People and Culture

Legal Services at Queen’s has responsibility for looking after case management legal advice as well as oversight of the university’s safeguarding arrangements for children and adults at risk.

Advice and guidance on contracts, terms and conditions, data sharing agreements, non-disclosure agreement and policies and procedures is available in this section. Please Note: Legal Services does not provide personal legal advice to members of staff or students.

• Key Contacts

  Derek Weir, Head of Legal Administration
  Email: derek.weir@qub.ac.uk

  Nichola McKay, Legal Services Assistant
  Email: n.mckay@qub.ac.uk

  Olivia Mulryne, Clerical Officer (part-time)
  Email: o.mulryne@qub.ac.uk

• Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

  Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy

  The University has arrangements in place to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. These arrangements are overseen by the Children and Adults at Risk(CaAR) Review Group. The current Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy was approved in 2015 and was circulated on 23 September 2015. Each Faculty, School and Directorate is required to comply with the relevant safeguarding measures set out in the policy and accompanying guidance. Students, employees and the extended workforce engaging in activity with children or vulnerable adults, for or on behalf of the University, fall within scope of the policy. The policy sets out the University’s arrangements in relation to:

  • the requirement for declarations and disclosures
  • processing criminal history checks and complying with AccessNI's Code of Practice
  • additional compliance and safeguarding measures e.g. the Code of Conduct and Good Practice, Safeguarding Risk Assessments etc.
  • dealing with allegations of abuse, relevant conduct and harm
  • referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service

  Faculty, School and Directorate Safeguarding Responsibilities

  • a 'Responsible Person' must be nominated to ensure relevant safeguarding measures are put in place and the policy is complied with
  • appropriate counter signatories must be registered with AccessNI
  • all questions and concerns regarding policy compliance and identifying regulated activity must be raised with the Legal Services Unit
  • all allegations of abuse, relevant conduct and harm to be raised as set out within the policy

  The Legal Services Unit monitors legislative developments and recommends policy revisions to the CaAR Review Group. The Unit also delivers policy briefing sessions and other training, provides advice and guidance, communicates updates/changes to relevant staff and conducts compliance audits.

  Please contact the Legal Services Unit (n.mckay@qub.ac.uk or x5002) if you require any assistance with implementing the policy or have any other questions or concerns regarding the University's safeguarding arrangements.

  Please note: The Policy and Guidance is under review and is available in the current format, at the links below.

  • Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy 10 Nov 2015
  • Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Guidelines 10 Nov 2015
  • Appendix 1A Definition of Regulated Activity Children
  • Appendix 1B Supervision Guidance revised Sept 2012
  • Appendix 1C Definition of Regulated Activity Vulnerable Adults
  • Appendix 2 Vetting Information - 3 Aug 18
  • Appendix 3 Protocol for Handling Disclosure Information
  • Appendix 4 Spreadsheet Template 10 Nov 15
  • Appendix 5 Code of Conduct and Good Practice
  • Appendix 6 Forms of Abuse
  • Appendix 7 Relevant Conduct and the Harm Test
  • Appendix 8 Procedure for handling allegations of abuse
  • Form 1 PIN-notification-and-ID-validation-form-signatory-registered-body
  • Form 3 Self-Declaration 10 Nov 15
  • Form 4 Safeguarding Risk Assessments
  • Legal - Form 4a Parental Consent Form
  • Legal - Form 5 Safeguarding Risk Assessment for External Organisations
  • Legal - Form 6 Form for reporting allegations of relevant conduct, harm or abuse
• Other useful links

  Internal

  A number of other University Departments provide advice on particular legal topics and should be contacted in the first instance:

  • Data Protection Issues and Freedom of Information - contact the Information Compliance Unit, Registrar's Office
  • Insurance / Commercial Contracts - contact the Finance Directorate
  • Intellectual Property and Contracts - contact the Research and Enterprise Directorate
  • Health and Safety - contact the Occupational Health Service and the University Safety Service
  • Planning and Property - contact the Estates Directorate
  • Research Grants and Collaborations - contact the Research Finance Office
  • Student Discipline - contact the Directorate of Academic and Student Affairs
  • Diversity and Equality Issues - contact the Diversity and Inclusion Unit
  • Support for Students with Disabilities - contact Disability Services

  External

  The following organisations are useful additional sources of information in relation to staff/student cases and legislative updates:

  1. Students - Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education
  2. News and Educational Resources for College Professionals and Teachers - Times Higher Education Supplement