Safeguarding
Child Protection Training - For details of who should undertake which level of training and for Group 3 training dates see Child Protection Training - Group 1 to 3
Management committee / charity trustees guide to safeguarding – VYS has produced this useful resoure which outlines the responsibilities relating to safeguarding for local groups. It highlights the fact that Group 2 training should be undertaken by all those who are in regular contact or who have a period of intense but irregular contact (residential or youth exchange) with children and young people. Training should be refreshed every three years. This is the training that VYS provides. See Safeguarding Guidance
Child protection in Devon - If you are worried about the safety of a child and want to know more about child protection in Devon see www.devon.gov.uk/childprotection. Can you please ensure that this information is made available to all those working with children and young people as there are new phone numbers. If you would like to know more about safeguarding procedures and the Devon Safeguarding Children Board visit www.dscb.info
Common Assessment Framework / Team Around the Child – Changes have been made to these and a letter from Anne Whiteley, Executive Director of Children & Young Peoples Service, provides information about these changes, including the support available with contact details. See CAF TAC Information
Devon’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) - This now covers the whole of Devon and will receive all contacts and referrals to children's social care (new language MASH enquiries). MASH will provide information sharing across all organisations involved in safeguarding – encompassing statutory, non-statutory and third sector sources. Essentially the hub will analyse information that is already known within separate organisations in a coherent format to inform all safeguarding decisions. All partners will work together to provide the highest level of knowledge and analysis to make sure that all safeguarding activity and intervention is timely, proportionate and necessary. MASH focuses on three key functions:
Victim identification and early intervention - working with the Early Response Service to support children and young people whose needs do not meet the threshold for Children and Young Peoples services.
Harm identification and reduction - this will be done by identifying children and young people experiencing the highest levels of harm and making sure partners work together to support them with harm reduction strategies and services.
Co-ordinating partner agencies - working with vulnerable adults and vulnerable children.
There will now be one central number for the MASH 0345 155 1071. The MASH will run a consultation service for professionals to discuss cases where they are unsure whether to make a MASH enquiry. It is also promoting the use of written MASH enquiries, and there is an enquiry form on the DCC website
http://www.devon.gov.uk/text/index/childrenfamilies/childrenfamiliescontacts/multiagencyreferralform.htm and www.vysdevon.org.uk/resource/cat/safeguarding/1019
Devon Safeguarding Children Board – the new website is now up and running and provides a wealth of information, all set out in a very clear and easy to navigate way. See http://dscb.info/
Safe Network - NSPCC and Children England set up the Safe Network National Safeguarding Unit to provide information and support for the third sector in England. There is lots of useful information on their website - http://www.safenetwork.org.uk/
Safer recruitment training – FREE CWDC’s online safer recruitment training can be accessed by everyone working or volunteering with children and families. http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/safeguarding/safer-recruitment
Resources can be seen by following the link http://www.vysdevon.org.uk/resource/cat/safeguarding