What safeguarding is

Safeguarding children means protecting someone's right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It involves people and organisations working together to prevent and stop abuse or neglect. All safeguarding honours the feelings, beliefs and decisions of children, young people and their families. 

Safeguarding means:

• protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
• preventing harm to children’s health or development
• ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
• taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes

All safeguarding work is supported by six key principles as defined by the Care Act 2014:

1. prevention - we will strive to take action before harm occurs. We will raise awareness, train staff and make information easily accessible to improve prevention measures and encourage individuals to ask for help
2. empowerment - we will support and encourage people to make their own decisions and give informed consent
3. protection - we will give support and representation for those in greatest need
4. proportionality - we will give the least intrusive response to risks
5. partnership - we will provide local solutions through local community services. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse
6. accountability - we insist upon accountability and transparency in all safeguarding practices. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility