COMMUNITY Safeguarding Children
by John Titterton, Assistant Director (Safeguarding) Directorate Children & Young People
T
he DCYP on behalf of the MoD is committed to establishing processes which will ensure, as far as possible
and practical, that all our children and young people are supported, protected and that they feel safe.
Safeguarding is a relatively new term which is broader than ‘child protection’ as it also includes prevention. Safeguarding has been defined as, ‘all agencies working with children, young people and their families, taking all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimized’.
Within the MoD we have an overarching Safeguarding Children Board (SCB), which is supported by Department for Children and Young People (DCYP). The Board is attended by service personnel and civilians who hold key roles across all three Services in terms of their responsibilities towards children and families. In order to ensure that children and families based abroad can expect similar safeguards and support as children and families in the UK, the Board links in with Safeguarding Committees and Safeguarding Boards overseas.
The Board also seeks to champion the needs of young people in the UK who are connected to the Services; for example
Service children, cadets and young service men and women.
Recent issues which have been addresses by the Board, via DCYP, include: • development of child protection data from overseas
• disclosure and Barring Service checks on staff (previously CRB checks)
• specialist medical advice to small overseas Commands
• changes in referral statistics • safeguarding training for staff
The work of the SCB is overseen by an Independent Chair, who is a civilian specialist, employed to ensure that the Board works towards the highest standards. The Independent Chair also reports to the Adjutant General in order to ensure there is sufficient senior oversight of this very important area of work.
Research in Child Protection has continually shown that, if agencies do not communicate effectively with each other, things can go disastrously wrong.
SCB and DCYP continues to work together to ensure that communication across military agencies about Safeguarding is as effective as possible.
To find out more please go to the DCYP website.
40
Envoy Summer 2013
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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