But exactly what Safeguarding training do I need to do?

Posted by On Filed under childrens safeguarding training

I recently put together the new Mandy Parry Training brochure for the next academic year 2019 – 2020, and once again it was time to revise my understanding of the statutory safeguarding training requirements for people who work with children.

To be honest, while it’s one of the most common questions I am asked as a safeguarding consultant, it’s not the simplest one to answer. The information is spread over a range of statutory documents which are all usually in the process of being revised at different times. And sometimes the language in those documents is quite vague – by ‘updates’, for instance, do they mean training, briefing sessions, or an email?  People are sometimes bemused to hear that there is no national accreditation for safeguarding training, nor clear guidance on exactly what any safeguarding training should include.

Anyway what follows is an excerpt from the current brochure, which sets outs exactly what the training requirements are using the statutory guidance available right now:

Here are just some of the statutory documents which contain information on essential safeguarding training:

  • Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018 (KCSE)
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 (WTSC)
  • Ofsted: Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings 2019 (Ofsted 2019)
  • Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation 2016 (MASGFGM)
  • Revised Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales 2015 (PREVENT)
  • Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) or Safeguarding Partnership training requirements which are specific to each individual local authority.

 

And this is the essential safeguarding training staff should have:

  1. Safeguarding Induction training

‘…staff should be given a mandatory induction, which includes familiarisation with child protection responsibilities and the procedures to be followed if anyone has any concerns about a child’s safety or welfare.’ (p57 WTSC 2018)

‘All staff should be aware of systems within their school or college which support safeguarding and these should be explained to them as part of staff induction. This should include:

  • the child protection policy;
  • the behaviour policy;
  • the staff behaviour policy (sometimes called a code of conduct);
  • the safeguarding response to children who go missing from education; and
  • the role of the designated safeguarding lead (including the identity of the designated safeguarding lead and any deputies).

Copies of policies and a copy of Part one of this document [KCSIE] should be provided to staff at induction.’ (p6 KCSIE 2018)

‘Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure that all staff undergo safeguarding and child protection training (including online safety) at induction. The training should be regularly updated. Induction and training should be in line with advice from the local three safeguarding partners.’ (p21 KCSE 2018’)

‘5.3 …Inspectors should consider evidence that:…staff, leaders, governors and supervisory bodies (where appropriate) and volunteers receive appropriate training on safeguarding at induction.’ (Ofsted 2019)

 

  1. Safeguarding Awareness training for all staff

‘…clear whistleblowing procedures…suitably referenced in staff training…’ (p56 WTSC 2018)

‘…employers are responsible for ensuring that their staff are competent to carry out their responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and creating an environment where staff feel able to raise concerns and feel supported in their safeguarding role.’ (p56 WTSC 2018)

‘All staff should receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training which is regularly updated. In addition, all staff should receive safeguarding and child protection updates (for example, via email, e-bulletins and staff meetings), as required, and at least annually, to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively.’ (P7 KCSIE 2018)

‘In addition [to Induction], all staff should receive regular safeguarding and child protection updates (for example, via email, e-bulletins, staff meetings) as required, and at least annually, to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively.

Governing bodies and proprietors should recognise the expertise staff build by undertaking safeguarding training and managing safeguarding concerns on a daily basis. Opportunity should therefore be provided for staff to contribute to and shape safeguarding arrangements and child protection policy.’ (p22 KCSE 2018)

‘4.17 There are clear and effective arrangements for staff development and training in respect of the protection and care of children and learners. (Ofsted 2019)

‘5.3 …staff, leaders, governors and supervisory bodies (where appropriate) and volunteers receive appropriate training on safeguarding at induction that is updated regularly. They also receive information (for example, via emails, e-bulletins and newsletters) on safeguarding and child protection at least annually. They demonstrate knowledge of their responsibilities relating to the protection of children, learners and vulnerable adults (Ofsted 2019).

 

  1. Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training

‘…organisations and agencies should have in place arrangements that reflect the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including:…a designated practitioner … for child safeguarding. Their role is to support other practitioners in their organisations and agencies to recognise the needs of children, including protection from possible abuse or neglect. Practitioners should be given sufficient time, funding, supervision and support to fulfil their child welfare and safeguarding responsibilities effectively.’ (p56 WTSC 2018)

‘The designated safeguarding lead and any deputies should undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role. The training should be updated every two years. In addition to their formal training as set out above, their knowledge and skills should be updated, (for example via e-bulletins, meeting other designated safeguarding leads, or taking time to read and digest safeguarding developments), at regular intervals, and at least annually, to keep up with any developments relevant to their role.’ (p18 KCSE 2018)

‘Any deputies should be trained to the same standard as the designated safeguarding lead. (p18 KCSIE 2018)

‘The designated safeguarding lead (and any deputies) should undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role. This training should be updated at least every two years. The designated safeguarding lead should undertake Prevent awareness training. In addition to the formal training set out above, their knowledge and skills should be refreshed (this might be via e-bulletins, meeting other designated safeguarding leads, or simply taking time to read and digest safeguarding developments) at regular intervals, as required, and at least annually, to allow them to understand and keep up with any developments relevant to their role so they:

  • understand the assessment process for providing early help and statutory intervention, including local criteria for action and local authority children’s social care referral arrangements.
  • have a working knowledge of how local authorities conduct a child protection case conference and a child protection review conference and be able to attend and contribute to these effectively when required to do so;
  • ensure each member of staff has access to, and understands, the school’s or college’s child protection policy and procedures, especially new and part time staff;
  • are alert to the specific needs of children in need, those with special educational needs and young carers;
  • understand relevant data protection legislation and regulations, especially the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulations;
  • understand the importance of information sharing, both within the school and college, and with the three safeguarding partners, other agencies, organisations and practitioners;
  • are able to keep detailed, accurate, secure written records of concerns and referrals;
  • understand and support the school or college with regards to the requirements of the Prevent duty and are able to provide advice and support to staff on protecting children from the risk of radicalisation;
  • are able to understand the unique risks associated with online safety and be confident that they have the relevant knowledge and up to date capability required to keep children safe whilst they are online at school or college;
  • can recognise the additional risks that children with SEN and disabilities (SEND) face online, for example, from online bullying, grooming and radicalisation and are confident they have the capability to support SEND children to stay safe online;
  • obtain access to resources and attend any relevant or refresher training courses; and
  • encourage a culture of listening to children and taking account of their wishes and feelings, among all staff, in any measures the school or college may put in place to protect them.’ (p90 KCSE 2018)

‘5.3 …there is a designated senior member of staff in charge of safeguarding arrangements who has been trained to the appropriate level and understands their responsibilities relating to the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults and the safeguarding of all learners. Designated members of staff in schools and colleges should be a senior leader. They should undertake safeguarding training every 2 years and their knowledge and skills should be refreshed at least annually.’ (Ofsted 2019).

 

  1. Single Central Record and Safer Recruitment training

‘…organisations and agencies should have in place arrangements that reflect the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including: …safe recruitment practices and ongoing safe working practices for individuals whom the organisation or agency permit to work regularly with children, including policies on when to obtain a criminal record check.’ (p55 WTSC 2018)

‘It is vital that schools and colleges create a culture of safe recruitment and, as part of that, adopt recruitment procedures that help deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children’ (p29 KCSIE 2018)

‘Safe recruitment: Governing bodies, boards of trustees, registered providers, proprietors and management committees should prevent people who pose a risk of harm from working with children or learners by:…

  • making sure that, in relation to maintained schools, at least one person on any appointment panel has undertaken safer recruitment training.’ (Ofsted 2019)
  1. Training to prevent terrorism

‘The designated safeguarding lead should undertake Prevent awareness training.’ (p90 KCSIE 2018)

‘The Prevent Guidance refers to the importance of Prevent awareness training to equip staff to identify children at risk of being drawn into terrorism and challenge extremist ideas…As a minimum, however…the designated safeguarding lead undertakes Prevent awareness training and is able to provide advice and support to staff on protecting children from the risk of radicalisation.’ (Prevent 2015).

 

  1. FGM Training

‘Training should enable all staff to discharge their safeguarding duties with regard to FGM, as for any other form of abuse.’ (MASGFGM 2016)

‘5.3…teachers understand their mandatory duty to report to police any case where an act of female genital mutilation appears to have been carried out on a girl under the age of 18.’ (Ofsted 2019).

 

  1. Supervision training

‘…all practitioners should have regular reviews of their own practice to ensure they have knowledge, skills and expertise that improve over time.’ (p56 WTSC 2018)

‘4.17 Staff and other adults receive regular supervision and support if they are working directly and regularly with children and learners whose safety and welfare are at risk. (Ofsted 2019)

 

View and download the new training brochure for 2019 – 2020 here.