Designated Safeguarding Lead(DSL; not schools) in person at the Town Hall

Tue, 28 Jan 2025, 09:30 to 16:30 Town Hall

This course is designed for both DSL’s and deputy DSL’s that are new to the role, it can also be used as a refresher training. Designated Safeguarding Leads are also known as Designated Safeguarding Officer or Lead for Safeguarding there are many equivalents. (This training is not for school DSLs)

This is an advanced level course for those that have already had Safeguarding Awareness training including the signs and indicators of abuse. The session will explore and provide clarity on the questions: what is the role of the DSL? What are the responsibilities of the role? Do these differ between different organisations? And if yes, should they? What is the relevant legislation and guidance underpinning this role?

Why do people ‘miss’ the signs and fail to take action? How do we overcome these barriers? How can we start to show that we are putting the learning from serious case reviews into practice?

Moving on, it will cover key updates (the content of these will be dependent on what the Safeguarding Board identify at the time of the course as key information). It will then move on to ensure that participants are confident in identifying and responding to concerns. We will look at ‘signs of safety’ in the referral context, record keeping, what might happen following a referral, the need to follow up and be persistent. We will also look at escalation procedures.

In the afternoon we focus on Multi-agency working including information Sharing and give an overview of Safer Working Practice including recruitment. Exploring both serious case reviews and participants own experience of multi-agency working at all levels. We will dispel common myths around information sharing and share best practice. 'There will also be a chance to look at an audit of practice and to assess areas for development.

Trainer: Tracy Charlton

By the end of the course participants will:

• Be clear of their safeguarding role and responsibilities as a DSL and the key safeguarding legislation and guidance.

• Understand the barriers that can exist to taking action and have identified ways to overcome these and create a safe culture for staff and children.

• Be confident in decisions about what action to take, what records to keep and what referrals to make when there is a concern.

• Understand local processes and procedures, including escalation.

• Have explored the necessity for multi-agency communication and effective multi-agency work to safeguard and protect children and have the confidence to challenge when needed.

Objectives:

• To be clear of your role and responsibilities as a DSL

• Understand the Barriers that exist to staff taking action and identify ways to overcome these and create a safe culture for staff and children.

• To start to be able to state how you as a DSL can put the learning from serious case reviews into practice.

• To understand your responsibilities in relation to key local and national themes – e.g, voice of the child, online safety, mental health, and the resources available to you.

• Recap on the signs and indicators of abuse with a focus on the ‘lived experience of the child’ and factors creating additional vulnerability.

• Understand local processes and procedures.

• Identify the need for ‘professional curiosity’ and being conscious of ‘disguised compliance.’

• Know how to respond and how to make a quality referral.

• Identify how to keep effective records.

• Demonstrate a commitment to Persistence – notice, check, share, follow-up, escalate.

• To understand the DSL’s responsibilities in terms of multi-agency working and information sharing.

• To explore the why this is a persistent theme in serious case reviews - what are the myths and barriers and how to work to overcome these.

• To look at safer working practice including recruitment.

• Audit of practice and assessment of areas for development in your setting that you have identified as a result of this training.

• Evaluation of Development and Learning.

This training is not aimed at schools. Please e-mail us your full name after the training, if you would like a certificate.

Host or Publisher Leicester Safeguarding Children Partnership Board and Leicestershire&Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership