There is an alternative audio file at the bottom of this page so if you prefer to listen rather than reading, then you can skip down to that.

By the end of this course you will have:

• A sound knowledge of the basic principles and practice of Safeguarding Children and Young People
• A working knowledge of the legal framework in which we all operate, including understanding the legal requirements, national and local guidance and best practice standards in safeguarding
• A good understanding of recent changes and current trends and themes

This means that some of what we are going to cover explains the key ideas or principles, while other parts are more practical and relate to what we should do in specific situations.

You will understand what safeguarding is, what abuse is, and how to respond if you have concerns about the safety of a child.

We hope that you will take the opportunity to reflect upon your role, and practice within your context and beyond, with regard to working together to identify, assess and meet the needs of children where there are safeguarding concerns.

Safeguarding is an important theme and what we are thinking about is how we support and protect the children entrusted to our care. This is way too important to be a “tick-box exercise” and so we hope that you will engage with the materials and that they are useful in further developing your skills and knowledge.