Safer Recruitment

What is Safer Recruitment?

Safer Recruitment is a vital part of our commitment to keep children safe from harm.

It means that when recruiting to posts that involve working with children we take appropriate steps to ensure that only individuals who are suitable for working with young people are appointed. This applies to any University role that undertakes regulated activity, for example teaching and supervising apprentices under the age of 18 years old.

Regulated activity

A person will be engaging in regulated activity with children if, as a result of their work, they

• will be responsible, on a regular basis in a school or college, for teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children.
• will be working on a regular basis in a specified establishment, such as a school, or in connection with the purposes of the establishment, where the work gives opportunity for contact with children.

Principles of Safer Recruitment

Safer Recruitment is based on four key principles:

1. Deter – Deter applicants with inappropriate motivations from applying for positions, by making it clear that the organisation is not a ‘soft target’ for abuse (eg by referring to safeguarding policies in application processes or job advertisements).
2. Reject – Identify and reject inappropriate people from the employment process (eg through interviews).
3. Prevent – Ensure that there are no opportunities for abuse in the work context, by managing the environment, assessing risk, and establishing clear standards of behaviour (eg through appointment and induction processes).
4. Detect – Identify inappropriate behaviour or abuse within the workplace at the earliest opportunity and respond appropriately (safe working culture).

Safer Recruitment at the University of Sheffield

The University has developed detailed and robust processes for attracting, selecting and appointing members of staff, within which the principles of Safer Recruitment are embedded. 

When recruiting to any role where the post holder will undertake regulated activity we consider safeguarding at every stage of the recruitment process (planning, advertising, selection, appointment  and induction). This helps us to fulfil our statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who work for, or study with us under the Education Act 2002 and the Children Act 2004, by deterring, rejecting or identifying people who might abuse children, or who are otherwise unsuited to work with them, in line with the principles of Safer Recruitment.

You can find out more about Safer Recruitment via the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education.

If you would like more information about Safer Recruitment at the University or if you have any questions relating to Safer Recruitment, please contact Martin Spencer, HR Manager: Recruitment Services via m.spencer@sheffield.ac.uk.