Health and safety and legal requirements
We will only offer in person placements to children aged 14 and above.
Work placement hours for young people under 18 should not exceed eight hours in any 24-hour period. They must work no more than 37 hours per week. There should be at least 12 hours break between each working day and two days of rest per working week.
For students, we will report any absence or concerns to the education provider. This includes looked after children and/or care leavers. Service areas must report absences within the first hour of the scheduled starting time.
All students on work experience placements are employees under health and safety law. They must have the same protection as all other employees.
We must give special consideration to the risks that young people may face. This is due to their potential inexperience and lack of awareness of a work environment.
All young people undertaking work experience at the council are required to wear an ID badge and wear an orange lanyard.
We must record any accidents that result in injury, ill health, damage to property or other loss. We must complete an accident form and investigate in line with our procedures.
The duty of care is the responsibility of the education provider (for example, school or college). This includes carrying out risk assessments for all students. This duty of care includes placements both within and outside term times.
We will not accept expression of interest forms for work experience placements from students. They must have the endorsement of their education provider.
Placements should not go ahead until:
- an up to date risk assessment is in place
- an ICE form and consent has been received from parents or guardians for all young people under the age of 18
- an ID badge is produced and issued with an orange lanyard
- placement details have been confirmed
- where required, access has been arranged
Copies of new or reviewed risk assessments should be given to the named council contact.
The education provider and parent or guardian must inform the talent and early careers team of issues that may affect the placement. This can include medical conditions or other concerns. We will make any appropriate support and reasonable adjustments.
This information should be confidential, in line with our Protecting Personal Data Policy. This ensures:
- there is no breach in terms of the student's personal information
- students get the best opportunity to have a positive and enjoyable placement
There are few work activities that a young person cannot do due to health and safety law. However, service areas have primary duty for the health and safety of their students. They should manage any major risks, which includes:
- explaining the risks to the student
- checking that they understand what they are told
- advising them who to talk to if they have concerns
You can get further guidance from the corporate health and safety team or the HSE website.
DBS checks
All service areas must have a named council contact for work experience placement students. This supervisor will ensure that the student is in a safe environment.
For children under 14, work experience is a regulated activity.
Work experience for 14 – 15 year olds should last no longer than 3-days within a consecutive 30-day period, from day-4 this work experience is a regulated activity.
A regulated activity means the supervisor will require an enhanced DBS with a children's barred list check.
The supervisor will not require this check if the student is over the age of 16.