19 March 2018
If you’re working with young people, it’s vital that safeguarding is your primary concern. And with something so important, many want to make sure they get it right. That’s where we come in!
This National Safeguarding Month, we’re asking all organisations who work with young people to Stop what they’re doing, Look at their safeguarding, Listen to young people and take action to #KeepMeSafe.
Don’t worry – it’s not too late to take action to improve your safeguarding practices. Here are five things you can do to get started:
As young people’s needs continue to change, safeguarding policies need to adapt and reflect this. Make sure your policy is current and reflects the changing needs of young people. Keep up to date with your safeguarding policy by looking at the latest legislation guides here.
Working with ‘at risk’ young people is fast becoming an essential skill for socially engaged community leaders. But despite the growing need, many youth workers are not equipped to carry out this work. This is why it is essential for organisations in the youth sector to provide support and ensure good practice. Why not get in touch with some local organisations and discuss how you can hold an event? If you’re a UK Youth member then get in touch with the Membership Team to see how we can best support you.
The Section 11 audit is a key self-assessment designed to test the strength of safeguarding. It is important to keep this up to date by completing the audit at least once a year. This ensures co-operation under the LSCB legislations and helps show that you are fulfilling your responsibilities to safeguard your young people. Check out some more guidance on this here.
It is important that young people are able to identify when they are at risk of harm. Running safeguarding sessions are a great way of ensuring young people feel empowered to take the necessary steps to seek advice and support. To get started, we would suggest dividing your sessions into interactive modules covering the following: An introduction to safeguarding, Recognising the Signs of Abuse, Responding to a Disclosure, Reporting Your Concerns, Recording Information – followed by a final assessment at the end. Click here for more tips on course content.
Do you have a social media presence? Feel you have useful tips, case studies or articles to share around safeguarding? Make the most of your voice by spreading the word and supporting National Safeguarding Month by pledging to Stop Look Listen using the #KeepMeSafe hashtag. We also have a range of #KeepMeSafe resources to help you, which you can download here!
In addition, we’ve taken the positive approach to support our membership and colleagues across the youth sector to help strengthen the quality of their services through training, accreditation, resources and expert advice.
We have a range of products available to support all organisations working with young people to help set a benchmark and support the delivery of a minimum level of practice consistent with operating a safe organisation. Find out more at the bottom of this web page or contact our Membership Team.