National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare for children up to the age of 12 years: statutory guidance - Audience and overview
Standard of care child minding and day care providers must meet to look after children under 12.
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Standard 20: Safeguarding
Child’s voice: People who care for me make sure I am safe.
Well-being outcome: Children are safeguarded from harm, abuse and neglect.
The registered person is responsible for ensuring that:
20.1 Safeguarding of the child is the first priority; it is everybody’s responsibility.
20.2 There is a written child safeguarding policy in place. The policy must adhere to Welsh Government Guidance for all individuals, groups and organisations that provide activities for children and adults in Wales. All organisations should also adhere to the Wales Safeguarding Procedures. In producing this policy, the registered person must also be familiar with the Welsh Government’s statutory guidance on safeguarding children under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
20.3 The child safeguarding policy is shared with parents before a child is admitted and clearly states staff responsibilities for reporting suspected harm, abuse or neglect. It includes contact names and telephone numbers and the procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff or volunteer and the implications for disclosure of information.
20.4 All staff have accessed safeguarding training relevant to their work role. A designated member of staff has attended safeguarding training courses and is responsible for liaison with statutory services such as social services, in any child safeguarding situation.
20.5 All staff are suitably trained for their role. Annex C, Safeguarding Guidance: Roles and Responsibilities detail the types of roles in childcare and playwork and the safeguarding training appropriate to different roles within the sector
20.6 Any persons working and looking after children can put the policy into practice and are aware of safeguarding issues, as set out in the Wales Safeguarding Procedures, including physical abuse (including physical punishment), neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse and are deemed competent to implement the procedures.
20.7 Staff are aware of their responsibility to report concerns about a child’s safety or well-being according to Wales Safeguarding Procedures without delay.
To assist providers, the principal regulatory requirements underpinning this standard are outlined below, followed by relevant guidance. Providers should note that neither list is exhaustive, and that providers must have regard to all standards relevant to their service and the circumstances concerned.
Related Regulations
Further Guidance and Support
National safeguarding training, learning and development standards – Social Care Wales
Statutory Guidance: working-together-to-safeguard-people-volume-i-introduction-and-overview.pdf
Statutory Guidance: working-together-to-safeguard-people-volume-5-handling-individual-cases-to-protect-children-at-risk.pdf
Non-statutory guidance: Working together to safeguard people: code of safeguarding practice | GOV.WALES