Safeguarding and volunteers for small organisations Kevin Garrod and Cate Meredith

What is Safe Network? A partnership between Children England and the NSPCC Funded by the Department for Education Launched June 2009 Information, advice and guidance for the voluntary and community sector on: Child protection Safer recruitment Anti-bullying Reducing avoidable accidents

Workshop programme Introductory exercise The context Three priorities and what they look like in practice Volunteers as front line staff and as trustees

Overarching Strategic Partner: Children England To support the evolving economy and infrastructure of the whole voluntary, community and social enterprise sector serving children, young people and families. It is also funded to share the best practice, expertise, learning and concerns of the sector with the Department in developing policy. This will include providing; Information, Learning resources Events and peer networks, Supporting organisations to learn from each other Improve sustainability and explore the potential for growth from new forms of finance including; public sector commissioning, and building consortia and developing entrepreneurial ways of doing business.

What Safe Network offers Advice and Information – website, enquiries, newsletter, Regional Development Managers Standards – on-line resource with self-assessment tool and guidance/templates Training materials –Are they Safe? resource pack –Keeping our Children Safe – BME resource –Safe Organisations, Safe Children – modular training –EduCare training –Courses and workshops

The Safe Network Standards Core standards and guidance for the voluntary and community sector for keeping children and young people safe Who are they for? Voluntary and community sector organisations who work with children and young people What is the aim? To help organisations ensure that the work they do is: as safe as possible enjoyable and rewarding for all involved compliant with legislation.

Three principles Putting service users first Leadership Systems and procedures

Putting service users first, in practice Priorities for safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare explicitly stated in key policy documents Culture of listening to and engaging with children All children have a right to be safe Some groups have additional vulnerability Effective interagency working Policies and procedures

Effective Leadership Clear commitment by senior management to importance of safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare Clear line of accountability and governance within and across organisations for provision of safeguarding/welfare services Provision of safe policies, procedures, practices and training/learning opportunities Establishment of a safe culture

Systems and Procedures Safer recruitment Induction, supervision and support Named person for child protection Dealing with concerns Managing allegations Behaviour codes Whistle blowing Dealing with bullying Complaints Welcoming Health and safety risk assessment and management