Children, Young People and Families Groups

Safeguarding Children & Young People in Salford - Newly revised safeguarding standards for the sector

Are you doing everything you can to safeguard the children and young people you work with?

Salford Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) Safeguarding Standards for the Voluntary & Community Sector

Salford CVS in partnership with other members of the SSCB have reviewed Salford's Safeguarding Standards for the Voluntary & Community Sector.

New guidance has also been produced which will help you to understand each standard and how you can best implement them within your organisation. There are also new action plan and evidence record templates which will help you to record your achievements in safeguarding and work out what else you have to do to ensure that you are effectively safeguarding children and young people.

How do the standards affect your organisation?

Commissioned voluntary organisaitons

i. Voluntary groups will report on their arrangements on an annual basis to the commissioning body (Salford City Council/NHS Salford) with reference to the Salford Safeguarding Standards for the Voluntary & Community Sector.
ii. The commissioning body will then use the results in two ways:
a. to monitor contract compliance
b. to provide a summary report to the SSCB on a bi-annual basis as part of the SSCB's Section 11 audit.

Non-commissioned groups

i. voluntary groups will be supported to put in place safeguarding arrangements proportionate to their size and function
ii. on a voluntary basis these groups may opt to take part in an annual survey of safeguarding arrangements carried out by Salford CVS
iii. findings from this survey will be reported to the SSCB on a bi-annual basis as part of the SSCB's Section 11 audit

SSCB Endorsement

The Safeguarding Standards have been endorsed by the Salford Safeguarding Children Board, Salford CVS, and VOCAL (The Voluntary and Community Sector Forum to Salford Children & Young People’s Partnership).

The 20 standards now cover the following:

• Accountability and Information Sharing
• Organisations policies and procedures
• Reporting concerns, suspicions and allegations
• Safe recruitment and selection
• Management and support of paid staff and volunteers
• Providing safer activities and trips

To book an appointment with a Development Worker to support your organisaiton to implement the standards please call us on tel: 0161 787 7795. Or email: office@salfordcvs.co.uk

Useful Resources for children, young people and families groups that relate to the Salford Safeguarding Standards

• Salford Safeguarding Standards for the Voluntary & Community Sector
• Guidance on interpreting and implementing the Safeguarding Standards
• SSCB Safeguarding Policy Template for Voluntary & Community Organisaitons
• Evidence Record
• Action Plan
• Internet Agreement for children and young people in your organisation
• Case recording template (to record suspicions, concerns or allegations of abuse)
   

 These documents are all attached below.

Worried about a child?

If you are worried about the welfare or safety of a child it is very important that you contact the Referral & Initial Assessment Team (RIAT) in Salford.

All reports or enquiries concerning the welfare or safety of a child must go straight to the RIATon 0161 603 4500 as the first port of call. This applies to reports from council staff, the public, partners and outside agencies. The email address is worriedaboutachild@salford.gov.uk.

If a child is in immediate danger of being harmed, or if a child is home alone, the police should be called on 999.

Guidance for Voluntary and Community Organisations on referrals and challenge

This guidance has been developed specifically for the voluntary and community sector by Salford CVS and members of VOCAL (the voluntary and community sector forum) in consultation with Salford Children’s Services.

It is complementary to the SSCB Escalation Guidance (available at http://www.partnersinsalford.org/sscb/documents/Escalation_policy.pdf) and highlights specific issues that voluntary or community organisations may face, for example, the safety of volunteers.

Please click here to download a copy of the guidance, or see the attachments listed at the bottom of this website page.

The Development Team

Groups that wish to develop their organisation to the next level with a view to becoming ‘tender ready’ can receive a free Salford CVS Organisational Healthcheck. The Healthcheck is like an MOT for groups. It is a tool which can be used to check that you have all the organisational systems and policies in place which will help you to begin the commissioning process.

As you may know already, in order to be eligible to deliver services you will need key policies and procedures in place. If you answer ‘no’ to any of the following questions, and you wish to be considered to deliver services then you may need our assistance. ·

• Do you have a Safeguarding Policy?
• Are you implementing the newly reviewed SSCB endorsed Safeguarding Standards?
• Do you have an Equal Opportunities Policy? ·
• Do you have a Health & Safety Policy? ·
• Do you have an Environmental Policy?·
• Have all your members of staff and volunteers been CRB checked?·
• Do you have an outcomes approach to monitoring and evaluation systems? (i.e. Do you record, measure, and evaluate the changes, benefits, and learning that take place as a result of your activities?)

You can contact the Development Team on 0161 787 7795 or email: office@salfordcvs.co.uk

VOCAL Voluntary and Community Sector Forum

Independent voluntary and community organisations are major providers of services to children, young people and families in Salford and have significant expertise to offer in developing strategy and planning. Salford CVS supports voluntary and community organisations in this role through the work of the VOCAL forum. Find out more about VOCAL here.

Salford CVS Child Protection and Safeguarding Awareness training

Saturday 19th May 2012
9.30am – 4.30pm
Walkden Methodist Church, (West Locality)

Click here to book or call us on tel: 0161 787 7795 or email us at office@salfordcvs.co.uk for more information.

Salford Safeguarding Children Board also run safeguarding courses and seminars throughout the year.

CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) checks

What is it?

The CRB service enables organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make safer recruitment decisions by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially that involve children or vulnerable adults. The CRB was established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 and was launched in March 2002.

How can I get one?

Salford CVS can process your CRBs if you work for the voluntary and community sector in Salford.

You will need to complete the CRB Form and bring in your original evidence of identity into the office. Please make an appointment. CVS will verify and photocopy the evidence and the originals will be returned to you. The CRB form together with the copies of evidence will then be forwarded by Salford CVS to U5 for processing. Salford CVS will inform you when the check has been completed at which time you should ask your Employee / Volunteer to show you their certificate. U5 keep a copy of the application for 6 months after the date the check has been completed.

The cost of the check is £15.00 for unpaid volunteers or £59.00 for an enhanced check (where staff work with children and young people). Please submit cheque payment with your application.

Contact us on tel: 0161 787 7795. Or email: office@salfordcvs.co.uk  

Questionnaire about the proposed portable CRB check system
The Criminal Records Bureau is developing an online service to make CRB checks portable. For further information on CRBs visit DirectGov Criminal Record Checks: an introduction

For information on completing the CRB application form visit the Home Office guidance document