Voluntary Sector
The OSCB is mindful of the invaluable role of the sector in working closely with vulnerable children and families and of the need for safeguarding guidelines which support this role.
The OSCB has recognised that there is a range of sizes and structures within the voluntary sector, in particular, which makes detailed specifications problematic. However, the Board has developed a checklist based on a series of principles which we hope will be useful in relation to your organisation whatever its size. The minimum suggested requirements are stated below.
Voluntary sector responsibilities fall into three main categories
- safeguarding and working together where there is a concern about a child’s safety or failure to thrive.
- Ensuring the safe recruitment of staff and volunteers
- Correctly managing allegations against a member of staff or volunteer.
All voluntary sector organisations should have policies, procedures and training to support these.
Further advice on how organisations can be achieve these minimum standards are set out in the OSCB checklist under standards 1,5,6,8,11
Policies and procedures
The NSPCC Keeping Children Safe tool is a useful guide to what you should have in place. It is comprehensive but well signposted so you can access the sections you need. Your policies should include contact details of your local social work assessment team who hold a legal duty to assess risks to children and the designated local authority staff member for advice on allegations: currently shaun.hanks@oxfordshire.gov.uk
In order to work closely with and sustain trust with families many VCS organisations rightly emphasise confidentiality. However the safety and wellbeing of children is paramount and takes precedence.
Training
It is important to plan for:
- trustee and manager training about responsibilities for staff recruitment and allegations management, and for ensuring you have safeguarding policies in place
- training for everyone in your organisation about your responsibilities and policies and procedures for safeguarding children
If you are member of a national organisation you may have your own training. It would be helpful to look through the training section of the website and to ensure your training is aligned with local procedures.
If you are a local organisation with capacity to develop and deliver your own ‘in house training’ the NSPCC has a training tool kit for this purpose. Again you may also wish to access OSCB on line training
If you are a small organisation please utilise OSCB safeguarding training and guidance for trustees.
Lead for safeguarding
We would suggest to you have a lead for safeguarding on your trustee board or management group.
Commissioning VCS services
Please note that all Oxfordshire’s commissioning of voluntary and community sector services in future will include a requirement to conform to the OSCB standards for safeguarding. Advice will be provided on this.
Private Fostering Arrangements
A private fostering arrangement is one that is made without the involvement of the local authority for the care of a child under the age of 16 (under 18 if disabled) by someone other than a parent or close relative for 28 days or more, in the carer’s own home. Under the Children Act 1989, private foster carers and those with parental responsibility are required to notify the local authority of their intention to privately foster; or have a child privately fostered. Local authorities must satisfy themselves of the suitability of the private foster carer and their household or accommodation. They have the power to impose requirements on the private foster carer, or if there are serious concerns about an arrangement, to prohibit it.
If you would like further information or need to notify someone of a Private Fostering arrangement please contact -
Suzie Moss (Private Fostering Worker) on 01865 323167 or 07775 025248
You can also contact the City Assessment Team on 01865 323048
Other links
The national document detailing multi agency responsibilities for safeguarding children is ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (HM govt 2010). This sets out
- the responsibilities of different organisations
- our shared commitment to safeguard children and promote their welfare
- and the need for clear polices and procedures
‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused – summary’ (2006 Dept of Education and Skills) is a helpful and more succinct document.
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