What is Safeguarding?
Everyone has a responsibility for safeguarding children. Safeguarding is essentially about keeping children and young people safe from abuse or neglect. It is also about making sure that the right people are recruited as employees and volunteers to work with young people, vulnerable adults & families, and creating a culture of openness and honesty.
All organisations, paid workers and volunteers who come into contact with children, family members, or work in communities in their everyday work have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This even includes people who do not have a role which is directly related to child protection.
What key policies do organisations need to have in place?
The key policies which are needed and brief description of the policy:
- Child protection policy with a statement of organisations intent to safeguard children
- Safer recruitment policy
- Equal opportunities and Diversity policies
An organisation also needs a designated safeguarding worker who is trained to handle any disclosures
What resources are available to help me?
The Safe Network – policies, procedures, advice, toolkits
The Safe Network is a partnership between the NSPCC, Children England and Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT).
They provide excellent up to date resource, templates, how to guides and step by step guidance covering:
- Policies and procedures
- Writing policies & procedures
- Safeguarding children standards
- Interactive module: Child safety
- Are they safe? Pack
- Keeping our children safe
- Safeguarding knowledge bank
- Safe organisations, safe children
- Safeguarding case studies & video clips
We particularly recommend you order the ‘Are They Safe?’ pack and use the resources provided in this in addition to the online resources
Reporting Concerns
Solihull Council’s website ‘Stay Safe’ section contains advice on what to do if you have concerns about the safety of a child or young person. Click here
Managing Allegations against those who work with children & young people
The procedure for managing allegations against those who work with children & young people is available on the Solihull Safeguarding Boards website.
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
The Local Authority has a Designated Officer (LADO) whose responsibility is to be involved in the management and oversight of individual cases which fall within this procedure, providing advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations, liaising with the Police and other agencies, and monitoring the progress of cases to ensure that they are dealt with as quickly as possible consistent with a thorough and fair process.
Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) – advice, guidance, training
The Solihull LSCB can provide advice, guidance and training to organisations who want to improve their safeguarding arrangements.
LSCB Procedures
The policies, proceedures and strategy on keeping children and young people safe in Solihull.
Working Together
A useful resource on inter agency working on safeguarding children and young people. Visit Working Together