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If you are worried that a child may be at risk of abuse, harm or neglect please contact: MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub)

Management of Allegations against childcare professionals and volunteers.
In terms of the Education Act, an allegation is made when a worker has behaved in a way that indicates that they may be unsuitable to work with a child.

For example …

  • A worker has behaved in a way that has harmed a child.
  • Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child.
  • Behaved towards a child in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to a child.

Allegations may relate to the person’s behaviour at work, at home or in another setting.
The allegation may concern a paid employee, an unpaid volunteer, a foster parent or adopter.

Southampton City Council has a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to:

  • Provide advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations
  • Liaise with the police and other agencies
  • Monitor the progress of cases to ensure that they are dealt with as quickly as possible consistent with a thorough and fair process.

If you wish to make an allegation or have a concern about an employee working with children or young people, concerns should be reported to the LADO.

The relevant LADO Notification Form can be found in the 'Downloads' section on this webpage.  Please note the form MUST be sent securely to LADO via Anycomms (using the ‘service’ then ‘other’ option then ‘LADO’).

LADO contact details:
Telephone: 023 8091 5535 / 07500 952 037 or email LADO@southampton.gov.uk

Other Resources relating to Safeguarding 
Safeguarding Posters are produced regularly by the Early Years and Childcare team.

Safeguarding Posters are available to download.  These can be shared or displayed in a prominent position for STAFF as a reminder of key safeguarding issues.

View Safeguarding Training Courses for the Children's Workforce within the Training section.

For more information on safeguarding children please see the Southampton Local Safeguarding Children Board webpages.

Safeguarding Training News

14 February 2019

  • Network Meetings for Designated Safeguarding Leads 
    Due to staff availability the date of the next DSL Network meeting has been changed. The new date is now Wednesday 27th February 2019 at Cutbush Childrens Centre Townhill Park at 4pm. The subject of the network meeting is still the same (Drug and Alcohol Misuse of Parents) and will be delivered by colleagues from Southampton Advice and Duty Service.

16 January 2019

  • What is Prevent? 'Prevent' information and resources developed by Southampton City Council for schools, early years settings, voluntary organisations and the public

23 November 2016

  • The LSCB Education Task and Finish Group has produced a suite of documents to support practitioners in their work around safeguarding. They include guidance for writing Safeguarding policies and a model Child Protection Policy.

3 October 2016 

  • Prevent duty: From 1 July 2015 registered early years childcare providers and registered later years childcare providers were subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty. Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation is part of childcare providers’ wider safeguarding duties.  For more information please visit the Southampton City Council Prevent webpage where there is a short e-learning module.

20 January 2016

Safeguarding Bulletins

10 July 2018

  • The Department for Education (DfE) has published advice to support practitioners in the decisions they take to share information, which reduces the risk of harm to children and young people and promotes their well-being. This advice has been updated to reflect the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.

28 June 2018

06 October 2017

20 March 2017

2 December 2016

23 November 2016

  • The LSCB Education Task and Finish Group has produced a suite of documents to support practitioners in their work around safeguarding. They include guidance for writing Safeguarding policies, a model Child Protection Policy and Guidance for transfer of Child Protection records.  Whilst Southampton City Council is happy to provide these templates as the basis for your own documents, please be aware that you will need to ensure that you make them GDPR compliant for use in your individual settings.

21 October 2016

  • Important new information for all childcare providers:  From week beginning 17th October 2016 there are some planned changes to the way referrals are handled when you are concerned about a child.  See the new Front Door Poster and the Partnership Guide for details.

03 October 2016

  • Prevent duty: From 1 July 2015 registered early years childcare providers and registered later years childcare providers were subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty. Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation is part of childcare providers’ wider safeguarding duties.  For more information please visit the Southampton City Council Prevent webpage where there is a short e-learning module.

25 August 2016

  • IMPORTANT NEWS - OfSTED have updated their safeguarding guidelines on 23 August. The handbook sets out what inspectors must consider when inspecting safeguarding. It outlines the evidence that inspectors will look for during inspections.

19 August 2016

22 July 2016

  • New First Aid requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage from September 2016
    The government intends to amend the necessary regulations so that from September 1st 2016, it will be a requirement in the EYFS that newly qualified early years staff (with full and relevant level 2 or level 3 childcare qualification) will also need to hold a current Paediatric First Aid (PFA) or emergency PFA certificate in order to be included in the required staff: child ratios in an early years setting.
    Childcare providers will be allowed a three month ‘grace’ period to complete PFA training after starting work with a new employer.
    The government intends to revise EYFS which reflects the proposed changes, to be published soon alongside the amended regulations.
    Paediatric first aid requirements in the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage: government response
  • NSPCC resources to help keep children safe online (PDF 1MB)

21 July 2016

  • Pokémon Go fever is sweeping the City but there are potentially some very real dangers for children and young people playing the game. Please see the NSPCC Guide to keeping them safe.
  • Home Alone: NSPCC advice and opinion about children being left home alone.

18 July 2016

27 May 2016

19 May 2016

  • Families Matter 2 leaflets are designed for practitioners and families to help explain the criteria for the Families Matter programme offered by the 0-19 years Early Help Service.

18 April 2016

20 January 2016

 14 September 2015

31 July 2015

  • The Prevent Duty, Departmental advice for schools and childcare providers, published by the DfE in June 2015, ‘is intended to help schools and childcare providers think about what they can do to protect children from the risk of radicalisation by suggesting how they can access support to do this.

    'It reflects upon actions that many schools and childcare providers will already be taking to protect children from this risk’.

    ‘Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation should be seen as part of schools’ and childcare providers’ wider safeguarding duties, and is similar in nature to protecting children from other harms’. 

  • Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings, published by Ofsted in June 2015 (ref 1507667). This guidance sets out the key points inspectors need to consider when inspecting safeguarding in education, skills and early years settings. 'When inspecting safeguarding, inspectors will need to use their professional judgement about the extent to which arrangements in a setting are having a positive impact on the safety and welfare of children and learners.'

9 July 2015

29 June 2015

Safeguarding Posters 2018

Safeguarding Posters 2017

Early Help Assessment - Safeguarding February 2017 (PDF 443KB)

Transfer of Child Protection Records - Safeguarding January 2017 (PDF 414KB)

Safeguarding Posters 2016

FGM December 2016 - Safeguarding December 2016 (Word 233 KB)

Domestic Violence & Abuse - Safeguarding June 2016 - DVA (PDF 380 KB)

Child Protection Conference Process - Safeguarding May 2016 (PDF 417KB)

Safeguarding Posters 2015

How To prevent a Child from Choking - Safeguarding November 2015 (pdf 309KB)

Prevent Duty - Safeguarding November 2015 (pdf 340KB)

When to Refer: Neglect - Safeguarding October 2015 (pdf 318KB)

Child Centred Approach - Safeguarding September 2015 (pdf 263KB)

Child Sexual Exploitation - Safeguarding May 2015 (pdf 266KB)

Managing Allegations - Safeguarding March 2015 (pdf 356KB)

QUIZ Questions - Safeguarding January 2015 (pdf 193KB)

QUIZ Answers - Safeguarding January 2015 (pdf 211KB)

Safeguarding Posters Pre-2015

Looked After Children - Safeguarding November 2014 (pdf 426KB)

Data Protection - Safeguarding October 2014 (pdf 397KB)

Hepatitis & HIV - Safeguarding September 2014 (pdf 444KB)

Bruising - Safeguarding June 2014 (pdf 359KB)

Neglect - Safeguarding April 2014 (pdf 368KB)

Sexual Abuse - Safeguarding March 2014 (pdf 379KB)

Emotional Abuse - Safeguarding February 2014 (pdf 309KB)

Physical Abuse - Safeguarding January 2014 (pdf 168KB)

Whistle Blowing - Safeguarding November 2013 (Word 48KB) 

The Prevent Duty - Protecting children from Radicalisation

06 July 2018

  • Do you ever have speakers in or let out your premises to the community?  Some speakers may wish to promote views that have the potential to be contentious, inflammatory or offensive which could have the potential to be very divisive and may influence the children in your care and bring your premises into disrepute.  See the latest Prevent Extremist Speaker Guidance (003) (PDF 548KB) from the Police for details on what questions to ask to help ensure the safety of the children and that your premises are not used inappropriately. 

03 October 2016

  • Prevent duty: From 1 July 2015 registered early years childcare providers and registered later years childcare providers were subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty. Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation is part of childcare providers’ wider safeguarding duties.  For more information please visit the Southampton City Council Prevent webpage where there is a short e-learning module.
  • Prevent National Guidance - Protecting children from radicalisation: the prevent duty for schools and childcare providers

31 July 2015

  • The Prevent Duty, Departmental advice for schools and childcare providers, published by the DfE in June 2015, ‘is intended to help schools and childcare providers think about what they can do to protect children from the risk of radicalisation by suggesting how they can access support to do this.

    'It reflects upon actions that many schools and childcare providers will already be taking to protect children from this risk’.

    ‘Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation should be seen as part of schools’ and childcare providers’ wider safeguarding duties, and is similar in nature to protecting children from other harms’.

9 July 2015

Safeguarding - Statutory Guidance

10 July 2018

  • The Department for Education (DfE) has published advice to support practitioners in the decisions they take to share information, which reduces the risk of harm to children and young people and promotes their well-being. This advice has been updated to reflect the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.

06 July 2018

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