Student Handbook
Our Student Handbook has all the information you need on our safeguarding policies, rules and regulations and how we’re keeping our students safe and secure through COVID 19.
Financial
We deliver a wide range of courses and financial support is different for each.
Please click here for more information on financial support.
It is always worth speaking to the person who enrols you onto a course to see if there is any financial support to help with travel etc.
Personal Development, Behaviours and Attitudes (PDBA)
We have a team of staff who regularly meet to ensure that we are doing everything we possibly can to enhance our trainee’s PDBA.
The focus group meets regularly to ensure that across the Chamber we are giving every trainee the best possible chances of success. Topics include:
- Strong focus on attendance and punctuality to learning and work settings to minimise disruption, and so that learners gain valuable employability skills
- Positive surveys which measure how staff, learners and employers feel about the provider and how well supported and respected they feel in the provider.
- Develop trainee’s knowledge and skills beyond the purely academic, technical or vocational
- Developing trainee’s confidence, independence and resilience, which will equip learners to engage positively in the wider society preparing them for many aspects in life.
- Educating trainees in fundamental British values including how to engage with society giving opportunity to do this, equality, discrimination and more importantly what it means to them
- Developing trainee’s understanding of how to keep physically healthy and maintain an active lifestyle
- Developing trainee’s characters to demonstrate positive personal traits, motivation, integrity and teamwork. Supporting readiness for the next phase of education, training or employment so that learners can make the transition to the next stage successfully
Diversity and Inclusion
St Helens Chamber promotes an inclusive environment that meets the needs of all learners, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, relationship status or pregnancy.
Learning difficulties and/or disabilities
All of our staff are skilled at supporting students who may have learning difficulties. For many of our courses, we carry out initial assessment so that we know what type of support to offer. For example, we have specialist software to help those who are dyslexic.
Physical difficulties and/or disabilities
Our buildings are all accessible to everyone including wheelchair users. All have accessible toilets. We have lifts to all floors and Starting Point has a hearing loop.
Talking Points
We regularly publish a newsletter with updates on how to stay safe and informing trainees on where to report any concerns. Take a look at our recent issues here:
January 23
October 22
July 22
April 22
Mental health difficulties and/or disabilities
Your named member of staff will be able to offer support for any issues that you may face which affect your time on our courses.
If you have any concerns about mental health please contact our mental health first aiders.
Caroline Bishop: caroline.bishop@sthelenschamber.com
Laura Brogden: laura.brogden@sthelenschamber.com
Neil Rigby: neil.rigby@sthelenschamber.com
Marie Clarke: marie.clarke@sthelenschamber.com
Safeguarding
We want our students to feel safe while they learn, and have a dedicated team who can help with any safeguarding concerns students might have for themselves or about others.
Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
Safeguarding Adults Policy
Safeguarding Children Policy
PREVENT Policy Including Risk Assessment
Drug/Alcohol Rehabilitation
If you have any concerns about feeling safe or concerns about someone else please contact a safeguarding officer or email safeguarding@sthelenschamber.com.
Safeguarding Officers:
Maria Lawton: maria.lawton@sthelenschamber.com
Laura Brogden: laura.brogden@sthelenschamber.com
Ruby O’Brien: ruby.o’brien@sthelenschamber.com
Jack Parker: jack.parker@sthelenschamber.com
Report concerns to CEOP
CEOP is a law enforcement agency and is here to keep children and young people safe from sexual exploitation and abuse. Please click below to start your report to one of CEOP’s Child Protection Advisors.
https://www.ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting/
Staying Safe Online
The internet is great, and can help you with all aspects of your life, including learning. However it’s important that you know how to keep yourself safe. People may try to trick you into clicking a dangerous link, sharing something about yourself, giving away personal information or try to bully and harass you.
Please contact a safeguarding officer, or your training adviser if you are concerned about anything you see online.
Sexual harassment and violence and online sexual abuse
Any form of sexual harassment, violence or online sexual abuse is completely unacceptable and we have policies and procedures in place to quickly identify and deal with any incidents.
St Helens Chamber continuously encourage any trainees who have concerns about sexual harassment, violence and online sexual abuse to one of our dedicated safeguarding officers above – who will fully support anyone who comes forward with a concern.
Referrals to partner organisations
St Helens Chamber works in partnership with over 100 local agencies. This means that we can tell you about the help that they can give you and arrange for you to visit them, if you wish, so that you can get their expert support in a whole range of issues eg housing, debt, substance misuse, caring etc.
