Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board. Safeguarding Training for Schools. Guidance Document

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1 Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board Safeguarding Training for Schools Guidance Document Introduction The purpose of this document is to provide advice and guidance to schools in relation to the provision of training to staff on the subject of safeguarding and child protection. In September 2009, the framework for inspection of schools by OFSTED was amended to include a greater focus on the subject of safeguarding children and young people. There are implications for training, and the framework sets out clear expectations about the level and content of training required by different staff groups. Training Requirements Section 5 of the OFSTED document Briefing for Section 5 Inspectors on Safeguarding Children (published in September 2009) states that Inspectors should take into account the extent to which the school ensures that adults receive up-to-date, high quality, appropriate training, guidance, support and supervision to undertake the effective safeguarding of children. In relation to training, the guidance suggests that inspectors will focus on two specific questions: Do all staff and other adults who work with children undertake appropriate and up-to-date training, relevant to the type of school, to equip them to carry out their responsibilities for child protection effectively? In addition to basic child protection training, have designated members of staff undertaken training in inter-agency working that is provided by, or to standards agreed by, the Local Safeguarding Children Board?

2 Levels of Training Working Together to Safeguard Children provides the following levels of training in safeguarding: Level 1 This includes those staff (whether paid or voluntary) who are in regular contact with children and young people, or with adults who are parents or carers. Such people will be in a position to identify concerns about child maltreatment, abuse or neglect. These people will require basic child protection training, enabling them to effectively identify child maltreatment, and to respond appropriately. Within a school setting, this applies to any staff member who has regular contact with children in the course of their work. Level 2 This includes staff who work regularly with children and young people, and who may be asked to contribute to formal assessments of children in need or at risk. Such people may also be consulted by Family Services or the Police during the course of a Child Protection Investigation, and may be required to attend a Child Protection Case Conference or be a member of a Core Group. Such staff will require a fuller understanding of how to work together to identify and assess concerns and to plan, undertake and review interventions. Within a school setting, this would include staff whose role means that they have a greater level of contact with, and responsibility for, children and young people. Level 3 This includes staff with specific, designated responsibility for safeguarding. People in this group need to have a thorough understanding of working together to safeguard children. Within a school setting, this could include teachers with designated responsibility for child protection, or particularly vulnerable groups of children. In practice, due to the overlap between levels, some training is delivered at a combined Level 2/3 level. 2

3 Level 4 This includes operational managers, as well as those with strategic and managerial responsibility for safeguarding services. Training at this level includes Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board training on safer recruitment and allegations against people who work with children. WMDC Family Services Training Provision All schools are offered bespoke whole-staff training for Inset days or twilight sessions. This training will ensure that all staff are made aware of the statutory context of their responsibilities, are aware of the signs and symptoms of child abuse and know what to do if they are concerned about a child or young person. In addition, bespoke training is also provided to groups of school governors. Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board Training Provision Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children requires effective co-ordination in every local area. For this reason, the Children Act 2004 requires every local authority to establish a Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). The Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board is the key statutory mechanism for agreeing how organisations within the district will co-operate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. One important aspect of the work of the Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board is the delivery of a programme of training for professionals in the district, structured around the training levels described above. The programme of training currently offered by the Safeguarding Children Board in Wakefield includes basic child protection training (Level 1) that is suitable for all staff within a school, through to more detailed training at Level 2, and continuing with even more detailed training in specific aspects of child protection (Level 3). All training offered by the Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board is free of charge. The Safeguarding Children Board recommends that all staff in schools, irrespective of their role, undertake a basic child protection course, such as the Safeguarding Children Board E-learning course. Staff whose role leads to a greater level of contact with children and parents (such as teachers, PSAs etc) may need a greater level of training, and courses at Level 2 would meet this need. Staff in key roles such as Designated Child Protection Teachers will need to attend either the 3

4 Safeguarding Children Board s Working Together to Safeguard Children course, or a specific course offered for them by WMDC, which are at Level 3. This will enable the school to remain compliant with the requirements of OFSTED. However the Safeguarding Children Board welcomes applications for Level 3 training from teachers, PSAs etc. if their role means that they would benefit from the learning provided within the course. A key strength of all training offered by the Safeguarding Children Board is that it is delivered on a multi-agency basis. This means that each course will be attended by a group of professionals from a wide range of agencies, ensuring cross-agency learning. However the requirement that the Safeguarding Children Board offers training to all agencies means that places for a specific agency or profession are small in number. Therefore it is recommended that within a school setting, this training is targeted at those staff members who need it most, and who are in a position to share their learning with their colleagues. The chief exception to this is the training that is offered at Level 1. The Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board offers an online course at Level 1, suitable for all staff. This course is a proven one, designed by experts and utilised by many LSCBs across the country. The course receives strong feedback, and its online nature means that it is possible to regularly update the course content. The online course can be completed in less than two hours, dependant on individual learning speed, and can be re-taken in the future as a refresher whenever required. This course represents an opportunity for large employers such as schools to provide basic child protection training to all their staff within a short space of time, and with minimal impact on their operational capacity. For information about the online Child Protection Course and how to apply, please contact the Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board on or via wdscb@wakefield.gov.uk For information about training at Level 2, 3 and 4 offered by the Safeguarding Children Board, please contact the Safeguarding Children Board or visit our website ( and search under S for Safeguarding Children Board) for a copy of our training programme. A chart showing current training and levels is attached to this guidance. 4

5 Independent Trainers Some organisations choose to commission child protection training from an independent provider. If an organisation chooses to do this, they must ensure that the content of the training is suitable for the needs of their staff and is delivered to a standard agreed by the Safeguarding Children Board. For this reason, the Safeguarding Children Board has produced the following guidance on Level 1 and Level 2/3 training. This guidance should assist organisations that wish to commission training from an independent provider in ensuring that the training they receive is of the standard required by the Safeguarding Children Board and by OFSTED. The Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board welcomes discussion with organisations who wish to commission independent training, and also with independent providers. The Safeguarding Children Board is able to provide advice and guidance on course content and delivery, but can not provide any form of accreditation to courses offered by independent providers. It is therefore essential that organisations who are considering commissioning an independent provider use this document to ensure that the training they receive is fit for purpose, and seek advice where required, either from the Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board or WMDC Family Services Safeguarding Unit. 5

6 Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board Training Commissioning Framework Level 1 Training Summary Child Protection Training at Level 1 should focus on the task of providing delegates with a basic understanding of child protection. It should equip delegates to be able to identify child maltreatment when they encounter it (sexual, physical and emotional abuse, sexual exploitation and neglect) and to be able to effectively pass on information to WMDC Family Services or the Police. Target Audience Training at Level 1 is targeted at any staff (either paid or voluntary) who work regularly with children and young people, or with adults who are parents or carers. Learning Outcomes At Level 1, the chief learning outcome is that delegates will gain a clear understanding of what to do when they have concerns about a child s welfare. Course Content Courses delivered at Level 1 should always include the following components: Information on the different forms that child maltreatment can take. This should include physical, sexual and emotional abuse as well as neglect. However courses at Level 1 should also provide basic information in relation to current issues in safeguarding e.g. sexual exploitation, domestic violence, e-safety etc. Signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect What to do when a concern is identified This should include issues such as how to respond to a child or young person who has made a disclosure of abuse or neglect, whether to speak to family members and the need for recording of concerns. 6

7 Issues of parental consent to the making of a referral to WMDC Family Services Delegates should be clear on the fact that when a child welfare concern is identified, they do not need the consent of the parent/carer to make a referral to WMDC Family Services or the Police. Who to contact when a concern arises? Level 1 courses should always include up-to-date local information on systems and structures, so that delegates are aware of who to contact within Wakefield Good practice in making a referral to social services Level 1 courses should always provide delegates with information about how to make a good referral to social services. This should include advice on how to proceed when there is a difference of professional opinion. Procedures Level 1 courses should provide delegates with information about the WY Interagency Safeguarding Procedures and how to access them. Standards Courses delivered at Level 1 should adhere to the following standards: They should be delivered by trainers who are knowledgeable about safeguarding and have facilitation skills. From 2010, all trainers should have a recognised qualification (e.g. PTLLS) to ensure compliance with workforce reforms issued in Courses should be informed by current research evidence and should be up-to-date in terms of legislation and statutory guidance Courses should provide up-to-date information about local procedures and systems for safeguarding children They should reflect an understanding of the rights of the child and be informed by an active respect for diversity and equal opportunity 7

8 Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board Training Commissioning Framework Level 2/3 Training Summary Child Protection Training at Level 2/3 should focus on the task of providing delegates with a detailed understanding of child protection, particularly in relation to the systems that exist to safeguard children and their role within these systems. In practice, most courses offered by WMDC and Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board are at a combined Level 2/3. Target Audience Training at Level 2/3 is targeted at staff with specific responsibility for safeguarding children. This will include designated teachers, social workers, health visitors etc. All staff undertaking training at level 2 or 3 should be able to demonstrate the knowledge acquired at level 1. Delegates who attend Level 2 or 3 training without this knowledge will not derive full benefit from the training. Learning Outcomes At Level 2/3, the chief learning outcome is that delegates will gain a clear and detailed understanding of the systems that exist to safeguard children in Wakefield and their role within these systems. In addition, training at this level will also equip delegates with an understanding of legislation and guidance, as well as local procedures. Course Content It is expected that people who attend Level 2/3 training will already have the knowledge that would be gained from training at Level 1. Therefore courses delivered at Level 3 should always include the following components as a minimum (although different organisations may have additional requirements that should be addressed with the training provider): Relevant legislation and guidance (Children Act 1989, Children Act 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children) Local procedures and systems for safeguarding children Local referral process 8

9 Thresholds for referral to WMDC Family Services Guidance on the child protection system (S47 Investigations, Child Protection Case Conference, Core Groups, Care Proceedings) and how they are configured locally Issues of confidentiality and parental consent Good practice in making a referral to social services Level 3 courses should provide delegates with information about the WY Interagency Safeguarding Procedures and how to access them. Guidance on writing policy and procedures for staff Guidance on safer recruitment and allegations against staff (the role of the LADO). Standards Courses delivered at Level 2/3 should adhere to the following standards: They should be delivered by trainers who are knowledgeable about safeguarding and have facilitation skills. From 2010, all trainers should have a recognised qualification (e.g. PTLLS) to ensure compliance with workforce reforms issued in Courses should be informed by current research evidence and should be up-to-date in terms of legislation and statutory guidance Courses should provide up-to-date information about local procedures and systems for safeguarding children They should reflect an understanding of the rights of the child and be informed by an active respect for diversity and equal opportunity 9

10 Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board Training Levels These training levels are based on the guidance contained within Working Together to Safeguard Children and are for guidance only. Different professions and organisations will have their own internal requirements that specific what training courses are relevant or required by their staff, and these should be followed. The OFSTED inspection framework requires Designated Teachers to have training at Level 3, and this requirement can be met by attendance at the Working Together to Safeguard Children course, or by a course specifically designed for Designated Teachers, offered by WMDC. LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4 Staff who have infrequent contact with children or carers, and who need a basic awareness of the signs of abuse and how to refer on. Examples: Staff who work regularly with children or parents and carers, and are more likely to come across safeguarding issues. Staff will need an awareness of the Child Protection system and their role within it. Examples: Staff who have specific responsibility for safeguarding, or for whom, safeguarding is a key role. These staff will require a more detailed level of training and some training in specific areas of safeguarding. Examples: Staff who are operational managers or who have strategic responsibility for safeguarding. The Safeguarding Children Board recommends this course as a minimum to any staff who may come into contac E-learning Basic Child Protection The Safeguarding Children Board recommends these courses for any staff whose role requires more significant contact with children or parents. This can include: GPs Children s Centre workers Teachers Social Workers in nonsafeguarding settings Police officers Housing Staff Homestart Probation Officers Intro to Child Protection Law Serious Case Reviews Domestic Abuse (Intermediate) Working with Fathers The Safeguarding Children Board recommends these courses for staff with a key or designated responsibility for safeguarding. This could include: Children and Families Social Workers Health Visitors CPPU Police Officers School Nurses Designated Teachers Education Welfare Officers Working Together to Safeguard Children Parental Mental Health Parental Substance Misuse Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Safeguarding Teenagers Parental Learning Disability Children Living with Domestic Abuse Assessing Risk Working with Fathers Safer Recruitment Allegations against Staff Individual Management Reviews 10

11 Key Contacts Richard Fawcett Sue Philips Rachel Holmes Jane McGill WDSCB Business Manager WMDC Safeguarding Unit WMDC Safeguarding Unit WDSCB Training Co-ordinator