Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child

The text below is taken from the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children's Workforce. You can also download a PDF version of the document.

Those who work with children and young people have a responsibility to safeguard and promote their welfare. This is an important responsibility and requires vigilance. You will need to be able to recognise when a child or young person may not be achieving their developmental potential or their health may be impaired, and be able to identify appropriate sources of help for them and their families.

It is important to identify concerns as early as possible so that children, young people, their families and carers can get the help they need. As well as ensuring that children and young people are free from harm, it is equally important to ensure their well-being and quality of life.

Skills

Relate, recognise and take considered action

• Establish rapport and respectful, trusting relationships with children, young people and those caring for them.
• Understand what is meant by safeguarding and the different ways in which children and young people can be harmed (including by other children and young people and through the internet).
• Make considered judgements about how to act to safeguard and promote a child or young person's welfare, where appropriate consulting with the child, young person, parent or carer to inform your thinking.
• Give the child or young person the opportunity to participate in decisions affecting them, as appropriate to their age and ability and taking their wishes and feelings into account.
• Understand the key role of parents and carers in safeguarding and promoting children and young people's welfare and involve them accordingly, while recognising factors that can affect parenting and increase the risk of abuse (for example, domestic violence).
• Understand that signs of abuse can be subtle and be expressed in play, artwork and in the way children and young people approach relationships with other children and/or adults.
• Make considered judgements about how to act to safeguard and promote a child or young person's welfare.
• Give the child or young person the opportunity to participate in decisions affecting them, as appropriate to their age and ability.

Communication, recording and reporting

• Use the appropriate IT and language skills to effectively observe, record and report making a distinction between observation, facts, information gained from others and opinion.
• Undertake (formal or informal) assessments and be alert to concerns about a child or young person's safety or welfare, including unexplained changes in behaviour and signs of abuse or neglect.
• Be able to recognise when a child or young person is in danger or at risk of harm, and take action to protect them.

Personal skills

• Have self-awareness and the ability to analyse objectively.
• Have the confidence to represent actively the child or young person and his or her rights.
• Have the confidence to challenge your own and others' practice.
• Understand the different forms and extent of abuse and their impact on children's development.
• Develop appropriate professional relationships with children and young people.

Knowledge

Legal and procedural frameworks

• Have awareness and basic knowledge, where appropriate, of the most current legislation.
• Know about Government and local guidance, policies and procedure and how they apply in the wider working environment.
• Be aware of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and its remit.
• Be aware of national guidance and local procedures, and your own role and responsibilities within these for safeguarding and promoting children and young people's welfare.
• Know about data protection issues in the context of your role.

Wider context of services

• Know when and how to discuss concerns with parents and carers.
• Understand the roles of other agencies, local procedures on child protection and variations in use of terminology.
• Understand the necessity of information sharing within the context of children and young people's well-being and safety.
• Know about the Common Assessment Framework for Children and Young People (CAF) and, where appropriate, how to use it.
• Understand that different confidentiality procedures may apply in different contexts.

Self-knowledge

• Know the boundaries of personal competence and responsibility, know when to involve others, and know where to get advice and support.
• Appreciate the effect of witnessing upsetting situations and know how to get support.