Home • A Guide for Supporting Apprentices and Learners in the Workplace

WELCOME TO ACHIEVEMENT TRAINING

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer by creating an  entirely safe, non-discriminatory environment for both study and work. All employers need to be aware of appropriate guidelines in the workplace. Learners come under the same safeguarding procedures as any young person under the age of 18 (or 19 whilst in education) and up to 25 years old if the young apprentice has an educational health care plan.

POSSIBLE SIGNS AN EMPLOYEE MAY NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

One of the reasons that you have happy, hardworking employees is because they are emotionally healthy. This is when they are generally happy in and outside of their working lives. When this is not the case, it can have a negative impact on their efficiency as an employee, affecting them and ultimately you as their employer, because their work can also suffer.

POSSIBLE WARNING SIGNS

  • Appearing restless
  • Unexplained absences from work
  • Becoming easily agitated
  • Lack of confidence/low self esteem
  • Daydreaming
  • Lack of interaction in the workplace
  • Lacking energy or tiredness
  • Drop in standard of work
  • Continually turning up late
  • Financial difficulties
  • Lack of awareness in work

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

As well as supporting people to develop in the workplace, there may be individuals who you are worried about, perhaps because they are showing some of the warning signs mentioned previously. Your part in supporting these people may vary depending on your professional role, your relationship with the individual concerned and other support available; however, the following information may be helpful.

People can be reluctant to seek help from others, including professionals, because of embarrassment, not feeling understood and believing that no one can help. People value being listened to in confidence by someone who is kind, caring, empathetic, non-judgemental and who does not patronise them. Asking open questions and taking time to listen to the person will help facilitate this. You can contact us at Achievement Training regarding any concerns you may have about any of your employees, you can access confidential advice and guidance on steps we can take together to offer support.

SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES’ CONFIDENCE AND SELF ESTEEM

Working with and supporting people who have been unemployed for some time or young people who have not had too much experience in the workplace is very important. A lot of people we work with may not have been employed before or may find it difficult to build positive relationships in the workplace because of low confidence or self-esteem.

Helping these employees stay focused and develop we have to make sure our own behaviour is supportive. If we just lecture or patronize, barriers may be created that can be difficult to break down. A key component in building rapport are listening skills, many people do not feel listened to and once a person gets the idea they are not being valued you can face an uphill task

By showing an understanding of your employees it will hopefully enable a positive learning and working environment for all. Everyone works more effectively when they feel like part of the team!

USEFUL ORGANISATIONS / LINKS FOR INFORMATION AND ADVICE

  • Citizens Advice Bureau: 0344 411 1444 www.plymouthcab.org.uk
  • MIND (mental health support) Devon Mind: 01752 512280 ∙ Email: hello@devonmind.com devon.mind.com
  • The Zone (early intervention and targeted health and social care services for supporting young people aged supporting 13-25 year olds) 01752 206626 ∙ Relate (relationship advice) 0300 100 1234
  • Harbour (drug and alcohol advice) 01752 434343
  • First Light (For those who have been affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence) 03458 12 12 12

OUT OF HOURS SUPPORT

  • Kooth (online counselling support for young people) www.kooth.com
  • The Samaritans (24 hour free-phone helpline) 116 123
  • Qwell Online counselling and well-being for adults
    ∙ Monday – Friday 12pm – 10pm Saturday – Sunday 6pm – 10pm
  • The Mix (Essential support for under 25s) www.themix.org.uk
  • Plymouth Domestic Abuse Service (PDAS) and refuge support and protection
    from abuse call 01752 252033 or the Plymouth Refuge on 01752 562286.
  • Cruse (bereavement support) call the free helpline 0808 808 1677 until 8pm.

MENTAL HEALTH

Being mentally healthy doesn’t just mean that you don’t have a mental health problem. We all have mental health!

Some people call mental health ‘emotional health’ or ‘well-being’ and it’s just as important as good physical health.

Mixed anxiety & depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain, with 7.8% of people meeting criteria for diagnosis. 4-10% of people in England will experience depression in their lifetime.

The poorer and more disadvantaged are disproportionately affected by common mental health problems and their adverse consequences.

Mixed anxiety and depression has been estimated to cause one fifth of days lost from work in Britain.

One adult in six had a common mental disorder.

If you have any concerns/queries regarding an employee’s/apprentice’s mental health please contact us at Achievement Training regarding any concerns you may be having. Your concerns will be treated confidentially unless someone is at risk of harm. We will strive to do whatever is in everyone’s best interests.

Find out more here

SAFEGUARDING YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS AT RISK

Achievement Training is committed to supporting all our learners to feel safe, with Child Protection/safeguarding young people and adults at risk.

Safeguarding is protecting a person’s health, wellbeing and human rights;  enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. Safeguarding children, young people and adults is all our responsibility.

Whatever our personal views and opinions, as an employer you should be aware of these issues and be ready to deal with it in an appropriate and safe way.

The four main Categories of abuse are:

  • Physical, Emotional/Psychological, Neglect, Sexual

These can also be classed as abuse:

  • Domestic Violence, Bullying, Harassment, Financial Discrimination Self-harm

Abuse still happens as far as we know to a very small minority. The chances are that you will not come across it; however it should be comforting for you to know how to act if you do. Abuse is mistreatment by any person that causes another to  suffer. The abuse can vary from treating someone with disrespect, in any way  which negatively affects their quality of life, to causing actual physical harm.

If you require any further information regarding any safeguarding concerns, have any concerns about an apprentice/employee, or just need someone to talk to about any of these issues, we are here to support you – our contact details are on the back of this booklet.

We all have a responsibility to promote the safeguarding, health and well being of  young people and adults at risk.

PREVENT (Safeguarding Vulnerable People at Risk)

Prevent is part of the UK’s counter terrorism strategy, to prevent vulnerable people from becoming involved in or supporting terrorism. It is about safeguarding people to keep them both safe and within the law. The Prevent duty is not about preventing people from having political and religious views and concerns but about supporting them to use those concerns or act on them in non-extremist ways.

WHAT IS RADICALISATION?

This is where someone has their vulnerability exploited to support extreme crimes or terrorism by a third party who has their own negative agenda. People might be at risk because of:

  • Low self esteem
  • Lack of knowledge
  • Negative media stories
  • Feeling socially excluded
  • Distorted view of the world
  • Additional mental health needs

    That does not mean that having one or all of these characteristics or circumstances will drive someone to extremism.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

We can all play a part in protecting people from being radicalised by being aware of how these things can make someone feel. This is important to being able to protect and support them.

Achievement Training Safeguarding Officers

Paul Ebanks
Linda Friend
Jackie Vincent

01752 202266
safe@achievementtraining.com

PREVENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Police: 101
Emergencies: 999
PREVENT TEAM 01392 452555
prevent@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321
Crime stoppers: 0800 555 111

 

 

EQUALITY/DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

The Equality Act 2010

This act simplifies, strengthens and harmonises the current legislation to provide Britain with discrimination law which protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and more equal society.

Protected Characteristics Under the Equality Act

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Marriage or in a civil partnership
  • Pregnancy or maternity
  • Race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
  • Religion/belief or non-belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Transgender

The Equality Act sets out the different ways in which it is unlawful to treat someone, such as direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, victimization or failing to make a reasonable adjustment for a person with a disability.

DISCRIMINATION: Treating a person or particular group of people differently from others.
DIVERSITY: Diversity aims to recognise, respect and value people’s differences to contribute positively to our society and promote an inclusive culture for all.
INCLUSION: is to embrace all people irrespective of race, gender, disability, medical or other need.
PREJUDICE: Usually a negative judgment or opinion formed beforehand of a particular type of person or group.
RACISM: Hatred or intolerance of another ethnic group or groups.
STEROTYPING: When people “label” a type of group or individual based on what they think the person or people should be like.