Source: Launching a new national standard for safeguarding – Save the Children UK
SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY
The aim of the new British Standard 25800, “Safeguarding: Guidance for Organizations”, is to equip anyone with the knowledge and information to get started on preventing harmful situations from occurring. The Standard fully embraces the idea that awareness raising and good planning can be done by anyone – you do not need to be a protection expert.
BRINGING THE NEW GUIDANCE TO LIFE
Work on the proposal for the standard began during lockdown in 2021; I had been a member of the British Standards Institution (BSI) Governance Committee for a couple of years (I have a strong interest in organisational governance) and had joined drafting meetings for the Modern Slavery and Governance of Organizations standards. I was given access to experts at BSI to support me to get going as Chair of the new voluntary committee tasked with drafting a UK guidance standard.
Quite quickly we were able to consult our networks to form a simply brilliant Committee of experts from a range of sectors and organisations. We had representatives from charities, local education authorities, sporting and voluntary organisations, school governors and teachers, police officers, private sector and faith setting experts.
Our aim was to provide a one-stop document covering both adults and children in all of the UK nations. UK legislation on safeguarding is currently arranged by aged group and geography and if an organisation finds itself working across all these (as I certainly did at that conference) then where to start? Standard 25800 bridges that gap and provides applicable advice and guidance to anyone in the UK.
We often brought ourselves back to the perspective of a very small organisation, short on time and resources that might only have one staff member. We thought about parents volunteering at events and about small businesses without human resources departments or boards of volunteers. I truly hope that we have achieved that aim but recognise there are more projects we could take on to support a positive safeguarding culture across the UK.
WHAT WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE HAS TAUGHT ME
- You don’t need to be an expert to get started on change. You do need to be able to relate to the change and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
- Diversity is essential. It was a pleasure to work with a broad group of experts which has resulted in a rich document.
- Appreciate the commitment others are making and the perspectives they bring.
- Check your privilege, often, remind yourself of your audience.
- Do lighten the mood where you can! It’s tough going sometimes and it’s important to keep energy up!
