To believe that every adult in the country should undergo safeguarding training?

[TheOutlaws]

I’m a teacher in a secondary school.

Every year, my colleagues and I undergo (harrowing) safeguarding training. Every week, I report children to our safeguarding lead. Mumsnet threads are full of people recommending that adults keep secrets, which is antithetical to safeguarding.

If you see something untoward, or are party to a disclosure, you MUST report it. Victoria Climbié only reached hospital because a taxi driver disobeyed her ‘aunt’s’ instructions to drive her elsewhere. He took her to A&E instead, where she died of her injuries.

We all have a responsibility to report incidents, because they might be part of a bigger picture.

What form would this training take? A ten min video online I would possibly watch. Half a day in the local community centre and I most likely wouldn't be attending.

Every adult in the country is excessive

@HeffyAgain Well our training is a quick video (then a longer one every three years), so that would be it. It could be disseminated through HR depts. of companies/organisations.

@Shoxfordian Why? Unless they lack capacity/understanding, all adults come into contact with kids most days, and can write an email.

A quick video isn’t really training is it, not for something so important.
I’ve just done some safeguarding, it was a 5hr read/watch/discuss followed by a test at the end.

Exhibit A: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/15/sara-sharif-father-stepmother-and-uncle-charged-with-murder

What might have saved Sara? Consistent and sustained reports of mistreatment? Presumably she was being homeschooled because the teachers were (trying to) safeguard her? Another preventable death of a child because adults think it’s none of their business.

@Brendabigbaps I believe there are different levels of training for different types of engagement with it.

What about the millions of people who don't work for companies like that?

The route of getting the info out isn't correct, as you will miss possibly the biggest set of people who could come in contact with vulnerable kids - the SAHP.

Agreed OP. Certainly every parent should have to do it, at least (and that would cover quite a large number of adults). It could be part of the midwife appointments to give people a link to the training which they have to do before the child is born.

@andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow Even if you are self-employed or don’t have HR, you should still have to undergo a level of safeguarding training.

I absolutely agree with you and for the life of me I don’t understand why posters are being so negative, blasé and awkward about it. You need to give your heads a wobble.

@MsFrost Midwife appointments a good call, and easy to include a link in the ‘pack’. All parents should do it.

As a teacher you have a quick video for training?

Yes I agree. The amount of times someone has mentioned a concern on here but won't report to ss as they don't want to get the family 'in to trouble' if it's nothing!!

If it's nothing ss will close the case. If it's something they will investigate. They are not the bad guy and it's dangerous to keep perpetuating that myth.

Right - and how would you enforce that, exactly?

Is that all? We get online training and face to face clinical
Supervision. Every year. Though I'm a paediatric nurse rather than a teacher.

Sorry your training is a quick video? Is that right???

@tonystarksrighthand There are different levels. Every couple of years we do a full half day training, more if you’re a safeguarding lead.

I'm a primary teacher and I agree with you.

I feel quite panicked sometimes when I read threads on here by the sheet volume of people saying MYOB tbh. Or people telling someone they were a busybody by contacting eg the school when they doubt themselves afterwards etc.

For example, I think the stats at our recent training were 1/5 children experience DV alone. Statistically, that's 6 children in the average primary school class. And that doesn't include direct abuse towards the child.

That makes it everybody's business.

@SerenityNowInsanityLater I'm so sorry to hear this. It's horrendous when the very people you are supposed to be able to trust let you down. It shouldn't ever happen and you deserve to be angry.

There are so many corrupted people, and some of them are in roles that they really, really shouldn't be in.

I do think though, that OP is right, and there is no way that more training can be a bad thing.

I'm a Social Worker and firmly believe Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Lots of people have some form of awareness training at work so the volume of adults that already have this is considerable. I think support is needed more for people to report concerns and how that would look and what that process entails as people are aware of worries/risk it's more their uncertainty about acting on it amd fear of potential repercussions that's the problem.

Given that a poster on here this morning has suggested keeping quiet about a 12yo boy with a video of himself being involved with county lines, OP, I think you are right.

Everyone on here has access to an internet connected device and can type.
Sadly not everyone has the common sense, or possibly the trust in Social Services and the police, to report stuff.

But IMO there is no excuse for leaving a 12yo at the mercy of a drug gang. I despair of some people.

Because it's unrealistic, and what the OP has done which is watch a video and calling it training is laughable.

The OP has come on here after watching said video and is now voice of authority on safeguarding.