Getting support with safeguarding

Break the job down

Breaking safeguarding and child protection tasks down into smaller, more manageable elements can help – and it's important, where possible, to enlist the help of others. 

Safeguarding and child protection procedures affect everyone, and everyone needs to understand – and be committed – to them. So, if you are in a large group or organisation, make sure you talk to representatives from every section.

Depending on your size, you may decide to form a working group to meet and discuss what needs to be done, or to read and comment on draft documents. 

A working group might involve:

• trustees or the management committee
• managers or leaders in the group
• people in direct care of children or young people
• people responsible for health and safety in the building
• people responsible for organising events, outings or residential trips.

Sources of support for safeguarding

There may be people already involved in your group who know about child protection through their job or experience. 

There are also other local people who you may be able to ask for help, such as:

• local safeguarding agencies, your safeguarding board or child protection committee
• child protection professionals in education, health or the police
• a commissioning, funding or grant-making body you work with
• your local council or voluntary service or member organisation
• another voluntary sector group or organisation that you could develop a peer mentoring arrangement with.

Support from children, young people and families

It’s important that children, young people and their families understand why you are putting certain safeguards in place. 

However, they can also be a valuable source of support in creating and implementing your safeguarding and child protection measures.

You should ask children and young people for their ideas about how to keep them safe and what they think about what you’re already doing. 

They will have views on what makes them feel safe already and what may need further work. This will also help you develop a fully supportive safeguarding culture. 

Putting it into practice

There are lots of methods you can use to consult with children, young people and families.

Some ideas of activities that could work well include:

• working with another local project or national organisation that specialises in participation work 
• designing questionnaires that ask for people’s views
• running an activity that asks children and young people to talk about, draw, make a film or video diary, or show by some other means what being safe means
• running a focus group for parents and carers on the same topic.

Think about how you can make children, young people and families feel supported and comfortable in sharing their views and experiences. 

You could also consider having a committee of children and young people in your organisation or find out if there are existing groups you could consult with. 

Further resources and guidance

Our resources and guidance can help you take your first steps in safeguarding or provide support with more detailed topics such as:

> Getting started with safeguarding

> Writing a safeguarding policy

> Safer recruitment information

> Recommended adult to child ratios

> Photographing and filming children

Self-assessment tool

You can use our self-assessment tool for voluntary and community organisations to help review your existing arrangements and identify any areas to improve.

> Start your assessment

Training courses

We also provide a range of online and face-to-face training courses on a range of safeguarding topics.

> Take our introduction to safeguarding and child protection course

> Browse all training courses

Consultancy

Our expert consultants can provide bespoke advice, support and guidance to help improve your organisation’s safeguarding policies, training and culture.

> Find out how we can help