Safeguarding is EVERYBODY’s business. It is an umbrella term that describes how we promote the welfare of children and keep them safe. Every child has the right to live a life free from abuse harm and neglect, and we all have a part to play in protecting them now and in the future.

The importance of safeguarding children cannot be over emphasised. All organisations with staff who have contact with children, young people and families have a duty of care to keep them safe.

This includes staff being able to recognise signs, symptoms and behavioural indicators of abuse, know how to respond to concerns and work with other agencies. Without training, staff will not be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to keep children safe from abuse harm and neglect.

This course is for all staff and volunteers who come into contact with children and families. Everyone has a responsibility to protect, safeguard and promote the well-being of children, and safeguarding should always be at the forefront of the organisation.

Module 1 – Understanding key terms of safeguarding and child protection. 

This module takes you through the terminology of safeguarding, building your knowledge of key aspects. Your responsibilities will be explained, this module provides the basis for the rest of the course.

• Definitions; safeguarding, child protection, abuse, harm, neglect.
• Acts of commission or omission
• Key legislation and guidance
• Roles and responsibilities
• Creating a culture of safeguarding.

Module 2 – Legislation, guidance and the safeguarding framework.

This module explains the safeguarding framework and the different levels of need. We will cover legislation and the importance of your own organisations policy and procedures.

• The Children Act 1989 and 2004
• Working Together to Safeguarding Children 2026
• Keeping Children Safe in Education
• Safeguarding framework - Levels of need
• Roles of other agencies
• Safeguarding Children Partnerships
• Your safeguarding policy and procedures

Module 3 - Types of abuse and indicators.

This module explains the four types of abuse, and potential indicators of abuse. We also cover financial abuse, whilst not a category of abuse it is a risk that children face.

• Emotional/psychological
• Neglect
• Physical abuse
• Sexual.

Module 4 – Extra-familial safeguarding.

In this module we cover risks outside the home, including:

• Bullying and cyber bullying.
• Radicalisation.
• Child exploitation
• Forced Labour.
• Domestic servitude.
• Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) including Gang related activity.
• Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
• Peer on peer abuse.

Module 5 - Awareness of family circumstances.

This module covers the heightened risk factors within the home, whilst these do not indicate abuse, harm or neglect, they increase the risk of the child requiring additional support.

• Risk trilogy (Mental health, drugs and alcohol, domestic abuse).
• Disability, social exclusion, low income families, parent in prison.
• Children in care, homelessness, domestic servitude, forced marriage.
• Heightened risk factors.

Module 6 - Responding to a safeguarding concern.

This module outlines what to do if you have a concern about a child and how a disclosure might happen.

• The importance of reporting.
• Barriers and the reluctance to talk.
• How a disclosure might happen.
• How to act appropriately.
• Gaining consent if possible.
• How to use TED (Tell, Explain, Describe).

Module 7 - What happens after making a referral.

This module looks at what happens after you submit a concern to your Designated Safeguarding Lead and the next steps.

• Reporting within your organisation.
• A child centred approach to safeguarding.
• Advocacy.
• The role of children's services.
• Section 47 investigation.
• Disagreements and escalation.
• Safe and secure information sharing.