Often when safeguarding is discussed it’s in relation to young people or vulnerable adults, so it comes as no surprise that many think that safeguarding is not relevant to other organisations. However, safeguarding is crucial for any organisation no matter the industry. In this article we will discuss the importance of safeguarding in the business world and how to ensure that your organisation is fully equipped to deal with safeguarding concerns.
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). However, 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.
The importance of safeguarding in business
As discussed above, anyone can encounter neglect or abuse at any point in life. This is why it’s important for organisations to stay vigilant and not make judgments about whether safeguarding is a priority in their workplace based on the demographic of its employees and clientele. Safeguarding concerns can come to anyone and protecting those the business interacts with should always be at the top of their priorities.
Ensuring safeguarding accountability within an organisation
As safeguarding is such an important topic, it’s crucial for businesses to be fully equipped to handle safeguarding concerns. Here are some of the ways businesses can be prepare for this:
Create 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.
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.
LMP Education’s Safeguarding Support Officer funded training programme
LMP Education’s Safeguarding Support Officer funded training programme provides structured training to develop skills, knowledge and behaviours to protect vulnerable individuals including children, young people, adults and others in the community.
This programme is aimed at individuals who already have safeguarding responsibilities within their organisation and are looking to develop their skills and gain a recognised qualification.
This flexible and interactive programme features 12 modules covering critical topics such as safeguarding legislation, risk assessment and multi-agency collaboration helping learners to have a grounded understanding of safeguarding processes.
Learn more about the Safeguarding Support Officer programme.
The Safeguarding Support Officer programme is funded through the apprenticeship levy allowing organisations to upskill staff for free or a reduced cost. If you are interested in upskilling a member of your team through this programme, book a discovery call with the LMP Education team today!
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