Organisations and volunteers that work with children and young people all have a responsibility to help keep them safe.

The safeguarding process for volunteers starts before any activities commence. It is vitally important that staff receive the necessary support and guidance to carry out their work safely, and are clear on their responsibilities.

Safeguarding policies for volunteers are also in place to protect organisations and their volunteers from any compromising scenarios.

At Services For Education, we offer high-quality safeguarding training for volunteers and a range of resources to ensure your organisation establishes complete policies and procedures.

For any questions or further guidance on safeguarding, get in touch with our team of experts today.

What Is the Safeguarding Policy for Volunteers?

All volunteers are responsible for keeping children and young people safe from harm, abuse and neglect. In the ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2018 Government guidance, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

• Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
• Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• Taking action to enable all children to have the best possible outcomes

What Should I Look Out For?

As a volunteer working with children and young people, it is your role to identify any early signs of harm, abuse and neglect, and to respond correctly if a child makes a disclosure to you.

If you notice any change in behaviour or a repetitive and extreme emotional response to a situation, you will need to act. Key child behaviour indicators include:

• Attention-seeking or arbitrary contact
• Persistent body rocking
• Being reluctant to speak or noticeably withdrawn
• Being too friendly with strangers

You can also tell a lot about a child’s wellbeing by analysing how they interact with adults. For example, is a child or young person going out of their way to show good behaviour? This could suggest that they are trying to avoid your disapproval.

Our safeguarding training for volunteers is designed to help you recognise the signs of harm more proficiently and give you the confidence to respond appropriately to children and make the right decisions promptly.

Do I Need to Do a Course to Volunteer?

As a volunteer, you should regularly complete safeguarding training courses to ensure you are up to date with the latest processes and procedures.

Safeguarding policies for volunteers are continuously changing in response to modern-day events. We recommend you complete all necessary courses before volunteering and refresh yourself every year.

Why is it Important to Do Safeguarding Training?

Safeguarding training is a vital part of protecting children and young people from harm, abuse and neglect. With the right knowledge, you can spot any potential warning signs and inform the authorities before issues escalate.

In a volunteer role, you will get a clear insight into how an individual is behaving and interacting with others. Therefore, you are in an ideal position to make an impact and do what is right.

To discover more information about online safeguarding courses,

Call us on 0121 366 9950

Or

Contact us Here

Page Last Modified:  28/02/2022 16:44