Health and safety and legal requirements
The minimum age that a school-age child can carry out work experience is 14. We will only offer placements to children aged 16 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.
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 the education provider has either:
- carried out a risk assessment
- or, an existing risk assessment has been reviewed
Copies of new or reviewed risk assessments should be given to the talent and early careers manager within HR.
The education provider must inform the named council contact 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
Further guidance can either be found by viewing the G21 employment of young persons (under 18 years of age) document on our intranet, from the corporate health and safety team or by visiting 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 16, work experience is a regulated activity. This 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.
Managers Information
If you are keen to host a Work Experience placement in your team, please contact talent@lincolnshire.gov.uk