SELF ASSESSMENT TOOL

Key Features of Safeguarding Arrangements

Minimum Standards

Evidence (When Standard is Met)

Timescale for completion of Improvements

Senior management commitment to the importance of safeguarding children.(S11)

There is a named senior manager who champions safeguarding throughout your organisation

There are named or designated people with clearly defined roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and child protection.

Children are listened to, taken seriously and responded to appropriately.

Key Features of Safeguarding Arrangements

Minimum Standards

Evidence (When Standard is Met)

Timescale for completion of Improvements

A clear statement of the agency’s responsibilities towards children is available to staff. (S11)

The organisation has a written policy and procedures for safeguarding and protecting children, which has been endorsed by the LSCB.

The organisational policy and procedures are available to all staff.

All staff are aware of their own roles and responsibilities and those of the organisation for safeguarding and protecting children.

The policy makes it clear that all children have equal rights to being safe and protected.

The policy and procedures help staff to recognise the additional vulnerability of some children: eg race and disability.

The organisation has effective complaint and whistle blowing procedures in place, which can be used by both professionals and service users.

The policy is mandatory for staff and volunteers.

Key Features of Safeguarding Arrangements

Minimum Standards

Evidence (When Standard is Met)

Timescale for completion of Improvements

A clear line of accountability exists within the organisation with regard to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. (S11)

The organisation has a clear written framework which covers individual, professional and organisational accountability.

Staff understand to whom they are accountable and what level of accountability they have.

Everyone within the organisation knows who the designated or lead person for safeguarding is.

Key Features of Safeguarding Arrangements

Minimum Standards

Evidence (When Standard is Met)

Timescale for completion of Improvements

Service development takes account of the need to safeguard and promote welfare, and is informed by the views of children and families. (S11)

Service plans consider how the delivery of services will take account of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Contributions to the Durham Plan for children and young people include a focus on preventing children and young people from suffering harm.

Children are made aware of their right to be safe from abuse.

Information about where to go for help in relation to maltreatment and abuse, is made available for children and families.

Information provided is in a format and language that can easily be understood by all service users.

Children and young people participate in service development.

Key Features of Safeguarding Arrangements

Minimum Standards

Evidence (When Standard is Met)

Timescale for completion of Improvements

Staff training on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is given to all staff working with, or having contact with children and families. (S11 & NSF)

The organisation has an induction process for all staff and volunteers that includes familiarisation with policies and procedures for safeguarding children.

All staff working with children and young people receive training on their professional roles and responsibilities and those of their organisation.

All staff working with children and young people are trained to recognise signs of abuse or neglect.

Single agency training meets the standards and objectives of the LSCB training requirements and has been endorsed by the LSCB Training Group.

Recommendations arising from Serious Case Reviews and Inspections are disseminated to staff.

Key Features of Safeguarding Arrangements

Minimum Standards

Evidence (When Standard is Met)

Timescale for completion of Improvements

Safe recruitment (S11 & NSF)

The organisation has a recruitment policy  which ensures professional and character references are always taken up prior to the appointment of staff.

Any anomalies are resolved prior to appointment.

Identity and qualifications are verified.

Enhanced CRB checks are taken on all staff and volunteers who work directly or indirectly with children and young people, including those who may have access to sensitive information such as that contained in the Child Index, CAF, etc.

Face to face interviews are carried out.

Previous employment history and experience are checked.

Those involved in the recruitment of staff have relevant training.

The organisation has a clear policy and procedure regarding allegations against staff and volunteers, which is compatible with LSCB procedure.

Effective inter agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (S11 & Working Together 2006)

Staff understand when to discuss concerns about a child’s welfare with their manager or the designated person for safeguarding.

Key staff understand when to undertake a Common Assessment.

Staff have an awareness of the roles of other professionals.

Staff understand the threshold for making a referral to Children’s Services and are aware of the referral route endorsed by Durham LSCB.

Staff have access to inter-agency guidance and procedures.

Staff participate in multi agency meetings to consider individual children.

Information Sharing (S11)

Staff know how and when to share information in ways which are both legal and ethical, to safeguard and protect children.

Recording (NSF)

The organisation has a robust recording policy that ensures an accurate record of staff involvement with children and families.

Key Features of Safeguarding Arrangements

Minimum Standards

Evidence (When Standard is Met)

Timescale for completion of Improvements

Measuring Outcomes (NSF)

The organisation routinely audits and evaluates its work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Data collected is made available to the LSCB, practitioners, and other stakeholders in the organisation.

The organisation evaluates outcomes from the perspective of the child or young person.

Quality Assurance (NSF)

Arrangements are in place to monitor compliance with Recruitment and Selection procedures.

Arrangements are in place to monitor compliance with LSCB procedures.

The organisation has in place robust information systems that enable them to monitor practice and management of work with children to ensure their welfare is effectively promoted.

The organisation has in place a system of internal audit and review that enables continuous improvement of the protection of children from harm.

All incidents, allegations of abuse and complaints are recorded and monitored. 

Key Features of Safeguarding Arrangements

Minimum Standards

Evidence (When Standard is Met)

Timescale for completion of Improvements

Staff Supervision (NSF)

Supervision is provided to staff who work directly with children and young people, specifically in relation to cases where there are concerns about harm to a child or young person.

The supervisor regularly reads case files and recording, in order to review the work undertaken with a child or young person and ensure it is appropriate to the child’s needs and in accordance with the organisation’s responsibilities.