Work Experience Information Pack Contents

Transcription

1 Work Experience Information Pack Contents Contact Details...2 Introduction...2 Our Placements...2 Applications...2 Students in Compulsory Education (years 10-11)...2 Students in Non-Compulsory Education (years 12-13)...3 What Students Must Bring...3 What We Provide...3 Meals...3 Health and Safety...3 What We Cannot Provide...3 Accommodation...3 Transport...3 Clothing...3 Timetable...4 Health and Safety...5 Security...5 Identification...5 Bags...5 Official Secrets Act...5 Additional Information...5 Mobile Phones...5 Smoking...5 Photography...5 Medical Assistance...5 Air Experience Flights...5 Parent and School Visits...6 Terms and Conditions...6 1

2 Contact Details Any questions or concerns regarding work experience at RAF Benson should be addressed to the Work Experience Team, who can be contacted a number of ways, although is always preferable wherever possible: By BEN-BSW-DepSEO@mod.uk In writing: Work Experience, RAF Benson, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 6AA By phone: extension 7642 (during working hours only) Introduction This booklet provides all the information that should be needed by students, parents/guardians and schools regarding work experience placements at RAF Benson. Before requesting a placement, this booklet should be read carefully to ensure you understand what our placements entail and that students, parents and schools agree to the terms and conditions of our placements. Our Placements Work experience at RAF Benson aims to give students in full time education an opportunity to experience the broad range of careers that are available in the Royal Air Force. During the week students follow a set programme, spending time in different areas across the Station. These may include: flying squadrons, engineering, air traffic control and fire service. Whilst there is a set timetable, due to operational commitments we reserve the right to change the programme at short notice. Due to legal constraints, our placements are only available during term time and to individuals in full time education (Insurance will be covered by the MoD for all personnel in full time education and who have approval from their school/institution to attend). Applications Applications for placements can be submitted at any time. They will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. A reserve list will be used automatically; it is not necessary to ask to be considered for a reserve placement. Should a vacancy arise at any time, the next student on the reserve list will be offered the placement. Application forms are available on the RAF Benson website or from the Work Experience Team. Forms can be submitted electronically, by fax, or by post. Students in Compulsory Education (years 10-11) Students in compulsory education must ensure that parts 1, 2 and 3 of the application form are completed prior to submitting to RAF Benson. Incomplete application forms will be 2

3 returned. Placements will not be confirmed until all relevant parts are completed. This is a legal requirement and is not negotiable. Students in Non-Compulsory Education (years 12-13) Students in post-compulsory education must ensure that parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the application form are completed prior to submitting to RAF Benson. Incomplete application forms will be returned. Placements will not be confirmed until all relevant parts are completed. This is a legal requirement and is not negotiable. What Students Must Bring Photographic proof of identity e.g. passport. Cadet log book (if a member of the ATC or CCF). Suitable clothing and footwear for the timetabled activities (no ATC/CCF uniform is permitted). Students MUST bring steel toe cap boots and coveralls for all engineering activities, as well as sports and wash kit for the Physical Education flight. Without the correct clothing, students may not be able to partake in certain activities. Packed lunch or cash for purchasing a hot meal. What We Provide Meals hot meals can be purchased at the Junior Ranks. The cost is not more than 2 per day and must be paid in advance at the Main Guard. Packed lunches can be eaten in a variety of areas across the Station. Health and Safety a full health and safety brief will be given to all students prior to commencing work in any section. Students are allocated an individual supervisor to ensure they comply with health and safety requirements. Where students are offered an air experience flight, suitable safety clothing will be provided including helmet. What We Cannot Provide Accommodation due to legal constraints, we are not able to provide overnight accommodation for students during placements. Parents are responsible for all accommodation requirements. Transport we are not able to provide transport to or from the Station. Where necessary, students will be transported on Station during their placement using military transport vehicles. Clothing we are unable to provide safety boots or coveralls to any students due to health and safety and financial constraints. Students are responsible for ensuring they have the correct clothing for planned activities. 3

4 Timetable Students must report to the Main Guard at 8:45am on the Monday that their placement begins. All other days begin at 8:45am. The day finishes at approximately 4pm. On arrival at the Main Guard, students should present their photographic identification to the passes and permits staff to obtain a temporary pass. Students will then be collected by a member of the Work Experience Team. Parents may wait with students until this time if they wish. The timetable below gives an indication of the sections that will be visited, although this is subject to change due to operational requirements. A full timetable will be issued during the arrival brief. TIME MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY COMMENTS Regiment Flight MSHATF (Simulators) Physical Education (PEd) Flight 606 Squadron RAF Reserves Operations Sqn Mechanical Transport Catering Flight Puma Force Engineering Puma Force Aircrew Students will need a change of sports kit, trainers and wash kit for PEd. Students are required to have steel toe cap boots and coveralls for all engineering serials (Tue and Thu) if not brought, students will NOT be allowed to do this section Tickets available to purchase from main guard room on first day Survival Equipment/ Chinook Engineering Puma Depth Support Hub Air Traffic Control Armoury Tour and Brief Chinook Aircrew Students are to be collected from the Main Guard at

5 Health and Safety Full health and safety risk assessments for all sections that may be visited during a placement are provided in a separate document on the RAF Benson website. Parents and schools should ensure they have read and accepted these risk assessments prior to signing the application form. Security Identification - Students will be issued with a temporary personal pass on arrival at the Station. This must be kept with the student at all times and presented to any member of the RAF Police or Guard Force when requested. Students unable to show their identification may be escorted to the Main Guard. Should this occur, the Work Experience Team will be called and a warning will be issued. The placement may be terminated for repeated offences. Lost passes should be reported to the Main Guard immediately, where a replacement can be issued. Bags - All bags must be clearly labelled with the name of the student and should be kept with the student at all times, unless a supervisor gives clearance for the bag to be left unattended in a specific area. Unattended, unlabelled bags may be removed by the RAF Police or Guard Force. Official Secrets Act All students will be required to sign the Official Secrets Act prior to commencing their placement and once their placement is complete. Refusal to sign will mean that the placement is terminated immediately. Additional Information Mobile Phones students are permitted to bring a mobile phone for emergency purposes. The use of mobile phones and other radio equipment is strictly prohibited in certain areas of the Station. If a student is instructed to turn off a mobile phone they must do so immediately. Smoking There is a strict no smoking policy at RAF Benson. Photography photography is not allowed unless a Photographic Permit has been obtained from the Engagement Office and the supervisor has specifically authorised photographs at that time. Any student taking unauthorised photographs will be asked to delete them. Refusal may result in the camera being confiscated. Any photograph taken must be authorised for release prior to leaving the Station: this includes via text message, , or internet. Medical Assistance During working hours, the Station Medical Centre is available for emergency and urgent medical care. Air Experience Flights RAF Benson is the main operating base for Puma helicopters and a combined Puma and Chinook Operational Conversion Unit. We understand that many students would like an 5

6 air experience flight during their placement, and wherever possible we try to include this in the programme. We must stress that due to operational and training requirements, it is not always possible to offer an air experience flight to students. In order for a student to fly in one of our aircraft we must have signed parental permission in advance. This is included in the application form. If signed permission is not received, an air experience flight will not be possible. This is a legal requirement and is not negotiable. Parent and School Visits It is not possible for parents or schools to visit the student during the placement due to our operational commitments and the varying programme. Contact can be made directly with students during meal times via mobile phone if appropriate. Alternatively, parents and schools with any concerns should contact the Work Experience Team. Terms and Conditions Students must be in full time education at the time of the placement. Students that have been suspended or expelled at the time of the placement will not be able to undertake a placement. Placements must be undertaken during term time. Students must be in attendance for the entire placement, except where prior agreement is in place for exceptional circumstances (e.g. medical appointments, exams). Any unauthorised absence will be notified to parents and schools as soon as possible. We reserve the right to cancel a placement with immediate effect should a student have more than one unauthorised absence. If this occurs, parents will be notified immediately. All forms must be returned to RAF Benson at least two weeks prior to a placement starting. If forms are not received in advance, the placement will be cancelled. All forms must be signed in all relevant places by students, parents and schools. If forms are not signed, the placement will be cancelled. We reserve the right to amend the timetable for individual students at short notice. This is owing to operational commitments and will be notified to students and parents as soon as possible. All students must sign the Official Secrets Act. Refusal to sign will result in the placement being terminated immediately, and parents and schools notified. Students must be appropriately dressed at all times. High heeled or open toed shoes, dangly earrings, ripped jeans, offensive branding, and military pattern clothing is not permitted. Students inappropriately dressed will be asked to change prior to undertaking the timetabled activities. If they are unable to do so, the placement will not go ahead. 6