We know how committed you are to keeping children safe in your organisation. I trust that you are finding Safe Network helpful and you are doing the very best you can to improve your safeguarding arrangements.
We have achieved a lot in the nine months since we launched in June last year, here is a reflection/summary of what we have achieved so far:
Since the launch the Safe Network website has become the hub of activity and is now attracting more than 10,000 visitors every month. The team has continued to add to its ever-growing library of web-based resources, tailored to the needs of third sector organisations.The enquiry service has picked up considerably with the team directly dealing with over 800 enquiry cases.
The FREE online training offer which links the Safe Network and EduCare together has been very popular with 5,000 free modules or reduced rate Educare training programmes taken up by third sector groups.
Our resource ‘Are they safe? pack has been distributed to 10,000 groups and organisations across England. From the success of the packs there has been 5 FREE workshops on how to use the resource effectiely, delivered in a host locations with huge accolade. The team has now started to plan a national programme for further FREE workshops to be rolled out across the country.
The workshop achievement has been made key with the work of our Regional Development Managers, who have developed links nationally, regionally and at local level by attending and organising events with the Safe Network as the focus.
What we are going to do next:
Launch Keeping our Children Safe – a CD Rom of materials aimed at raising awareness about safeguarding children within BME communities and produce national training plan for delivery to BME focused groups. Also develop a comprehensive training pack on safeguarding children in thrid sector organisations.
Produce an updated EduCare pack on safer recruitment to incorporate the Vetting and Barring scheme which becomes compulsory in July this year, this will be for small to medium-sized organisations and become one of the portfolio of free Educare products available through Safe Network.
Create a resource pack for Local Safeguarding Children Boards on best practice for engaging with the Voluntary Council Services and develop resources to support VCS representatives on LSCBs.
Report findings to the Department for Children, Schools and Families, on the feasibility of developing a safeguarding accreditation scheme for the third sector and the resource implications.
Pilot a model of local sustainability, involving the VCS, LSCB, statutory agencies and politicians and exploring models for reaching third sector organisations outside the mainstream networks.
Organise a national conference to disseminate learning from the Safe Network and promote good practice in safeguarding in the third sector.
We are always looking for new ideas and feedback so please contact us if you have any suggestions or feedback.
Contact us
the Converation
John Brownlow
Director, The Safe Network