Guest Posted September 10, 2010 Posted September 10, 2010 I would be grateful for some advice. Who should be the safeguarding officer at a pre-school? Is it Ok for it to be somebody who only works part time? Many Thanks
AnonyMouse_79 Posted September 11, 2010 Posted September 11, 2010 I cant answer your who question except to say I think it should be a FT staff member and proberly someone who is quite senior in role. Hopefully someone else will know more.
AnonyMouse_1027 Posted September 11, 2010 Posted September 11, 2010 yes i would advise a senior member of staff who is about all of the time
Guest Posted September 11, 2010 Posted September 11, 2010 Hello Our safeguarding officer is the supervisor and in her absence its the deputy. Bec xx
AnonyMouse_390 Posted September 11, 2010 Posted September 11, 2010 My manager and me (deputy) are safeguarding officers - just been on stage 2 safeguarding today! Thrilling!!!
Guest Posted September 12, 2010 Posted September 12, 2010 I too would agree with the above, not fair to give the role to someone young and inexperienced having to cope with potentially awful situations
AnonyMouse_11396 Posted September 13, 2010 Posted September 13, 2010 Yes same here its our Supervisor as our named safeguarding officer and is in all sessions. It could be a person in a senior or managerial position with the appropriate up to date training. Remember to that all training this should always be cascaded down to all relevant staff that work directly with the children so that they all know who to turn to should a concern occur.
AnonyMouse_390 Posted September 13, 2010 Posted September 13, 2010 Most of my staff have done an online safeguarding course - trying very hard to get everyone to do it! Our county are providing this free of charge.
AnonyMouse_12960 Posted September 13, 2010 Posted September 13, 2010 don't forget you need a named deputy safeguarding officer also. We have 2 FT members of staff as main and deputy Safeguarding Officers
AnonyMouse_1999 Posted September 13, 2010 Posted September 13, 2010 don't forget you need a named deputy safeguarding officer also. We have 2 FT members of staff as main and deputy Safeguarding Officers Oh! this is new to me! Do you mind me asking where this is legislated, can't believe I have missed it but obviously have
AnonyMouse_12960 Posted September 13, 2010 Posted September 13, 2010 Hi Geraldine, just checked my statutory framework, and I also can't find any reference to a named deputy. However, I was definately told this on my last safeguarding course. Perhaps just best practice, or perhaps it's a requirement of our LEA. Not sure!!
AnonyMouse_8466 Posted September 13, 2010 Posted September 13, 2010 don't forget you need a named deputy safeguarding officer also. We have 2 FT members of staff as main and deputy Safeguarding Officers Really? We don't have one and Ofsted didn't pull me up on this at our recent inspection. But then we are a small group. Can you point me at the place it tells me this so I can incorporate it into my operational plan please? Maz
AnonyMouse_12960 Posted September 13, 2010 Posted September 13, 2010 Hi Maz, as I explained to Geraldine, I also can't find this in the legislation, so must have assumed it was a requirement, but actually it is not in law. Nevertheless, I was told at the last training meeting that I should nominate a deputy, which I have.
AnonyMouse_8466 Posted September 13, 2010 Posted September 13, 2010 Hi Maz, as I explained to Geraldine, Sorry - didn't see that. Maz
AnonyMouse_22106 Posted September 13, 2010 Posted September 13, 2010 We too have a deputy, we were advised on our training that it was 'best practice'
AnonyMouse_22106 Posted September 14, 2010 Posted September 14, 2010 Training done today by a staff member, they were told there has to be 2 trained to level 2. If your safeguarding person was off, someone who was trained to level 2 has to cover. I only renewed my level 2 in July and already there are things in the policies that have got to be changed - it's never ending
Guest Posted September 14, 2010 Posted September 14, 2010 Thanks for all of your comments. Our supervisor has just informed us that she doesn't have to be the nominated person and she hasn't got time to go on the training until she has completed her NVQ L4, the deputy is not up to date so they have told a part time member of staff that they have to take it on. Our committee raised a concern over this but the supervisor cut them down. I think the committee are looking into any official information so that they can challenge this decision.
Guest jenpercy Posted September 15, 2010 Posted September 15, 2010 Well as the nominated person, I have not had to do anything much at all. I am the Manager and when I was just about to set off for my daughter's wedding, I phoned in about something else and immediately went in to sort out ringing child protection and reporting to OFSTED. It took me about 2 hours that mornining, and I haver a meeting next week. Before that I think it was about 3 years ago that I did anything, and before that 5, so it is not an onerous task. Does your Supervisor mean that if there was a concern, that they would let the part-timer have all the dealings with OFSTED? What happens if you have an incident on her day off, would they call her in to have sensitive talks with parents and OFSTED. I feel myself that it is best handled by a Senior member of staff, and that although a Deputy is not necessary, thought should be given to who would do it if she is away. Deput, and all staff, including Supervisor must be up to date asap. It is a requirement. Do you have specific training for nominated person? We don't actually but it will presumably be one day? PS. It was 2 days before the wedding, but it was cake icing day, so I was on the phone to Social services with a very irate and anxious husband (the master baker) breathing down my neck.
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