Updated Safeguarding Guidance

As the new term starts it’s a great opportunity to highlight that Keeping Children Safe in Education has been updated.  The new document can be found here.

This document not only makes ways of working clear, but it is always full of good advice and suggestions.  The NSPCC have published a really useful summary of changes which can be found here.

Based on support I’ve given clients over the last year or so with different issues I have pulled out a few key areas to highlight.

• I’m sure we will all welcome the increased focus on online abuse with support for identifying this and managing it. With the possibility that more learning may move virtual again this winter due to Covid rates rising, this will no doubt be of increasing importance
• Many of my client groups use school premises for their activities and - along with schools - I am sure they will welcome the clarity around safeguarding responsibilities. In practice most people work in the way suggested but it’s useful to have this written down.  Of course, even if you have your own safeguarding policy when you’re using somebody else’s premises you always need to be aware of their safeguarding policies as well as health and safety… and at the moment Covid risk assessments!
• Over the last year I’ve seen  increased demand for my ‘managing allegations’ training, and have enjoyed delivering this to foster carers, social workers  and charities who work with young people and adults at risk. We talk about the legal processes that kick in when an allegation is made against somebody working with children or adults at risk. We think about the difference between an allegation complaint and concern, and the role of the local authority. Having an allegation made against you is very difficult and we talk about how to manage the situation to keep yourself and others in the process safe. With this level of demand for the training I was particularly pleased to see that the revised Keeping Children Safe in Education has a new section which deals with the slightly grey area of what to do when an allegation is made which does not make that meet the threshold for local authority involvement. I know I have recommended before as good practice that note should be kept,  but again it is good to see this written down .

I hope this quick taster would encourage you to have a look at the new publication and think about how the recommendations apply to your practice in whatever capacity you work with children or young people.

As always if I can be of any help please do let me know!

Final reminder: Don’t forget to check whether your safeguarding policy needs updating now!