The Eequ platform is an introducer, not an employer or agent. Learners (or parents of learners) must take full responsibility to satisfy themselves about the safety and suitability of individual mentors and their offered learning experiences.
Please see our Terms of Service for full details.
What safety provisions can be indicated on a learning experience listing?
Basic DBS
Enhanced DBS
Risk Assessment
Public Liability Insurance
Smoke detector
First aid training
First aid kit
Safeguarding training
Is this a complete list of all possible safety provisions?
No.
This is just a snapshot of information to help learners or parents make their initial enquiries. There are many other possible checks and safety provisions that may be necessary in various circumstances.
If you are a mentor and would like to highlight more safety provisions, please do this in your description or profile.
Has Eequ checked the safety provisions shown in the listings?
No.
This information is a declaration by education providers and is not verified by us. It is the full responsibility of learners or parents to make any checks they deem necessary.
Should I ask the Mentor to show me evidence of the safety provision listing?
Yes.
Ask for all the information you need to feel completely reassured that you or your child is safe. Your Mentor should be able to show you all relevant documents, equipment and precautions on request.
What safety measures should I be looking for as a parent?
As a parent you already make judgements everyday concerning the safety of your children. Each situation is unique and it wouldn’t be possible to list every scenario here. The age of your child, the nature of the activity, the location, other parties involved, whether you are present etc will all form part of your decision. As a platform we don’t want to prescribe safety requirements that may, in some circumstances be insufficient and in others be too onerous.
If you are in any doubt at all always ask for more information and reassurance.
Never leave your child unattended in a situation where you have any doubts about the safety.
What is a DBS check?
Standard DBS checks show details of spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings held on police records.
Enhanced DBS checks show the same information as standard checks, plus any additional information held by local police considered relevant to the role in question.
Enhanced DBS with barred lists checks show the same information as Enhanced checks, but also include a check of the DBS barred lists. A person may have no criminal convictions but may still be barred from working with children.
DBS information is only valid at the time of the check.
Is a DBS check a legal requirement?
No.
Many companies and organisations state that employers must have a DBS Check, however, these are policies and procedures they have put in place for best practice purposes. Apart from certain regulated activities, there’s no legal requirement for anyone to have a DBS check.
Can I apply for my own DBS check?
Enhanced DBS checks can only be applied for by employers rather than employees or self-employed education providers.
However, if you live in England or Wales, it is now possible to request your own basic DBS check for a fee of £25 directly from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Who should I contact if I have any questions about safeguarding either as a Mentor, parent or child?
The NSPCC helpline provides help and support to thousands of parents, professionals and families.
Useful Resources for Mentors and Parents.
Safeguarding Training
Prospero Teaching’s Safeguarding free accredited CPD course ensures you’re able to teach in UK schools and gives you an understanding of the UK’s safeguarding public sector framework. Divided into a series of video segments, their training focuses on the key elements of ensuring a safe environment for children and young people.
First Aid
Courses are regularly available throughout the UK at a range of venues. You can search for suitable courses and dates on the British Red Cross First Aid Training Website.
Disclosure & Barring Service
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions. DBS is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office.
The NSPCC helpline
This is a service adults can access by phone or online to get advice or share their concerns about a child, anonymously if they wish. It’s staffed by professional practitioners with backgrounds in jobs like teaching, healthcare and social work, who can answer all your safeguarding questions and concerns.
Child Sex Offender Discloser Scheme
The child sex offender disclosure scheme allows parents, carers and guardians to formally ask the police to tell them if someone has a record for child sexual offences.