What is a Safeguarding Audit?
A safeguarding audit aims to identify any risks and gaps in your safeguarding compliance at all levels of the organisation. The way we undertake audits and reviews is in partnership with you and those that work in your organisation. It provides an honest, independent and critical compassionate friend that is able to report back factual feedback and recommendations about your organisation’s safeguarding compliance and safer culture.
Bespoke Safeguarding Audits
Audit methods can be tailored to fit your organisation’s needs and can include policy and procedures reviews, site visits and observations, detailed group or individual interviews and/or focus groups as well as self-assessment tools.
What’s included in a Safeguarding Audit?
All Safeguarding audits are evidence based and documented in a n in-depth audit report that includes governance, safer cultures and safe practices, areas of good practice and gaps in operational or strategic areas of the organisation, as well as recommendations to form an organisational safeguarding action plan.
Flexible approach
Strategic and/or operational
Forms part of a safeguarding organisational action plan
On-site visits, face to face individual/ group interviews (in person or online) and/or focus groups, conference calls and timely follow ups
Includes all relevant and associated safeguarding policy and procedures
Audited against all with relevant statutory and national guidance
What’s included in a Safeguarding Review?
A review of Governance arrangements
A review of all policies and procedures for example safeguarding children and adults policies, safer recruitment, code of conduct, training frameworks, training materials, whistle blowing, complaints, serious and untoward incidents, supervision, dealing allegations, induction, volunteers, members, helplines and web chat, social media etc.
On-site visits, face to face individual/ virtual / group interviews and conference calls and timely follow ups
Audit of case records / case management files including historical records subject to agreement of scope of work.
Focus groups that may include all levels of staff and managers, volunteers and service users/beneficiaries.
Why does my organisation need a Safeguarding Audit?
A Safeguarding Audit is a proactive approach to assess an organisation’s safeguarding measures and ensure compliance with legal requirements. It ensures you are transparent and allows an independence by a critical compassionate safeguarding expert. It enables the CEO, MD, Board of Directors, and Committee members to feel confident about their organisation's safeguarding roles and responsibilities. As well ass giving them a plan for moving forward as part of an annual review process.
There are several reasons why and organisation will conduct a Safeguarding Audit:
Risk Management:
A Safeguarding Audit helps identify gaps in polices and procedures that may expose the organisation to risks.
Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements:
There are specific laws and regulations that require organisations to implement safeguarding measures, especially if they work with vulnerable populations such as children, young people and their families or adults deemed at risk.
Quality Assurance:
A safeguarding audit is a tool for assessing the effectiveness of an organisations safeguarding policy and procedures. An audit helps ensures that these measures are in place and are implemented effectively.
Staff Training and Awareness:
A Safeguarding Audit often highlights the need for ongoing training and awareness programs for staff and/ or volunteers. Ensuring the workforce feel confident and competent to respond to safeguarding concerns.
Promoting a Safer Culture
An audit promotes a proactive approach to safeguarding and a safer organisational culture where safeguarding of individuals is everyone’s responsibility.
Why are Safeguarding Audits Important?
It is essential that organisations are able to demonstrate compliance with safeguarding best practices to ensure the safety and wellbeing of individuals. Understanding your obligation as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for your organisation is important to ensure you have the correct polices and procedures in place. With expert consultation and explanation our audits are designed to form a strategy and an action plan, to incorporate into your organisation.
Want to know more about our Safeguarding Audits and Reviews? Please contact a friendly member of our team who would be happy to help.