Safer Recruitment, Managing Allegations and the LADO Process

Keeping Children Safe In Education details; the School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 and the Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) Regulations 2007 require governing bodies of maintained schools and management committees of pupil referral units (PRUs) to ensure that at least one of the persons who conducts an interview has completed safer recruitment training. Governing bodies of maintained schools and management committees of PRUs may choose appropriate training and may take advice from the safeguarding partners in doing so.

Keeping Children Safe in Education has also been extended from early years, schools and colleges to cover 16-19 academies (and apprenticeships). It references the Education and Training (Welfare of Children) Act 2021 which amends the Education Act 2002 and the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 to impose safeguarding duties on 16 to 19 academies and further education in essence ensuring that safeguarding responsibilities are understood and prohibiting funding being given if safeguarding requirements not complied with.

OFSTED is clear in the common inspection framework about the minimum requirements for safeguarding.

Safe recruitment is central to the safeguarding of children and young people. All organisations which employ staff or volunteers to work with children and young people have a duty to safeguard and promote their welfare.

Safer recruitment means ensuring that the staff and volunteers who are hired to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults have been suitably checked to prevent any harm being done to the people in their care.

Policies, procedures and codes of conduct are used, and people are made accountable for their use. Good induction and use of probationary periods and a commitment from all who work there to safeguard and protect children and to maintain an ongoing culture of vigilance.

This course has been created and delivered by Milly Wildish, a child protection specialist who has worked in criminal and education settings. Milly is a national safeguarding panel member and is currently engaged in a large-scale independent investigation, into current and historical allegations of child abuse.