Safeguarding
Legislation, most recently the Children Act 2004, places on many agencies a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Although not specifically covered by this legislation, the voluntary sector shares the commitment of all organisations that work with children to safeguard and promote their welfare.
What does safeguarding mean?
Most people think of safeguarding as being about child protection. Child protection activity is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are at risk of suffering, significant harm and is an important part of safeguarding.
Safeguarding, however, is wider than this essential focus on those most at risk of being harmed.
The statutory definition* of safeguarding and promoting welfare is:
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and undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully. |
It can be seen from this definition that safeguarding covers a wide range of activities and actions taken by a huge number of people in a vast range of organisations, including those in the voluntary sector.
This page of the Alliance website is dedicated to providing information about safeguarding which will enable voluntary sector organisations to take an informed and realistic approach to safeguarding which is consistent with their service and the setting in which it is delivered.
*DfES (2006) Working Together to Safeguard Children London HMSO (page 34)
Vetting and Barring Scheme: protecting children and vulnerable adults
The government has announced its aim to review the criminal records and vetting and barring schemes. The Vetting and Barring Scheme, which was due to start on 26 July 2010, has been halted to allow the government to remodel the scheme to what it calls 'common-sense levels'. However, the regulations that were introduced in October 2009 will continue to apply. See Vetting and Barring Scheme Guidance below.
Safeguarding - Guidance |
The Vetting and Barring Scheme -
Guidance on Safeguarding arrangements during the Scheme review period
A briefing on interim arrangements during the Vetting and Barring Scheme review is now available.
The Vetting and Barring Scheme Guidance
(March 2010)
The new guidance contains details on:
- The scope of the Scheme
- Barring arrangements
- Responsibilities and duties for both employers and volunteer organisers, and the duties for those individuals you take on
- Timescales for the phased implementation of the Scheme
- Explanation of transitional arrangements around Scheme introduction.
Working Together to Safeguard Children:A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (March 2010)
This guide sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. Part 1 of the document is issued as statutory guidance. Part 2 of the document is issued as non-statutory practice guidance.
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010
A Practitioner's Guide - Key Changes
Hampshire Safeguarding Children Board have summarised key changes from Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010 for practitioners working with children and families. As these statutory changes became effective from 1 April 2010 this document is designed to help you get the information you need quickly and easily. It should not be considered inclusive of all changes.
Safeguarding - Policies & procedures |
Hampshire Safeguarding Children Board
Model Safeguarding Policy, Procedure & Guidance For Private, Independent, Voluntary, Community and Faith Organisations
This policy, procedure & guidance is approved by the member agencies of Hampshire Local Safeguarding Children Board. It is designed to complement and provide a context for the more detailed Child Protection Procedures and does not replace them.
4 LSCB CDOP
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Information Sharing & Confidentiality PolicyEarlier this year, Hampshire Children’s Trust Board approved the Information Sharing and Confidentiality Policy, giving guidance to staff working with children in multiagency situations. The Policy has been updated to include the national guidance from the Government and replaces the draft Information Sharing and Confidentiality Policy published in June 2008. To raise awareness of the updated Children’s Trust policy, partners are being sent copies of the booklet for display in staff rooms and other common areas. If you would like a copy, contact Ian Milsom ian.milsom@action.hants.org.uk 01962 857367. However, it is expected that most children and young people's voluntary organisations will view or download the Policy. Inter-Agency Referral Form (IARF)Any referral to Hampshire Children’s Services Social Care should now be made by sending the Inter-Agency Referral Form. |
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Safeguarding - E-learning
Visit our training page for details of safeguarding e-learning opportunities:
- The Safe Network - online child protection training
- Children's Workforce Development Council - safer recruitment
- Hampshire Safeguarding Children Board (HSCB) - Safeguarding Children E-Learning Basic Awareness Course
Safe NetworkManaged by NSPCC and Children England, the Safe Network has produced a number of on-line resources for the Vetting and Barring regulations to help groups working with children and vulnerable adults. Keeping our children safe: Raising awareness in BME communities
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Children England - why sheetsThese factsheets include the following topics: |
NSPCC - safeguarding toolkit
The NSPCC has published a toolkit to help ensure that all children and young people engaged in Sport Unlimited activities are effectively safeguarded. The toolkit provides background information on safeguarding and introduces the mandatory safeguarding standards, in addition to examples of child protection policies, procedures and good practice guidance. The toolkit is continually updated to respond to the needs of users, who are encouraged to submit examples of best practice.