Safeguarding, put simply, is putting processes in place to protect vulnerable adults and children against all forms of abuse.
Safeguarding adults means “protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. The aims of adult safeguarding are to prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect to adults with care and support needs.” Vulnerable adults can be defined as being over 18 years old and in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness and who are unable to take care of themselves, or unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.
The following six key principles underpin all adult safeguarding work:
- Empowerment: people being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and give informed consent
- Prevention: it is better to take action before harm occurs
- Proportionality: the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented
- Protection: support and representation for those in greatest need
- Partnership: local solutions through services working with their communities – communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse
- Accountability: accountability and transparency in safeguarding practice
The government has defined the safeguarding of children as ‘”The process of protecting children from abuse or neglect, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care that enables children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully”
“Whilst local authorities play a lead role, safeguarding children, promoting their welfare and protecting them from harm is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play” HMG Working Together to Safeguard Children, July 2018.
It is a requirement for all those working with children to have knowledge of how to safeguard them, including those who work in a voluntary capacity.
Safeguarding training ensures you and your team have the skills to be able to protect children and vulnerable adults. Some of the most valuable benefits of Safeguarding training are:
- Increased trust in your institution: Ensuring your staff have undergone safeguarding demonstrates that your organisation takes best practice seriously.
- Learn who might be vulnerable and recognise the tell tale signs of abuse and neglect.
- Create better communication around safeguarding among your staff to enable you work together to put effective processes in place to record and report abuse and neglect
Introduction to Safeguarding Children Training Course (Level 1 Safeguarding will provide you with a thorough overview of how to recognise the warning signs of abuse, what to do with any concerns that you may have
This Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults (Level 1) training course explains your safeguarding responsibilities, how to recognise signs of abuse and neglect, and how to report your concerns.
