Our Setting up guide emphasises the importance of clear safeguarding policies and procedures. These give staff and volunteers the confidence to act appropriately when there are concerns, including risk of harm to an unborn baby.
Volunteers are in a position to have insight into families’ lives and the care of their children (this also means pregnant women and care of an unborn child). It is important that volunteers don’t ‘close their eyes’ and think someone else will take responsibility if they think an unborn baby, child, young person or vulnerable adult may be at risk of harm. Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and an important ground rule for peer supporters.
The programme coordinator carries out an important role in responding to safeguarding concerns that are flagged up by volunteers. Volunteer training, induction and ongoing supervision should reinforce the need to ‘pass on’ any concerns and not let them fester. The coordinator needs to be fully trained, confident and experienced in how to manage safeguarding concerns. The coordinator also needs a lead person in their organisation to turn to for further advice.
Legal duty
You have a duty to refer cases where abuse is known to have occurred or is suspected – even if the vulnerable adult, child or young person wants it to remain confidential. This includes information received from a third party which gives cause for concern that a child or vulnerable adult has suffered or is likely to suffer abuse or harm – whether that be physical, emotional, neglect or sexual.
It is a legal duty under Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This responsibility is also set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government 2018). The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (section 20/1990) gives guidance on how to do this and makes it clear that children have equal rights to protection.
The Care Act 2014 defines the responsibilities for all those working with adults to ensure that staff are able to recognise the indications of abuse and harm, and are clear about how to safeguard adults with care and support needs.
Recognise:
- Ensure volunteers know how to recognise the signs of abuse
- Cover this in their training, using example scenarios and opportunities to ask questions
- Make it practical and real (see our Volunteer training guide module 3, session 13 and module 5 session 22) and check their understanding during induction (please see Child safeguarding induction checklist).
Child safeguarding induction checklist
Added 13/03/2020Please sign in to download this file.
Responsibility:
- Have clear lines of accountability and a named member of staff for volunteers to contact if they have safeguarding concerns or are simply unsure
- Ensure volunteers know they have an absolute duty to contact the programme coordinator straight away and pass on any concerns
- Volunteers need to know who to contact and how to record their concern (see the easy to follow flow chart in their Volunteer Handbook, downloadable below). The coordinator will then advise and support the volunteer and take any further action that is needed
- Ensure safe recruitment and induction procedures (including carrying out vetting and DBS checks)
- Support and where possible secure the safety of individuals and ensure that all referrals to services have full information on any identified risk and vulnerability
- Ensure all staff and volunteers are aware and have access to ‘Allegations against staff or volunteers’ procedure (within Safeguarding Children policy).
Reinforce:
- Ensure volunteers have clear guidelines to refer to in the Volunteer Handbook (downloadable below)
- Ensure safeguarding ground rules are reinforced during supervision sessions and ongoing training
- Ensure all volunteers and staff have annual safeguarding updates
- Make in-house and external multi-agency training mandatory
- Invite local specialist organisations to give additional training e.g. Women’s Aid.
Review:
- Ensure any safeguarding concerns are shared by professionals at referrals
- Keep track of safeguarding concerns and be more vigilant – increase supervision for volunteers visiting these families as appropriate
- Review and follow-up actions needed
- Review how safeguarding issues are being managed at regular staff safeguarding supervision sessions
- Review outstanding safeguarding issues at the end of support and ensure other agencies are aware that the peer support is ending (please download our Safeguarding summary form below)
- Monitor the effectiveness of your procedures
- Make sure staff and volunteer recruitment processes are robust and include DBS checks.
Record:
- Ensure volunteers know how to record any concerns
- Ensure staff know how to record information shared, actions taken and review dates, outcomes of core groups, child protection conferences etc
- Make sure contact details of professionals involved in a family’s care are easily accessible.
Further information in our Record keeping section (scroll down to “Child and adult safeguarding”)
Reflect:
- Share real life examples (anonymously) during ongoing staff and volunteer training and supervision.
- Ensure reflective supervision skills are used to build confidence and promote continuous learning.
Volunteer Handbook
Added 13/03/2020Please sign in to download this file.
Safeguarding summary form
Added 20/03/2020Please sign in to download this file.
It is important that information which could reduce the risk of or prevent significant harm to a child is shared. If it’s in the best interests of the child or vulnerable adult – share.
- Remember the Data Protection Act is not a barrier to information sharing
- Be open and honest from the start about why, what, how and with whom information will or could be shared
- Seek advice if you are in any doubt
- Share with consent where appropriate
- Consider safety and wellbeing
- Necessary, proportionate, relevant, accurate, timely and secure
- Keep a record of your decision and the reasons for it.