View West Yorkshire Consortium Procedures
View West Yorkshire Consortium Procedures
View Children’s Homes Procedures Manual
View Children’s Homes Procedures Manual

2.3.3 Safeguarding Champion Roles

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This chapter deals with the roles of the Locality Safeguarding Champion, Child Protection Lean and the expectations on all Children’s Centre Staff.

RELEVANT CHAPTERS

Safeguarding Policy: Template Procedure

This is a new chapter for January 2011.


Contents

  1. Locality Safeguarding Champion
  2. Child Protection Lead
  3. Expectations on all Children’s Centre Staff


1. Locality Safeguarding Champion

Kirklees Sure Start Children’s Centres have nominated Safeguarding Champions who each work across a given Locality providing information and guidance in relation to Safeguarding enquiries, issues and concerns.

It should be borne in mind that:

  • Contacting the Locality Safeguarding Champion does NOT constitute a referral to the Duty and Assessment team. It is vital that all staff follow procedures as described within the Kirklees Sure Start Children’s Centre Safeguarding Policy Template and West Yorkshire Consortium Procedures Manual.
  • The Child Protection lead for the Children’s Centre is the Children’s Centre Manager and all concerns should be reported to them (see Child Protection Lead). In accordance with Kirklees Safeguarding Board requirements all Child Protection concerns should be reported immediately to a line manager.

The role of Locality Safeguarding Champion is undertaken by the Sure Start Locality Family Support Manager.

The responsibilities of the Locality Safeguarding Champion include:

  1. To undertake the role of the Safeguarding Champion in the locality in which they work and  to undertake that role as required in other Localities in the absence of a Family Support Manager.
  2. To circulate relevant national information, guidance and policy to identified Action For Children and Children’s Centre Managers.
  3. To circulate relevant local information, guidance and policy to identified AFC and Children’s Managers.
  4. To be a point of contact for advice, ensuring support for line managers, practitioners and partners, whilst not replacing individuals responsibility for safeguarding or the responsibility of staff to report safeguarding cases directly and immediately to their line manager.
  5. To deliver an annual safeguarding forum in the locality including appropriate line managers from across AFC and Children’s Centres. 
  6. To support Early Years forums in promoting safeguarding advice and guidance to PVI sector.


2. Child Protection Lead

Each Sure Start Children’s Centre in Kirklees has a nominated Child Protection Lead :

The role of the Child Protection Lead is undertaken by the Children’s Centre Manager.

The responsibilities of the Child Protection Lead include:

  • Having the lead responsibility for Safeguarding issues in the Children’s Centre
  • Ensuring that Safeguarding information is displayed and kept up-to-date
  • Ensuring that the Children’s Centre Safeguarding policy is implemented and regularly reviewed with the Children’s Centre Team
  • Ensuring that Kirklees Safeguarding procedures are followed
  • Ensuring that all staff / visitors / partners using the building have undertaken the appropriate checks and control measures are in place to address any risks
  • Supporting the Children’s Centre team with any Safeguarding concerns and liaising with the Safeguarding Champion as required


3. Expectations on all Children’s Centre Staff

  1. Safeguarding is everybody’s business.
  2. It is your job to follow your Children’s Centre’s Safeguarding Policy Template and access and use the West Yorkshire Consortium Procedures Manual.
  3. You must report any child concerns directly and immediately to your line manager.
  4. You must follow the Kirklees Safeguarding flowchart and record your concerns on the appropriate ‘Record of Concern’ form.
  5. Locality Safeguarding Champion should be contacted by practitioners or their line managers for advice and support in relation to any Safeguarding concern. This should not delay an immediate referral to safeguarding where this is required.
  6. If your local Safeguarding Champion is unavailable you should contact one of the other Safeguarding Champions. The full list is included in your children’s Centre Safeguarding Policy.    
  7. Sharing information with the Safeguarding Champion is not a Safeguarding referral. Safeguarding referrals must be made to the Duty and Assessment Team – phone numbers in the Safeguarding flowchart.

End