This section provides information on policies and legislations concerning Connexions Somerset and young people.







The Youth Charter

The Youth Charter offers you information, advice, guidance and support.

Information

		Our trained advisers will offer you good information and put you in touch with others that can help.
		We will keep in regular contact to see how you are getting on.
		You can access our service in different ways and we will do our best to be flexible.
		Comments and complaints will always be welcome. We will help you make these comments and always take them seriously.
		We will use your comments to help us improve our service

Advice

		We are a confidential service and will explain how this works to you.
		We ask you to trust us and be honest so we can offer the best advice.
		We will make sure that our places of work are safe and comfortable.

Guidance

		We will help you to make your own choices.
		Tell us about yourself so we can best help you

Support

		We will always respect you and your individual needs.
		We ask that you listen and consider our ideas.

Comments Policy

All comments from young people help Connexions to develop their service in the right way.

Young people will be able to make a comment, compliment or complaint by:

		Texting
		Emailing our website
		Speaking to a personal adviser in school or college
		Phoning your nearest Connexions centre and speaking to an adviser
		Visiting your nearest Connexions centre and speaking to an adviser
		Completing a questionnaire
		Completing a comments postcard and posting it back or putting it in a comments box

How will your comments be treated:

		All comments will be treated equally, professionally and confidentially
		If making a complaint your complaint will be recognised personally within 5 days
		You can expect to have a complaint resolved (or an update) within 10 days
		You will be given the opportunity to have your comment published and to get feedback on any comment that you have given (if you wish your comment to be recorded and you leave your contact details.)
		You will be able to read other young peoples comments on the website and in the Connexions centres
		We will develop our staff, our services and our resources using your comments
		We will recognise the good work of staff

Equal Opportunities Policy

GIM A16, p1
Connexions Somerset operates and promotes a policy of equality of opportunity for all aspects of its work. Any individual client, employee group or organisation accessing our service will be afforded equal respect and fair treatment and will not be discriminated against on grounds of age (within the context of Connexions Somerset requirements, disability, gender, martial status, race or nationality, religion, sexuality or economic and social background.

This is the introduction to our policy statetment.

If you would like to read the full version please email info@connexions-somerset.org.uk and we can arrange to send it to you.


Why We Keep Information About You

The sort of information we keep about you includes:

		First name(s)and surname
		Address including postcode
		Ethnicity (Arabic, Indian etc)
		Parent / carer contact name
		Date of birth
		Telephone number
		Gender (male or female)
		School or college attended
		What you are doing at the moment (i:e in school, college, employment, training)

This information could be stored on our computer database and / or in paper format held in one of our Connexions centres.

All information is held whilst complying with the Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation.

The reason we keep information about you is because:

		It helps us make sure you recieve the right information and service
		It saves you time by not having to give your details or share the same information every time we see you
		Connexions Somerset complies with the Data Protection Act and all our personal advisers are approved by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Conversations you have with Connexions Somerset are confidential, unless both you and your adviser think it would be beneficial to give this information to anyone else.

If this is the case we will ask you to fill in a consent form.

The only reason Connexions will pass on information without your permission is if there is a legal requirement or duty for Connexions to do this or if there is a risk of serious harm or threat to life.

If you want any of this explained further please talk to your Personal Adviser or email us at info@connexions-somerset.org.uk.