Section 3: Units

Unit 02: Understanding safeguarding

Unit reference H/616/8131 Unit level 2

Unit hours Guided learning 45 Non-guided learning 7

Unit aim In this unit learners wi\I understand the term 'safeguarding',
identify national policies and local systems that relate to
safeguarding, know how to recognise signs of abuse or
potential harm and know how to respond if abuse or harm is
disclosed, suspected or alleged.

Learner name: Centre no:

PIN: ULN:

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria Evidence Assessor

The learner All The learner can.
record judgement
e s Pa g e achieved
number & Initial and date
method

1. Understand the term 1.1 Define what

'safeguarding*. safeguarding is.

1.2 Identify current key

legislation relating to
safeguarding.

1.3 Explain the right

to stay safe.

1.4 Explain the

difference between
safeguarding and
child protection.

1.5 Describe the current

vetting process (for
staff).

2.1
2. Understand the Identify national
national and local policies and local
context of systems that relate
safeguarding and to safeguarding and
protection from protection from
abuse. abuse.

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 Unit 02: Understanding safeguardin g

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria Evidence Assessor

The learner all. ’ The learner can: record judgement
e s Pa n e achieved
number & initial and date
method

2.2
Explain the roles of
different agencies in
safeguarding and
protecting individuals
from abuse.

2.3
Identify reports
into serious
failures to protect
individuals from
abuse.

2.4
Identify sources of
information and
advice about own
role in safeguarding
and protecting
individuals from
abuse.

3. Know how to
3.1 Define the following
recognise signs of
types of abuse:
abuse or
potential harm. • physical abuse
• sexual abuse
• emotional/
psychological
abuse
• financial abuse
• institutional abuse
• self-neglect
• neglect by others
• sexual exploitation
• domestic violence
• female genital
mutilation (FGM)
• forced marriage
• fabricated and
induced illness.

3.2 Describe the signs

and/or symptoms
that may be
associated with
different types of
abuse.

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Section 3: Units

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria Evidence Assessor

The learner will. i The learner can: record judgement
e.g. page achieved
number & Int al and date
method

3.3 Describe factors that

may contribute to an
individual being more
vulnerable to abuse.

3.4 Explain why

individuals might not
disclose abuse.

4. Know how to respond 4.1 Identify actions,

if abuse or harm is behaviours and
disclosed, suspected situations that may
or alleged. lead to harm or
abuse to the
individual.

4.2 Explain when the

behaviour of others
might be
unacceptable.

4.3 Describe what

actions to take
where there are
concerns that an
individual might have
been harmed or
abused.

4.4 Explain the actions

to take if abuse or
harm is disclosed,
suspected or
alleged.

4.5 Describe the

boundaries of
confidentiality.

Version 2.0 28
 Unit 02: Understanding safeguarding

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria Evidence Assessor

The learner ml} The learner can record judgement
eg achieved
page Initial and date
number 8‹
method

4.6 Explain how following

procedures helps
protect staW
members from
allegations and
complaints as well
as protecting other
people from harm
and abuse.

4.7 Explain how own

actions or
statements could
adversely affect the
use of evidence in
future investigations
or in court.

4.8 Explain how to

access support in
situations that are
outside your
expertise,
experience, role and
responsibility.

4.9 Describe what

whistleblowing is.

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Version 2.0 29
 Understanding Safeguarding
Define what safeguarding is
The key definition of Safeguarding is the act of protecting the health, well-being and
human rights of individuals especially children and young people to live free from abuse,
harm and neglect.
Identify current key legislation relating to safeguarding
The Children's Act 1989 provides a framework for children's protection in England. The key
principles include the paramount nature of child's welfare expectations and requirements
around the duty of care for children.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017 makes provision for looked after children, makes
provision to the welfare of children and the regulation of social workers. The key purpose
is to improve decision making process for looked after and previously looked after
children in England and Wales. It is also to improve joint work at local levels to safeguard
children and enabling better learning at local and National levels to improve child
protection practice while promoting safeguarding of children by providing relationship
and sex education in schools
The Education Act 2002 sets out requirements of safeguarding children and young people
from abuse or neglect and sets out roles and responsibilities of teachers and those with
delegated responsibility for child protection.
The Equality Act 2010 states that it is unlawful for any employer to discriminate beMeen
learners based on age, gender, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil
partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation.
The Children and Families Act 2014 protects vulnerable children and those at risk, it was
created to reform services for vulnerable children by giving them greater protection paying
particular attention to children with additional needs and helping parents and families as a
whole.
The Human Rights Act 1998 sets out fundamental rights and freedoms that everyone in
the UK is entitled to such as fairness, dignity, respect, equality and independence.
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 was established to help avoid harm or risk of
harm by preventing people unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable adults from
gaining access to them through their work.
Explain the right to stay safe
Under Safeguarding legislation every person has the right to stay safe from harm and be
able to live free from the fear of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Explain the difference between safeguarding and child protection
The key difference between Safeguarding and child protection is that Safeguarding is
how we prevent people from coming to harm whereas child protection is the way in
which we respond to harm that occurs to children.
Describe the current vetting process for staff
Under safeguarding all those people working with children, young people and vulnerable
adults need to apply for an enhanced DBS check. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
is the analysis and record of a person's past including any convictions, cautions, warnings
or reprimands that they may have received. Other vetting processes include contacting
the person's previous employer for references and if required for the role that the person
carries the relevant qualifications for the role itself.
Identify national policies and local systems that relate to safeguarding and protection from
abuse
The key National Policies that relate to safeguarding and protection from abuse are the
Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 which was passed to help avoid harm or
the risk of harm by preventing people who are deemed unsuitable to work with children
and adults from gaining access to them through their work. The Mental Capacity Act 2005
which was designed to empower and protect people who may lack the mental capacity to
make their own decisions about their care and treatment. The Equality Act 2010 which
clearly states that it is unlawful to discriminate against a person based on their age,
gender, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or
maternity, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation. The Independent Safeguarding
Authority is part of the Disclosure and Barring Service which helps to prevent unsuitable
people from working with children or vulnerable adults. The Children's Act 1989 which
gave every child the right to protection from abuse and exploitation and the right to
inquiries to safeguard their welfare. The Children and Social Work Act 2017 which makes
provision for looked after children and makes provision to wealth of children and the
regulation of social workers. The Care Act 2014 which sets out local authorities duties
relating to assessing peoples needs and their eligibility for publicly funded care and
support. The General Date Protection Regulations which controls how a person's personal
information is used by businesses, organisations or the government including how the
information is stored and how long it is kept for. His is supported by the Working together
to safeguard children 2018 guidance which is statutory guidance from the government for
all agencies and organisations that work with or carry out work related to children in the
UK setting out goalposts for interagency working and promoting the welfare of children
from all backgrounds in all settings.
The key Local systems that relate to safeguarding and protection from abuse are the local
safeguarding boards which are multi agencies set up in every local authority that lead and
coordinate the effectiveness of safeguarding and work to protect children and vulnerable
adults at risk. These local safeguarding boards aim to identify and prevent maltreatment
or impairment to health and development, they carry out proactive work which targets
particular groups of vulnerable children and young people and they provide responsive work
to protect children who are at risk of suffering harm. The Police also have a legal
responsibility to protect vulnerable people and to take all appropriate steps to safeguard
people.
Explain the roles of different agencies in safeguarding and protecting individuals from abuse
There are various different agencies who are involved in safeguarding and protecting
individuals from abuse, these include the DBS barring service who help prevent
unsuitable people from working with children, young people or vulnerable adults by
checking their criminal record. The Local Authority Social Services have a duty to
promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to safeguard
them, they also have a designated officer responsible for managing any allegations
made against those that work with children. Ofsted inspects and regulates services that
care for children and young people and services that provide skills and education for
learners of all ages. The Police are responsible for investigating any allegations of
criminal abuse against children and adults and safeguarding the welfare of any child in
their area who may be suffering from or likely to suffer from harm and the local
safeguarding boards are multi agencies set up in every local authority that lead and
coordinate the effectiveness of safeguarding and work to protect children and
vulnerable adults that might be at risk.
Identify reports into serious failures to protect individuals from abuse
Over recent years there have been many reports where there have been serious failures
to protect individuals from abuse from police, social services and local authorities. One of
the most well publicised was the case of Baby P, Peter Connelly was a 17 month old child
who died in 2007 after suffering more than 50 injuries over a prolonged period of 8
months and throughout his short life he had 34 different contacts with health
professionals. Some of the failings they identified included a clear concern over poor
communication between health professionals and other agencies such as the Police and
Social Services which meant that urgent action was not taken, the fact that some staff
caring for Baby P did not always follow Child Protection procedures such as formal
discussions to escalate their concerns even though Baby P was on the Child Protection
Register. The report also found that poor recruitment practices and lack of specific training
meant that some staff were inexperienced in child protection and had not fully understood
the responsibilities that were placed upon them. Another well publicised example of a
serious failure to protect individuals from abuse was the Winterbourne View Hospital
which was registered to provide assessment,
treatment and rehabilitation for people with learning disabilities and autism. Sadly in 2011
it was discovered that staff had been routinely mistreating and abusing patients and had
completely failed in their duties and responsibilities under Safeguarding. Some of the Ley
findings were the fact that patient reports of prolonged abuse were being ignored across
the entire institution and that the warning signs were not picked up by the relevant
authorities which shockingly included the fact that there was such a high rate of patients
being admitted to A and E and a very high number of recorded physical interventions and
poor level of general healthcare of the patients which again was never acted upon.
Identify sources of information and advice about own role in safeguarding and protecting
individuals from abuse
If I required additional information and advice about my own role in safeguarding and
protecting individuals from abuse then I would access the training that is available internally
through the company or externally including online training options, I would also review the
companies policies and procedures which are an excellent source of information and advice
and I would speak to the safeguarding lead who is very experienced and knowledgeable.
Externally I have found that local social services are an excellent source of information as
would Ofsted or the CQC as I work in the care and the education sector.
Define the following types of abuse

Physical abuse is when someone hurts another person on purpose which can include hitting,
punching, slapping, kicking, throwing, biting, scratching, burning, drowning or poisoning.
Sexual abuse is when someone is forced into a sexual act against their will, or the act of
inappropriate touching. Emotional/psychological abuse is deliberately trying to scare,
humiliate, isolate or ignore a person for your own ends. Financial abuse is misusing or
withholding a person's money, property or belongings without their consent. Institutional
abuse is the maltreatment of a person from a system of power such as in a care home or
children‘s home. Self-neglect is when a person is unable or unwilling to care for their own
needs such as personal hygiene or health. Neglect by others is the act of failing to meet the
basic needs of a person such as food, warmth, shelter, clothes, healthcare or hygiene.
Sexual exploitation is when someone is given money, gifts, drugs or affection in return for
sexual favours. Domestic violence is the act of violence or aggressive behaviour that takes
place within a home including controlling, threatening, degrading or coercive behaviour.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the practice which is traditional in some cultures of
partially or completely removing the external genitalia of girls and young women for non-
medical reasons. Forced marriage is when a person faces physical pressure to marry
someone against their will such as threats or physical violence or using emotional or
psychological pressure to make a person feel as if they are bringing shame onto the family if
they do not comply with the marriage. Fabricated and induced illness is a rare form of child
abuse when the parent or carer, usually the child's biological mother exaggerates or
deliberately fabricates a serious illness.
Describe the signs and symptoms that may be associated with different types of abuse

Most types of abuse leave some sign or symptom which we should always be on the lookout
for such as if the person is suffering from physical abuse this will often leave signs such as
bruises or regular and unexplained injuries, sexual abuse which will often change the
persons inward thoughts and outward appearance as well as a change in the use of sexual
language especially in younger people or a drastic change in attire wither covering up more
than usual or wearing more revealing clothes then they have in the past. People suffering
from emotional or psychological abuse will often have a physical change such as a change in
appetite, weight loss or weight gain, a feeling of low self esteem that comes out in their
actions and what they say and particularly silence when they are in the presence of a
particular person. When people are under financial abuse they might well have a lack of
access to money, they might have escalating debt or have damage and excessive wear to
their person possessions. Finally manv people who are being neglected will show signs of
malnutrition and poor personal hygiene and may well have a change in their general
appearance and levels of confidence which can be easily spotted.
Explain why individuals might not disclose abuse

Sadly many people may not disclose abuse as they have no one they feel they can trust and
may well feel isolated or alone, other people may feel shame or believe that it is their own
fault. Other people may not disclose abuse through a fear that they will not be believed or
that nothing will be done to protect the person, others may be worried dbout the
consequences of reporting the abuse and may not understand that what has happened to
them is wrong. Some people may have no one to turn to for help and support or that they
do not want to appear as a victim and worse some people are actually in the position where
they feel a sense of responsibility to protect the abuser as they may well be a family
member or someone in a respected position.
Identify actions, behaviours or situations that may lead to harm or abuse to the individual

There are many actions, behaviours or situations that may lead to harm or abuse to a
person and some are sadly more common than others for example people of an increasing
age are at a higher risk of harm and abuse as are those people who have a lack of mental
capacity and are less able to stand up for their own rights. People who have a low self-
esteem or a previous history of abuse are also at higher risk due to their situation as are
those who may have substance misuse issues or poor family relationships as they will have
less access to help and support.
Explain when the behaviour of others might be unaCceptable

Under Safeguarding it is very important to know when the behaviour of other people might
be unacceptable such as when the behaviour of other people involves actions, words or
physical gestures that may cause another person upset and distress such as inappropriate
comments regarding a protected characteristic such as sex, age, race, religion and belief,
marital status, sexuality, parental status and marital status. Also any behaviour that would
make another person feels uncomfortable or shows prejudice or discriminatory thoughts
are unacceptable and should be challenged of observed. Any comments or actions that
show a lack of respect to a person or that is in any way patronising or intimidating or
threatening is unacceptable and should be challenged.
Describe what actions to take where there are concerns that an individual might have been
harmed or abused

The first step that I would take if I had a concern that an individual might have been harmed
or abused is to make sure that the individual is not in immediate danger from current or
further harm. The next steps are to apply and follow my companies safeguarding policies
and procedures to maintain a clear process while using open and unobtrusive questioning to
make sure that the individual person is ok. I would then inform my safeguarding lead on the
details that I know to share my concerns supporting this with a written record of my
concerns.
Explain the actions to take if abuse or harm is disclosed, suspected or alleged
If a person discloses abuse or harm then there are clear actions that should be followed
starting with considering the person and what they have gone through, reassure the person
that they will be listened to but also clarify that I cannot keep it a secret and if they are at
risk then I will need to report this information. I must listen carefully using active listening
techniques to gather as many facts as I can while making sure that I am not being
judgemental or jumping to conclusions which can change the facts. I should also clearly
write a report using the individuals own words as soon as I can to ensure that it is as
accurate as possible while making sure that I am not bombarding the individual with
questions and putting them under any additional stress. Finally I should report the
disclosure to the safeguarding lead as soon as I can making sure the facts are clear and that
the safeguarding lead has all of the information that they require.

Describe the boundai ies of confidentiality

Under Safeguarding I must be aware of and follow the boundaries of confidentiality under
the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which include the facts that information
should not be shared with anyone unless it is essential and in order to protect a child, young
person or adult at risk or harm or abuse and that the information should be shared on a
need-to-know basis and shared only with people or agencies who play an important role in
the protection of vulnerable people.
Explain how followin,* procedures helps protect staff members from allegations and
complaints as well as protecting other people from harm and abuse
The procedures that we have in place are designed to protect staff members from
allegations and com#›laints as well as protecting other people from harm and abuse by
setting out a clear code of conduct of how to behave and interact with those in your care in
a professional mann‹'r at all times. They should also clearlv set out the roles and
responsibilities of staff so there is a clear chain of command in whom to report any concerns
to and to ensure a consistent approach is taken to safeguarding across all levels of the
organisation. Finally the procedures should clearly highlight what to do if you have any
concerns so a consistent approach to safeguarding is followed by all members of the team.
Explain how own actions and statements could adversely affect the use of evidence in
future investigations or in court

When gathering evidence and statements from safeguarding breaches it is essential that I
am aware of and follow all of the companies organisational policies and procedures to
maintain a clear chain of evidence. When I am gathering information it is essential that the
person can provide information in their own words and that I avoid asking inappropriate or
leading questions as this changes the person‘s statement. It is also very important that I do
not put too much pressure on the individual concerned as this can add to their distress and
state of mind. It is most important that when recording what is being said that I take clear
and accurate notes on exactly what is said so that a clear record of the incident is clearly
recorded.
Explain how to access support in situations that are outside your expertise, experience,
role and responsibility
If I come across a Safeguarding issue that is outside my expertise, experience, role and
responsibility I will seek advice initially from my safeguarding lead or my manager as they
are the ideal first port of call for help and support. If additional help is required I would
contact the local safeguarding board or the local Police if there is an immediate risk of
harm to the person involved.
Describe what whistle blowing is
Whistleblowing is when a person who is usually an employee exposes wrongdoing or
dangers in the activity of a business or organisation such as bribery, fraud, health and
safety risks, criminal activity or any breaches to legal obligations specific to the business
or organisation.