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At Northern Regional College, we want you to feel safe, respected, valued, and part of an inclusive and supportive environment where you can enjoy your college experience.

Safeguarding is about helping you stay safe and preventing harm before it happens. We know that students can sometimes face risks such as harm, abuse, neglect, or ill-treatment, and we are here to support you.

Safeguarding also means responding to concerns about alleged and suspected harm and putting in place plans to help and protect those who may be at risk and cannot protect themselves.

A Dedicated Safeguarding Team

A Dedicated Safeguarding Team

We have a dedicated Safeguarding Team committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of all students. The team provides support, guidance, and protection for anyone who may be at risk of harm, abuse, or neglect. They work proactively to create a safe and inclusive environment, respond promptly to concerns, and ensure appropriate measures are in place to protect those who are vulnerable. Students are encouraged to reach out to the Safeguarding Team if they need help or are worried about themselves or someone else.

AccessNI and Criminal Disclosure Process

Some of our courses, (including any healthcare-related, youth-work or counselling course, or any other course which might lead to a profession or occupation which involves working with children or adults at risk) will require you to have an AccessNI enhanced check to ensure that you are able to participate in work placements. The College adheres to the AccessNI Code of Practice and we have a policy statement which you can read here.
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The College has a duty of care to all its users to ensure their safety and wellbeing.  In order to meet these responsibilities, it is necessary for all students to declare any relevant convictions, cautions and warnings to enable the College to make a judgement on any particular risks. In order to disclose a criminal conviction, please fill in the Criminal Conviction Disclosure form. The full policy relating to disclosure and the process we have in the background is available in our Criminal Conviction Disclosure policy.

The Policy applies to everyone who is applying for, or who is already on, any course delivered at Northern Regional College.  This includes courses delivered at any Northern Regional College campus on behalf of another higher education institution.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar anyone from a place on a College course or indeed participating in a work placement but a separate risk assessment or further checks may be required.  For more detail, you can read our Policy Statement on the Student Recruitment of Ex-offenders.

AccessNI and Criminal Disclosure Process
Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass

If the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are called to a domestic incident and children are involved, Operation Encompass helps make sure the right support is in place quickly. With care and confidentiality, the PSNI share relevant information with the College’s Safeguarding Team before 9am the next day, so we can check in and offer the support you may need. You are not alone, we’re here to help.

Questions Answered

Here are some helpful questions and answers about safeguarding, including what it means, why it’s important, and who you can talk to if you’re feeling unsafe, concerned about someone else, or just need support. Your safety and wellbeing are our top priority.

The key principles of the College’s Safeguarding Policy are:

  • To seek to provide and promote a safe learning environment for all users.
  • To ensure that all allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and treated in accordance with the College’s procedures.
  • To ensure policy and related procedures on Safeguarding reflect current legislation and best practice.
  • To use best practice in its safe recruitment of staff by undertaking the appropriate pre-employment vetting checks, including enhanced disclosure checks through Access NI, and to ensure unsuitable individuals are not employed.
  • To ensure that students who undertake work placement in Regulated Activity are also subject to enhanced disclosure checks through Access NI.
  • To ensure best practice in relation to students who have declared a conviction for the abuse of a child, young person or a vulnerable adult.
  • To support, resource and train those who work with, or come in contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • To ensure procedures are in place for raising concerns, allegations or suspicions.
  • To deal with all safeguarding matters confidentially and in accordance with the provisions of Data Protection legislation and codes of practice.

 

The full policy can be accessed via the Student Hub on Canvas. FE Sectoral Safeguarding Care & Welfare Policy

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Each campus has a dedicated Safeguarding Team available to support you with any concerns or to take referrals. Please refer to the list below for the safeguarding contacts at your campus. 

For urgent matters, if no one is available on site, you should contact one of the Designated Safeguarding Officers listed below.

For non-urgent queries, you can also email safe@nrc.ac.uk

College Safeguarding Team

Designated Safeguarding Officers
Stephen McCartney, Head of Student Experience
M: 07920 832141 
E: stephen.mccartney@nrc.ac.uk

Fiona McDowell, Student Services Manager
M: 07971 824334 
E: fiona.mcdowell@nrc.ac.uk

Adult Safeguarding Champion
Stephen McCartney, Head of Student Experience 
M: 07920 832141 
E: stephen.mccartney@nrc.ac.uk 

 

Newtownabbey Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officers
Lisa Burns - Student Finance
Emma Mason - Education Support
Andrew Woodside - Education Support
Carrie Starkey - Student Engagement
Rob Wilson/George Beattie - Student Engagement

Ballymena Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officers
Emma Porritt - Education Support
Dalale McSorley - Education Support
Una O’Kane - Careers (Part-time)
Rhonda Livingstone - Student Engagement

Coleraine Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officers
Shannon Murphy - Education Support
Ryan Brolly - Student Engagement
Julie Hemphill - Careers
Lauren Millar - Education Support
Fiona Johnston - Education Support
Carly Heggarty - Human Resources

Magherafelt Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officers
Leo Meenan - Education Support
Vacant - Careers
Vacant - Student Engagement

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The College has a duty of care to all its users to ensure their safety and wellbeing. In order to meet these responsibilities it is necessary for all students to declare any relevant convictions, cautions and warnings to enable the College to make a judgement on any particular risks.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar anyone from a place on a College course or indeed participating in a work placement but a separate risk assessment or further checks may be required. .

Applicant Disclosure
Form
 

Download

Access NI Code
of Practice
 

Download

Student Criminal Convictions
Disclosure Policy

Download 

Policy Statement on the Student Recruitment of Ex-offenders

Download

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Independent information and advice on criminal disclosures is available from the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO).  NIACRO’s Employment Advice Line can be reached on 02890 320157, or applicants/students can visit the NIACRO website.

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Further Information

Designated Safeguarding Officer/Adult Safeguarding Champion
Stephen McCartney, Head of Student Experience

T. 07920 832141
Send email

Designated Safeguarding Officer
Fiona McDowell, Student Services Manager

T. 07971 824334
Send email

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