Safeguarding for organisations

We have many voluntary agencies and faith groups that provide facilities for parents and children. Our safeguarding board encourages these groups to provide services in a safe and vigilant manner.

Harm can come to children in different ways. These organisations must identify areas of risk and do as much as possible to minimise them.

Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 says that every organisation working with children and parents that receives grant funding must show that they are run safely.

• Organisations should have a child protection policy and procedure that clearly describes what people have to do to keep children safe
• Every organisation should have a designated person for safeguarding. Selection and vetting of volunteers and staff should be rigorous and properly conducted
• Each organisation should have a training and information plan for child protection and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• Each organisation should have a complaints procedure
• Each organisation should have a whistle blowing policy to cover staff reporting colleagues' behaviour
• Each organisation should have procedures for handling allegations against staff or volunteer