1.1. Explain the current legislative framework that underpins the safeguarding of children and young people.
RCC 5.4 Lead practice to support the safeguarding and protection of children and young people in residential childcare
Unit reference
M/506/8362
Unit level
5
Credit value
8
Guided Learning (hours)
55
Unit aim
This unit provides the knowledge and skills required to lead practice that supports the safeguarding and protection of children and young people in residential childcare settings.
Learner name:
Centre no:
PIN:
ULN:
Learning outcomes
The learner will:
Assessment criteria
The learner can:
Evidence record
e.g. page number & method
Assessor judgement achieved
Initial and date
1. Understand the impact of current legislation for the safeguarding of children and young people.
1.1. Explain the current legislative framework that underpins the safeguarding of children and young people.
1.2. Analyse how current national and local guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding affect working practices with children and young people.
1.3. Review how processes used in the work setting comply with current legislation.
1.4. Explain the relationship between safeguarding and child protection.
2. Be able to participate in local networks to safeguard children and young people.
2.1 Identify the range of agencies and organisations involved in local networks for safeguarding of children and young people.
Learning outcomes
The learner will:
Assessment criteria
The learner can:
Evidence record
e.g. page number & method
Assessor judgement achieved
Initial and date
2.2. Assess the importance of developing and implementing information sharing protocols across agencies in relation to suspected harm or abuse.
2.3. Work with other agencies and organisations in local networks using agreed protocols.
3. Be able to lead practice that minimises the risk of potential, actual and alleged harm by team members.
3.1. Implement policies and legal requirements that support safe recruitment of team members.
3.2. Support team members to recognise the power inherent in their role and the potential for this to be abused.
3.3. Support team members to understand how following policies and procedures protects them from allegations and complaints as well as protecting children and young people from harm.
4. Be able to lead practice that minimises the risk of harm and abuse in the care setting.
4.1. Lead a culture where the needs of children or young people are paramount.
4.2. Support team members to develop positive, trusting and consistent relationships in which children or young people are listened to and heard.
4.3. Implement systems to ensure that children or young people are able to raise concerns and complaints and have them promptly addressed.
Learning outcomes
The learner will:
Assessment criteria
The learner can:
Evidence record
e.g. page number & method
Assessor judgement achieved
Initial and date
4.4. Analyse the roles of advocates and independent visitors in relation to safeguarding children and young people in care.
5. Be able to implement policies and procedures for safeguarding children and young people.
5.1. Identify policies and procedures needed for comprehensive safeguarding in a residential childcare setting.
5.2. Lead the implementation of policies and procedures for safeguarding children or young people.
5.3. Manage training for team members about harm and abuse, warning signs and actions they must take if harm or abuse is alleged or suspected.
5.4. Provide information and mentoring to team members about safeguarding.
5.5. Evaluate own role in ensuring prompt response to suspicions of harm or abuse.
5.6. Challenge poor practice and attitudes in relation to safeguarding.
5.7. Support continuous improvement to practice and attitudes in relation to safeguarding.
Learning outcomes
The learner will:
Assessment criteria
The learner can:
Evidence record
e.g. page number & method
Assessor judgement achieved
Initial and date
6. Understand situations that present high risk of harm for children and young people.
6.1. Identify situations and circumstances that present high risk of harm or abuse for children and young people.
6.2. Analyse known characteristics of perpetrators and their behaviours that make it difficult for children and young people to report harm or abuse or for others to recognise and address abusive activity.
6.3. Explain why children and young people in care can become involved with groups and gangs and why this presents additional risks of harm and abuse.
7. Understand approaches that address child sexual exploitation.
7.1. Analyse research and official inquiries to identify key features of child sexual exploitation.
7.2. Analyse trends in child sexual exploitation in the context of human trafficking.
7.3. Analyse ways in which children and young people in care are particularly vulnerable to harm from child sexual exploitation and grooming.
7.4. Explain the roles of key partners involved in local networks to address sexual exploitation of children and young people.
7.5. Explain the purpose and key features of problem profiling.
Learning outcomes
The learner will:
Assessment criteria
The learner can:
Evidence record
e.g. page number & method
Assessor judgement achieved
Initial and date
7.6. Describe ways to contribute to local strategies to combat child sexual exploitation.
8. Be able to review policies and procedures for safeguarding children and young people in residential childcare.
8.1. Develop a plan to review the policies and procedures for safeguarding children or young people.
8.2. Implement a review of policies and procedures for safeguarding children or young people.
8.3. Analyse findings from a review of policies and procedures.
8.4. Work with others to implement an action plan to improve policies and procedures.
For e-portfolio a signature is not required, providing the learner has a personalised and secure login.
Additional information about the unit:
Relationship to occupational standards
SCDHSC0044 SCDMCB1
Additional unit assessment requirements
Units need to be assessed in line with the Skills for Care & Development Assessment Principles.
Guidance for developing assessment arrangements for the unit:
Guidance for developing unit assessment arrangements – provided with the unit
Learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 must be assessed in a real work environment.
Unit assessment guidance – provided by the sector
Working practices, e.g.:
childcare practicechild protectionrisk assessmentensuring the voice of the child or young person is heard (e.g. providing advocacy services)supporting children and young people and others who may be expressing concernsworking practices that protect practitioners and children / young people.
Agencies and organisations may include:
Social servicesNSPCC Health visitorsGPProbationPoliceSchoolPsychology service
Policies and procedures required for safeguarding, e.g.:
listening to children and young peoplesharing concerns and recording/ reporting incidentsdealing with allegationsduty of carewhistleblowingpropriety and behaviourphysical contact / intimate personal careoff site visitsphotography and videobullyinguse of the internet and mobile phonesmissing from carevisitorstimely and accurate information sharingpartnership workingsafer recruitment.
Poor practice and attitudes, e.g.:
denial of the issueblaming the victimnot listening to and hearing children and young peoplebeing inconsistent or untrustworthynot placing the child or young person’s needs firstbecoming desensitised to issues of harm and abusebeing overprotectivefailing to report suspicions at an early stagefailing to share informationfailing to work in partnership with key agencies.
position of power in the organisationposition of power in the community (e.g. through business, political or faith groups)celebrity statusfellow resident / peergrooming (of the child or young person and those around them)threats of reprisalspromises of rewardsdenial of behaviour as abusivetargeting boys and young men (in relation to sexual abuse).
Key features include:
common patterns of child sexual exploitation both within and outside the settingmyths about those who sexually exploitprofiles of those who sexually exploitdistinguishing features of abusive and non- abusive sexual activity.
Key Partners include:
Sexual Health ServicesPolice, Crown Prosecution ServiceYouth Offending ServicesProbation ServicesHousing ServicesDrug and Alcohol ServicesMental Health Services, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS)Community Health Services, including GPsHospital TrustsEducation ServicesVoluntary and Community sectorfamily and carers
Problem Profiling, i.e. building a picture:
of gangs, groups, individuals, businesses and neighbourhoods which increase the risk of child sexual exploitationof the potential victims who are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and grooming.
Local strategies may involve:
local authoritiesChildren Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPRs)Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH).
A plan to review should include:
the views of children and young peoplecurrent guidance arising from inquiries and child safeguarding practice reviewsliaison with different organisations.
Example – Plagiarised Answer
1. Understand the Impact of Current Legislation for the Safeguarding of Children and Young People
1.1 Explain the current legislative framework that underpins the safeguarding of children and young people.
Key legislation includes the Children Act 1989, Children Act 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018), and the Care Standards Act 2000. Each framework outlines responsibilities for local authorities and organisations regarding child welfare, safeguarding, and the collaborative approach needed among agencies.
1.2 Analyse how current national and local guidelines, policies, and procedures for safeguarding affect working practices with children and young people.
National policies such as the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) guidelines set standards for practice. Locally, the implementation of these guidelines ensures that practices are tailored to community needs, thereby enhancing the protective measures for children and young people.
1.3 Review how processes used in the work setting comply with current legislation.
A review of documentation such as safeguarding policies, staff training records, and incident reports can demonstrate compliance. Regular audits and staff feedback can help ensure adherence to legal requirements.
1.4 Explain the relationship between safeguarding and child protection.
Safeguarding encompasses the broader range of measures taken to promote the welfare of children and prevent abuse, whereas child protection specifically refers to the processes involved in responding to and managing cases of suspected abuse or neglect.
2. Be Able to Participate in Local Networks to Safeguard Children and Young People
2.1 Identify the range of agencies and organisations involved in local networks for safeguarding children and young people.
Local networks may include social services, NSPCC, health visitors, police, educational institutions, and community organisations. Each plays a role in ensuring a multi-agency approach to safeguarding.
2.2 Assess the importance of developing and implementing information-sharing protocols across agencies in relation to suspected harm or abuse.
Effective information sharing is crucial to safeguarding, enabling timely interventions and coordinated responses. Protocols help establish trust and clarify roles among agencies
