Dedicated Safeguarding

Safeguarding is a word we often hear, but what does it really mean? Safeguarding is seemingly an “umbrella” term, and its understanding can be varied. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, safeguarding is to denote measures to protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals. Vigilance and training allows people, especially children and young people, and vulnerable adults, to live free from abuse, harm and neglect. There are many definitions, but promoting the welfare of children and young people, can be 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 outcomes.

There is a statutory framework, which sets out the legislation relevant to safeguarding, and it should be read alongside the statutory guidance.
It is what we do to prevent harm, to disrupt it, and implement support and interventions at the earliest of opportunities, for children and young people to reach their potential and achieve positive outcomes. Safeguarding is also in the hope that any potential escalation of harm and abuse is avoided; no child should be harmed or abused.
Whilst it is parents and carers who have primary care for their children, local authorities, working with partner organisations and agencies, have specific duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people in their area. Multi-agency working with a co-ordinated approach, is key and it is in everyone’s responsibility to safeguard children and young people from harm and abuse.