Safeguarding Children Training

Section 1

The beauty of safeguarding, which can be overlooked, is that by creating a trusting relationship with a child, they’ll likely choose you. But the responsibility doesn’t just lie with you, you have ample support around you – this is a multi-agency effort. Within your organisation, you’ve got your colleagues, your Designated Safeguarding Leads and your managers and you also have those outside of your organisation. This section will look at the legislation, children's legal rights, policies & procedures and your safeguarding responsibilities.

Section 2

In this section, we’re going to look at the common types of child abuse and the warnings that can suggest abuse is taking place. As you move through this section these subjects may start to feel a little heavy and you may experience information-overload, but the most important part of recognising abuse is remembering that harm is harm. It's important to remember that you will not be penalised for misdiagnosing the type of abuse – it’s just your duty to recognise the signs that suggest something isn’t quite right.

Section 3

Recognising that a child is being abused, or is at risk of abuse, can be very upsetting and it may be tempting to avoid the issue or convince yourself you’re worrying over nothing. But if your gut, your professional judgement or your common sense is telling you something isn’t right, it’s time to respond – and quickly. In this third section, we take a look at what to do if a child makes a disclosure and you need to respond directly to them.

Section 4

You need to report the matter to your DSL. You then need to make a detailed and accurate written record about what has happened. You must make a record even if the matter isn’t pursued on this occasion. Depending on the requirements of your organisation, the method of reporting this may differ. The key principles of a written record are: keep it clear, accurate and up-to-date. In this section, we’ll take you through what to do.

Section 5

Reporting means notifying relevant individuals and agencies if you’re concerned for a child’s safety or wellbeing. As a matter of course, this usually means reporting to a DSL and allowing them to take the next steps. In this section, we’ll look at why it’s crucial to report your concerns, and what individuals and agencies may be involved to safeguard a child.