The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) “Seven-minute Safeguarding Staff Meeting” The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Who has responsibility for safeguarding in your school?

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

2 minute discussion Who is/are the Designated Safeguarding Lead(s) in your school? What are some of the responsibilities that they have?

The role of the Designated Safeguarding Person was specified in the Children Act 2004 and ensured the every organisation had a “named person” for safeguarding children and young people. Prior to that, the role had frequently been known as the Child Protection Officer. The Designated Safeguarding Person has a responsibility at both a strategic level within the organisation and on a day to day basis. The school/academy’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is the first point of contact for any member of the school staff who has a concern about the safety and well-being of a pupil. Key Aspects of the Designated Person role includes: Making sure all staff are aware how to raise safeguarding concerns Ensuring all staff understand the symptoms of child abuse and neglect Referring any concerns to social care Monitoring children who are the subject of child protection plans Maintaining accurate and secure child protection records

What should you do if you think that a concern you have raised has not been followed up?

All staff and volunteers should feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice and potential failures in the school or college’s safeguarding regime and know that such concerns will be taken seriously by the senior leadership team. Appropriate whistleblowing procedures, which are suitably reflected in staff training and staff behaviour policies, should be in place for such concerns to be raised with the school’s senior leadership team. The NSPCC whistleblowing helpline is available for staff who do not feel able to raise concerns regarding child protection failures internally. Staff can call 0800 028 0285 – line is available from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday to Friday and email: help@nspcc.org.uk

Additional guidance and further reading Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2016