Safeguarding

Safeguarding Panel

Key Role

Following an internal audit of Safeguarding measurements in February 2020 the University created a Safeguarding Panel in May 2020 to maintain oversight of University wide safeguarding arrangements including any third-party partnership arrangements, and to ensure compliance.

The Safeguarding Panel is responsible for the implementation of the recommended actions as a result of the KPMG internal audit and to conduct a baseline review of safeguarding arrangements and associated action plan to improve safeguarding arrangements.

Terms of Reference

a)       to maintain oversight of the University wide safeguarding arrangements including third party partnership arrangements, and to ensure compliance of regulatory requirements;

b)      oversight of arrangements refers to both central and devolved (to Schools and Professional Services Division), including assurance that risk assessments are in place;

c)       to assess whether local safeguarding policies are required and where they are what they must contain;

d)      to receive the outcome and recommendations of relevant regulatory and compliance reviews, e.g. DBS and take necessary action;

e)      set safeguarding expectations for third party partnership arrangements (both academic and commercial partners);

f)        to submit regular reports, as required, to the OfS, as the monitoring authority, following approval by the Vice-Chancellor and Council;

Composition


Membership:

  • General Counsel (Chair)
  • Director for Student Experience
  • Director for Human Resources
  • Head of School, Education and Social Work

 Co-opted (as required):

  • The Chair may co-opt members of particular expertise as required.

 In attendance:

  • Director of Human Resources, Institute of Development Studies
  • Assistant Director of Student Experience, International Study Centres, UK & Europe
  • Head of Research Ethics, Integrity & Governance, Research and Innovation Services
  • Nursery Manager, Little Pioneers nursery and pre-school
  • Deputy Head of Widening Participation
  • Governance and Compliance Senior Manager (Secretary)

Frequency

Termly

Reports to

The University of Sussex Safeguarding Panel meets termly and reports to the Risk Management Board and to Audit and Risk Committee and Council, as the Governing Body of the University.

Quorum

The meeting is considerate quorate when two of the four members are present.