Safeguarding children and young people

This information sheet is for all voluntary organisations and community groups that have contact with children and young people up to the age of 18. 

Every child and young person should be kept safe, and everyone is responsible for protecting children and young people from harm. When your club or organisation is working with or has contact with any children and young people up to the age of 18, your organisation should make sure it takes steps to keep them safe.

Reporting concerns about a child or young person:

If you are worried about a child or young person contact:

  • Newcastle Children’s Social Care Team for advice and referrals during office hours on 0191 277 2500. Report a concern via this link: Report a concern about a child or young person | Newcastle City Council
  • Newcastle Emergency Duty Team outside of office hours or for emergency queries. Call 0191 278 7878 
  • Gateshead Children’s Services for advice about referrals during office hours on191 433 2653. Report a concern via this link: Worried about a child? - Gateshead Council
  • Gateshead Emergency Duty Team outside of office hours. Call 0191 477 0844. 
  • NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) 24 hour helpline, includes some Asian languages. Call 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk. 
  • Northumbria Police Safeguarding Department offers advice. Call 101 and ask for the Safeguarding Department.

Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practice

  • All organisations that work with, contact, or are visited by children and young people should have a policy statement about how the organisation intends to keep children and young people safe, usually written on one side of paper.
  • Written procedures should explain how the policy is put into practice.
  • Good practice will protect the children and young people you have contact with, protect your staff, volunteers and management committee, and protect the good reputation of your organisation.
  • Taking up regular safeguarding training and carrying out appropriate criminal record checks are key parts of safeguarding.
  • Someone senior in the organisation must be the Designated Safeguarding Officer for Safeguarding Children.
  • The way that your group uses social media should be included in your guidelines, so that children and young people, and your staff, volunteers, management committee and your organisation are all protected.

Sometimes guidance refers to safeguarding; sometimes to child protection:

  • Child protection is about what staff and volunteers should do if they are worried a child has been abused or is at risk of significant harm, or what to do if there are allegations about a staff member or volunteer
  •  Safeguarding usually has a wider focus than child protection, such as preventing bullying and running safe activities

Free support to safeguard children and young people

NSPCC Learning has Free resources for voluntary and community sector groups and practitioners

Local Safeguarding Children Boards offer training, local practice guidance, interagency procedures, and publications to support learning and safeguarding.

Free safeguarding training

Safeguarding training should be renewed at least every three years; Gateshead Council recommends every two years. There are face to face courses at levels 1, 2 and 3, specialist courses, and online e-learning courses.

Actions for your group

Write or update your safeguarding children policy and procedures. Visit Writing safeguarding policies and procedures | NSPCC Learning or contact our Support and Development Team for advice. 

Some organisations have a separate recruitment policy and procedure. Your procedures should include pre-recruitment and ongoing DBS checks

Consider your staff, volunteer and management committee training needs

Keep yourself up to date with information and local resources. Connected Voice’s free newsletter includes safeguarding resources. Sign up on www.connectedvoice.org.uk