Safeguarding children and child protection

From Victoria Climbié to Peter Connelly, there have been many tragic recent cases highlighting the need for increased vigilance on child abuse. But these are the extreme cases – much child abuse goes on unnoticed and unreported. It is rarely a one-off incident and can happen in all areas of society. It requires all of us to be vigilant – and housing staff have a key role to play.

Safeguarding children is a key responsibility for housing professionals whose work may bring them into contact (including by telephone) with children and their families. You need to know what is meant by safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and what to do if you or someone you know has concerns that a child is at risk.

The course:

This one-day course is designed to give housing staff a comprehensive introduction to child protection and safeguarding children and covers:

• Headline cases
• Law and guidance
• The impact of abuse and neglect
• Signs and symptoms
• A focus on particular areas, including domestic abuse and disabled children
• What to do if you have concerns, and how to get them heard
• Record-keeping
• Confidentiality and information-sharing
• Working with parents, and with other professionals
• Child protection processes
• Personal practice.

The course is aimed at, in particular:

• Neighbourhood housing management officers
• Housing allocation, homelessness and floating support officers
• Tenant liaison services
• Anti-social behaviour teams
• Community wardens
• Repairs officers/team leaders/managers and estate-based staff.

Our trainer, John Terry, is a highly experienced registered social worker and a former senior officer of safeguarding in a local authority. He has a wealth of experience in child protection as well as working with offenders, probation, education welfare, housing organisations and the Police. He also advises schools on safeguarding and truancy and pupil behaviour. John is a seasoned safeguarding trainer, and has delivered safeguarding and child protection training to over 4,000 delegates in the past seven years.

HQN has a track record of helping organisations achieve real and lasting performance improvements. If you are interested in accessing this training package please contact us by emailing training@hqnetwork.co.uk