Safeguarding

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. But it also applies in the workplace.

Safeguarding means: Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment. preventing harm to children’s health or development. Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care.

There are 6 main principles, as outlined in the Care Act; empowerment, prevention, protection, proportionality, partnerships and accountability.

But what do these mean?

Empowerment

Empowerment is all about giving individuals as much freedom and power over decisions made about themselves as is reasonably possible.

Prevention

Preventing neglect, harm and abuse is at the core of safeguarding. This makes prevention the most important element.

Protection

Protection refers to the core act of giving vulnerable people care and support when they need it.

This includes protection from physical to psychological abuse. The Care Act insists that those who deal with safeguarding be fully ready to give people protection through a range of different services and interventions.

Proportionality

There is no one-size-fits-all approach, particularly as many elements of it are hugely sensitive in nature. As a result, proportionality is considered an element, meaning that it’s important that every case is dealt with individually and with all the facts taken into account, without excessive intrusion.

Partnerships

Safeguarding should be a communal process rather than the sole responsibility of certain individuals.

There are many reasons for this, with the most important being that safeguarding is simply more effective where partnerships are created and incorporated into practice.

Accountability

Following on from the communal aspect of safeguarding is accountability. Accountability in safeguarding means that while named employees are most responsible for safeguarding, it’s up to everyone to do their part.