Specific requirements in the Hair and Beauty skill area

This article describes specific requirements that may apply to industry placements in this skill area.

When you get to the detailed preparations for industry placements, you should consider which requirements apply to you, with the college, school or other type of provider you are working with. You should talk to them about any specific compliance obligations on your business.

Safeguarding

There may be some situations that are not appropriate for a young person under 18 to be party to in a hair and beauty environment, such as certain personal treatments.

You should work with your college or school before a placement starts to understand what tasks are appropriate for a young person to undertake and what the policy is for flagging safeguarding issues. Individual students may have specific needs or sensitivities that the college or school may want to discuss with you.

Accessibility 

If you host a student with special educational needs or disabilities in a hair and beauty placement, you may need to make reasonable adjustments so that the student has access to the same tasks as their peers.

Relevant information about a student’s disability and needs should be shared with you by the college or school, with the student’s consent. You should discuss them and make any necessary arrangements before the industry placement commences, with the support of the college or school.

Health and safety

You will need to complete an analysis of health and safety risks that a student completing an industry placement in your business might face.

You may need to deliver an extended briefing to students on health and safety at the start of a placement. For example, explaining how sharp equipment is used and secured and when and how skin tests are carried out.

Data security

You will need to train placement students who might be collecting or inputting data about your clients on your booking system to ensure that they understand the risks and implications of managing personal data, such as client names, email addresses and services booked.

Like all your staff, students need to understand your data protection procedures as a result of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the consequences of any breach.

Insurance

You must have Employers’ Liability Insurance and Public Liability insurance in place before and during the placement. If an Industry Placement student treated a client without a prior skin test and the client was allergic to the chemicals used, then you could be liable without insurance. Find out more on the Health and Safety Executive's website.

The legal compliance article gives you more information about your main responsibilities and provides links to detailed guidance and resources.

The content in this article is for information only and does not constitute advice. Suggestions or considerations are offered for you to take into account. It’s your responsibility, supported by your college or school, to comply with any legal duties that you might have.

Was this page helpful? Yes this article was useful No this article wasn't useful

You have 500 characters remaining