No matter how unique, big or small your organisation is, if you or your staff and/or volunteers have contact with children, young people, families or adults at risk, you need to consider the potential for a safeguarding issue to be reported.
Your staff need to know who to report to and how to report any concerns they may have, and that this concern will be managed by an appropriately trained member of staff. This ensures that you and your organisation are safeguarding compliant.
What is a Designated Safeguarding Lead?
A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) is stipulated as necessary within safeguarding statutory guidance and is an individual who upholds and communicates safety policies within an organisation.
At The Athena Programme, we have designed the perfect course for you. It enables you to share your own experiences and learn from other DSL/DSO’s.
What will you learn on a Designated Safeguarding Lead training course?
Describe the key legislation and guidance that determines your organisation’s policy for child /adult safeguarding i.e., Ofsted, CQC, IPCC, Charity Commission, etc.
To understand the purpose and importance of the Designated Safeguarding Officer/Lead, and explore the role and responsibility of the DSO and of other Safeguarding partners.
Understand how to respond to those subject of concerns or allegations of abuse (HR, LADO, DBS) and to explore the difficult decisions to be made and the people they need to be made with
How to manage and support staff through the process of allegations/and or disclosures.
Understand and explore in-depth your organisations safeguarding policies and procedures.
Understand how your own values and beliefs can affect your role and responsibilities as a DSO.
Identify and understand the barriers to reporting and effective information sharing.
Understand the duty to cooperate in multi-agency partnership working.
Understand and commit to a safer culture and a risk management culture i.e. Audits, Q&A of safeguarding concerns SCR’s and SAR’s duty to co-operate.
Safer working practices with children and adults at risk, assessing and managing risks, such as committing to a safer and a risk management culture.
Contributing to legal and audit processes and developing an action plan to apply learning to professional practice.
Current DSO/DSL Training Course Dates
Upon confirmation of your booking and payment, an email containing the meeting link will be sent to you 7 days before the scheduled training.
The benefits of a Designated Safeguarding Lead
A Designated Safeguarding Lead provides a huge amount of benefits to a number of different organisations, ensuring that all staff and volunteers are aware of the signs of abuse and neglect for the people they care for.
A DSL is also vitally important in ensuring all of the company policies are being followed. This includes those at the very top, to new recruits and volunteers.
They are also essential for ensuring all safeguarding files are kept up to date, with information being stored securely and confidentially. A DSL can be beneficial here as they will also refresh and review current safeguarding policies in line with government policy updates, which is an essential part of any company’s safeguarding.
Does every organisation need a Designated Safeguarding Lead?
Every organisation that works with children, young people, families or adults at risk needs to have a Designated Safeguarding Lead. Your organisation should always have a DSL available when active. This includes usual business operation hours, activities that occur outside of usual hours and cover when the DSL is not available.
Your DSL does not need to be active all day or seven days a week; only when your organisation is active.
Why should you become a Designated Safeguarding Lead?
Becoming a Designated Safeguarding Lead will allow you to make positive changes in your organisation's safeguarding policies. It is an ideal role for anyone who has had previous experience in safeguarding, and are looking to build on their existing knowledge as well as help others build their knowledge too.
If you are keen on being someone who can implement new safeguarding policies to make changes for the better in your organisation, then a DSL may be the right role for you.