Training

Every school has a wish to ensure that all its pupils are well cared for and safe, and it is recognised that the safety and well being of every child is an integral part of his or her learning and social integration in a school. A child that is secure emotionally, mentally and physically is likely to find his or her years at school both rewarding and challenging.

However, this wish by all schools has now become a priority for all statutory and non-statutory organisations that work with children as a result of the Children Act 2004. The Children Act 2004 represents the legal framework that underpins how services to children, young people and their families will be delivered in the future, which is through integrated working. This new way of working shifts the focus from dealing with the consequences of difficulties in children’s lives to early intervention and effective prevention. Furthermore, this new way of working is geared towards ensuring that every child can be healthy; stay safe; enjoy and achieve; make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. Schools and other educational establishments have a key role to play in terms of improving outcomes for children and young people because barriers to learning and well-being are created if children and young people are experiencing problems related to their health and safety.

All members of staff within a school have a positive role to perform in the safeguarding of children. Teachers and other support staff are particularly well placed to observe the development and behaviour of children they come into contact with on a daily basis. Every staff member can play a part in the prevention of abuse and neglect through their awareness of policies and procedures.

As part of Leicestershire Children and Young People’s Service’s continuing commitment to the safeguarding of children throughout the County, another programme of training courses has been provided which will enable every individual working in schools and other education settings to be aware and alert to the issues surrounding safeguarding children.

The training programme also offers Designated Senior Persons (DSPs) for Child Protection, school governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, the opportunity to recognise the wider issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All the training provided has been developed to complement the inter-agency training events carried out as part of the Leicester City, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) training programme.

The training programme focuses on safeguarding/child protection from the perspective of the Children and Young People Service in terms of its policies and procedures. Training provided by the LSCB focuses on an multi-agency perspective which is based upon encouraging and developing effective working relationships and sustaining inter-agency working. In addition, Bridges the agency leading on the integrated working will be offering training on the Common Assessment Framework and Lead Professional. For further details regarding this training,·please visit the Bridges Website or contact the Bridges Training Co-ordinator on 0116 305 8727.