Safeguarding is a term that is often heard in work settings across the UK. It is a serious matter that impacts everyone and should be key within any organisation. Whether you work with children and young people in a school, employ young apprentices, vulnerable people or other individuals, safeguarding should be considered and supported at all levels.

How does safeguarding impact your organisation and how can you help support your team through safeguarding concerns or issues?

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding describes protecting people’s health, wellbeing and human rights. When you follow safeguarding best practices, you are working to prevent harm, abuse, and neglect.

Safeguarding works to protect those who are considered vulnerable in society which includes children and young people but also vulnerable adults (elderly or those with physical or learning disabilities and mental health issues). Anyone can be subject to neglect and abuse regardless of their age or background, which is why it is vital that safeguarding is addressed within any workplace.

How do I recognise a safeguarding concern?

Safeguarding concerns are any concern you have about the wellbeing of a vulnerable individual. These concerns can be relating to various types of abuse (physical, sexual, psychological, financial, discriminatory and organisational) as well as neglect.

Signs of abuse or neglect aren’t always clear. It’s important to stay alert and notice changes in the individual and their behaviour. Changes such as becoming withdrawn, lack of personal hygiene, calling in sick or missing work regularly and changes to physical appearance such as a drastic weight gain or loss. It is also important to recognise that not every person handles abuse in the same way and so some of the signs might manifest themselves differently from person to person.

How can I support safeguarding in the workplace?

It’s vital that employers in all types of organisations put safeguarding in the forefront of their policies and procedures. Some steps include:

Creating a safeguarding policy

Having a clearly defined safeguarding policy will ensure that everyone in the business is aware and able to be held accountable for safeguarding. The policy should include the steps people in your organisation need to take to uphold safeguarding.

Appoint a designated safeguarding officer (DSO)

A DSO’s job is to be the first point of contact within an organisation for safeguarding concerns. They are also in charge of ensuring the safeguarding policy is up to date and they comply with safe recruitment procedures.

Having a DSO means that safeguarding within your organisation has a dedicated person looking after it. They can support staff through training and provide a clear source of knowledge and support for safeguarding concerns.

If you are interested in hiring a DSO or upskilling a member of your team you can do so through our new Safeguarding Support Officer apprenticeship programme. If you are interested you can book a discovery call with a member of the team.

Create a safeguarding focused environment

Safeguarding in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility, and so the organisation should support workers who raise safeguarding concerns. Employees within the workplace should be able to feel comfortable raising safeguarding concerns and should be empowered to do so through proper training about safeguarding and how to address and report concerns.

Safeguarding at LMP

Here at LMP we safeguarding is treated with the upmost importance. We believe that every person that takes part in an LMP programme should do so in an environment where they are safe and protected from harm. Health, wellbeing, safeguarding and child protection are of paramount importance to us. The LMP ‘Culture of Concern’ involves everyone across the organisation and is linked to our core values and the four C’s, care, communication, collaboration and cohesion.

Learn more about safeguarding at LMP

Read LMP’s safeguarding policy

If you have any questions or safeguarding concerns, please contact:

Anita de Villiers – Group DSL and Health & Safety Manager:

safeguarding@lmp-group.co.uk 

07598902111