What are the Wales Safeguarding Procedures?
What are the Wales Safeguarding Procedures?
The Wales Safeguarding Procedures are the first universal national safeguarding procedures for Wales.
The procedures detail the essential roles and responsibilities for practitioners to ensure that they safeguard children and adults who are experiencing, at risk of abuse, neglect or other kinds of harm.
Who do they apply to?
Who do they apply to?
The Wales Safeguarding Procedures guide safeguarding practice for all those employed in the statutory, third (voluntary) and private sectors in health, social care, education, police, justice and other services.
They apply to all practitioners and managers working in Wales, whether employed by a devolved or non-devolved agency.
Why were they been developed?
Why were they been developed?
The Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 recognised the shared belief of many practitioners, managers and policymakers in the need for common systems and processes to protect both children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect.
The Wales Safeguarding Procedures have translated legislation, such as the 2014 Act, and any accompanying duties into practice.
The ultimate aim of the procedures is to ensure consistency in practice and in how legislation is applied across Wales.
This is why the procedures include ‘pointers for practice’ which provide guidance on how to complete individual tasks. These pointers for practice are based on the latest research and practice developments.
When did they come into effect?
When did they come into effect?
The Wales Safeguarding Procedures were published on 11 November 2019 and are available for everyone to view via the official website or by downloading the Wales Safeguarding Procedures mobile app.
The procedures were adopted and implemented in every region of Wales by April 2020.
Safeguarding Allegations/Concerns about Practitioners and those in Positions of Trust
Any adult working or volunteering with children or adults at risk may at some point become subject of an allegation that they have harmed a child or adult at risk and /or behaved in a way in their personal life which could put children and adults at risk of harm. This information sheet explains what happens when an allegation or concern is made and will help staff who are involved in the procedure.