advice service on quality and College Swansea have developed a learner
standards in education and training provided in voice/survey to help us find out what works for
Wales. you.
During your apprenticeship you may have contact The benefits to both Gower College Swansea and
with inspectors carrying out quality inspection visits learners:
on Gower College Swansea or they may contact you • Increased participation, retention, achievement
by phone or survey. and progression;
• More independent, motivated and self-
Apprenticeship progression confident learners;
• Better feedback on the learning experience to
In order for you to achieve your full potential our inform quality improvements and strategic
mission is simple; we provide the support, advice decision making;
and guidance you require; you take responsibility • Services and support which are better targeted
for the preparation, planning and completion of all to learner needs;
tasks that have been agreed to progress through • Identification and sharing of best practice.
your qualification. • Annual apprenticeship awards ceremonies and
You will be expected to maintain records of your applications to regional and national external
achievements and contribute to the assessments, awards e.g. World Skills.
with continual support, advice and guidance from
your assessor. Learner feedback
We want you to remain open and honest at all Gower College Swansea respects the opinions of all
times, and work as a team with your Gower of our learners and we welcome all constructive
College Swansea assessor and your line manager. feedback. If you wish to share your opinions with
Improving your skills will allow you to: us there are a variety of ways you can do this:
• Speak to your assessor;
18 Gower College Swansea v2LEARNER HANDBOOK
Gower College Swansea
• Speak to your IQA;
• Contact the Quality Department for WBL on Careers information, advice and
01792 284400; guidance
• Leave your comments on your assessment
review with your assessor; If at any point during your apprenticeship you are
• Provide feedback on our learner voice at risk of losing employment, please contact your
online/phone survey; assessor or learner coach. We can put you in touch
• Give us feedback on our Achiever/Leaver Form; with staff internal to the college who can give you
• Be involved in the Student Council. help to find employment.
Privacy notice & GDPR
Lost employment through
Gower College Swansea needs to collect, process, redundancy
keep and use certain types of information about
Able to progress learning
people with whom it deals in order to carry out its Not able to progress without employer
day-to-day functions. These people include current, learning without employer
past and prospective learners, customers, staff, Continues in learning and
partners, Corporation members, suppliers of goods Check if wishes to continue referred to learning coach
learning or terminate for support gaining
and others. This personal information, whether on employment
paper, on a computer or recorded on other
Refer to learning coach for
material, must be used fairly and processed in support gaining Gains employment
accordance with the General Data Protection employment
Regulation (GDPR). The data must also not be
College engages with new
disclosed to any other person unlawfully. If continuing suspend for employer
13 weeks to search for
All staff and learners should be aware:- related work
• That all personal data collected, held, and
If terminating complete
processed (including Internet software) whether appropriate paperwork
in manual, digital, electronic or any other format
is subject to the GDPR of the circumstances
under which they may or may not legitimately Likewise, if you are thinking of continuing with your
access, process and disclose personal data. learning once you have completed your
Note – individuals, including staff and learners, in apprenticeship speak to your assessor or learner
relation to whom the College holds information are coach to discuss progression opportunities/next
referred to as data subjects steps. Alternatively, you can seek advice from
Careers Wales https://www.careerswales.com
• The College is a corporate body and the Board of
Governors is therefore ultimately responsible for Better Jobs Better Futures
compliance with the GDPR. The day-to-day The Better Jobs Better Futures team offer a wide
operation of this policy is undertaken by the range of support to people in the Swansea area
Data Protection Officer and their contact email who are seeking new or better employment. So if at
address dpo@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk All any point you would like to receive information in
privacy notices can be found on the Gower relation to their services, contact Nicola on 01792
College Swansea Website. 284155 or Tim on 01792 284387
https://www.gcs.ac.uk/privacy-notices
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