Safeguarding Children in Social Care
Level:
CPD
Duration:
3 hrs
Course code:
TD/2025/09073
Max group:
12
Learn to safeguard children in social care, recognizing abuse signs and ensuring their well-being
Course Summary
Safeguarding Children in Social Care
This comprehensive course is designed to equip social care professionals with the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to effectively safeguard and protect children in a variety of social care settings. Participants will learn to identify, assess, and respond to signs of abuse, neglect, and other safeguarding concerns, while adhering to legal and ethical guidelines. The course emphasizes the importance of multi-agency collaboration, early intervention, and creating safe environments for children. Through case studies, scenario-based learning, and up-to-date best practices, participants will build confidence in their ability to act in the best interests of vulnerable children. Key Learning Objectives: By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand Safeguarding Legislation and Frameworks Identify key laws and regulations governing child protection (e.g., Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children). Understand the roles and responsibilities of social care professionals in safeguarding children. Recognize Types and Signs of Abuse and Neglect Identify the different forms of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect) and their potential signs. Understand how abuse can manifest in different contexts, including domestic abuse, online environments, and institutional settings. Assess Risks and Implement Early Intervention Develop skills in assessing risk factors and identifying vulnerable children. Learn how to use assessment tools and frameworks to guide decision-making and ensure timely interventions. Apply Safeguarding Protocols and Procedures Understand the procedural steps for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns. Familiarize with local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs) and multi-agency collaboration procedures. Support Children and Families in Crisis Learn effective communication techniques when engaging with children and families in crisis. Understand the importance of building trusting relationships with children and their families to foster cooperation. Ensure Effective Record-Keeping and Documentation Gain knowledge of how to maintain accurate, confidential, and timely records of safeguarding concerns and interventions. Understand the legal and ethical implications of record-keeping in safeguarding cases. Foster Child-Centered Practice Emphasize the importance of listening to children’s voices and involving them in decision-making processes. Promote the rights of children, ensuring that their well-being and best interests are at the heart of safeguarding decisions. Work Effectively with Other Agencies Understand the importance of inter-agency collaboration and information-sharing in safeguarding. Develop strategies for working with health professionals, educators, law enforcement, and other community organizations to protect children. Reflect on Personal Practice and Continuous Improvement Reflect on your professional role and develop strategies for improving safeguarding practice. Understand the significance of ongoing professional development and the role of supervision in safeguarding children.
Course Contents
Introduction to Safeguarding at a Leadership Level
Overview of safeguarding responsibilities
Key principles of safeguarding: protecting children and adults at risk
Roles and responsibilities of managers and safeguarding leads
Importance of a safeguarding culture in creating a safe environment
Legal and Policy Frameworks
Key legislation and policies:
Children Act 1989
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act
Working Together to Safeguard Children guidelinesLocal Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) and other safeguarding bodies
Duty of care in relation to employment law and organizational practice
Module 2: Building and Maintaining a Safeguarding Culture
Creating a Safeguarding Vision and Strategy
Develop and implement a safeguarding strategy
Create clear and consistent safeguarding policies and procedures
Reflect the diverse needs of service users in policies
Leadership in Safeguarding
Set the tone for safeguarding across the organization
Role model safeguarding values and behaviors
Promote a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and neglect
Organizational Safeguarding Infrastructure
Establish safeguarding teams and designated leads
Create safeguarding committees or working groups
Review safeguarding practices regularly
Module 3: Risk Assessment and Incident Management
Risk Assessment Frameworks for Managers
Understand safeguarding risks
Use tools and frameworks to assess and mitigate risks
Prioritize and respond to emerging risks
Managing Safeguarding Concerns and Incidents
Identify, report, and respond to safeguarding concerns
Manage allegations, complaints, and disclosures
Supervise staff involved in incidents
Escalation and Liaison with External Agencies
Know when/how to escalate to external bodies (e.g., police, local authorities)
Share safeguarding information effectively across agencies
Module 4: Supervision and Support for Safeguarding Staff
Training and Development
Ensure staff are trained to identify and manage safeguarding issues
Deliver or commission regular training
Monitor and update training content
Supervision and Staff Support
Provide regular supervision, debriefing, and reflection opportunities
Recognize staff stress, burnout, and emotional burden
Offer safe spaces for guidance and discussion
Performance Management and Accountability
Hold staff accountable for safeguarding performance
Address poor practices or policy breaches
Promote continuous improvement and organizational learning
Module 5: Creating and Reviewing Safeguarding Policies and Procedures
Policy Development and Review
Include key elements: recruitment, reporting, response, and monitoring
Tailor policies to service user needs
Regularly review and update policies to reflect best practices
Safeguarding Procedures for Specific Contexts
Apply safeguarding to settings such as:
Children’s care
Healthcare
Education
Residential and community-based servicesEstablish online safety and digital safeguarding protocols
Ensuring Consistency and Compliance
Conduct internal audits and self-assessments
Comply with regulatory reporting requirements
Utilize external audits for validation
Module 6: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement
Monitoring Safeguarding Practice
Implement effective reporting and monitoring systems
Use KPIs for safeguarding practice
Collect feedback from staff, service users, and stakeholders
Evaluating Safeguarding Outcomes
Evaluate intervention effectiveness
Measure impact on staff and service users
Continuous Improvement and Best Practice
Reflect on incidents to learn and improve
Update policies and training continuously
Engage with national safeguarding networks and developments
Module 7: Case Studies and Practical Application
Case Study Discussions
Analyze real-world safeguarding cases
Evaluate leadership responses and identify improvement areas
Scenario-Based Exercises
Role-play common safeguarding challenges in leadership
Practice decision-making under complex conditions
Action Planning and Leadership Development
Create action plans to enhance safeguarding practices
Set personal and organizational leadership goals
Assessment
The instructor conducts a single written assessments at the end of the course. Upon successful completion, learners will receive a three-year Level 3 Award in Principles of Safeguarding and Protecting Children, Young People or Vulnerable Adults (Level 6 in Scotland). No external assessors are required for this qualification.
Duration
The course requires a minimum of 7 hours, distributed over the day. While it is ideal to complete the course in one day, we can adjust the schedule to suit your specific needs, as long as the course is completed within 3 weeks of starting and each training session lasts at least two hours.
Certification Validity
This qualification has no formal expiry, however regular CPD and updates are recommended.
Further Information - Course Numbers
A maximum of 12 students can be accommodated on this course and all candidates must be a minimum of 18 years of age to qualify.
Assessment method: Activities, test paper.
Pre-requisite: None
Suggested progression:
recommended refresher training and CPD;