Work Experience Safeguarding: What Parents Need to Know
Ensuring your child is safe and supported during work experience placements, whether arranged by school or independently.
Employer vetting and DBS checks
Not every work experience employer is required to have a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, but you are entitled to ask about the organisation's safeguarding arrangements before your child begins a placement. Schools are legally responsible for vetting employers when they arrange placements and should be able to provide assurance that the workplace is appropriate. If you are arranging a placement independently, ask directly whether staff who will be in regular contact with your child have current DBS clearance, and whether the organisation has a written safeguarding policy. Reputable employers will welcome these questions and be able to answer them clearly.
Student safeguarding during the placement
Your child should never be left entirely unsupervised with a single adult who is not known to them, particularly in an isolated environment. A named supervisor or mentor should be identified at the start of the placement. There should be a clear induction covering health and safety, emergency procedures, and who to contact if your child feels uncomfortable. Your child's school should conduct a check-in, either by phone or in person, during a longer placement. Before the placement begins, discuss with your child what appropriate workplace relationships look like and what kinds of interactions would feel uncomfortable or wrong.
Contact protocols
Agree with your child on a daily check-in routine during their work experience. Know the workplace address and a main contact number independently — do not rely solely on your child's phone. Ask the school for an emergency contact for the placement coordinator. Your child should know that if anything makes them feel unsafe, they can leave and contact you or the school immediately without consequence. Establish a safe word or code text if your child is anxious about raising concerns openly. Make it clear that their safety is always more important than completing a placement or not causing inconvenience.
Digital boundaries in the workplace
Work experience placements often involve access to workplace devices, systems, or communication tools. Make sure your child understands that they should not share personal social media accounts with workplace colleagues, and that any personal information shared on workplace systems is not private. They should not accept friend requests from employer contacts on personal social media platforms. If a supervisor attempts to contact them through unofficial channels — personal mobile number, WhatsApp, or social media — your child should tell you and the school immediately. Workplace communications should always be through formal, agreed channels and should involve other members of staff rather than one-to-one private messaging.
Raising concerns about a placement
If your child reports feeling uncomfortable, witnessing something concerning, or being asked to do something inappropriate, take their account seriously. Contact the school's designated safeguarding lead (DSL) as soon as possible — schools are legally required to have a DSL in post. If you believe a crime has been committed or your child is at immediate risk, contact the police. You can also seek advice from the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, which is available to parents and carers as well as children. Keep a written record of what your child has told you, including dates and as much detail as possible, to share with relevant authorities.
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
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