Safeguarding
Safeguarding Support
Safeguarding should be a priority for every voluntary and community organisation, whatever its size. If your organisation works with children, young people or adults at risk, it's important to have the right policies, procedures and training in place to help keep people safe.
This section includes template policies, practical guidance and training resources to support your organisation in meeting its safeguarding responsibilities.
Safeguarding Training
Regular safeguarding training helps trustees, staff and volunteers recognise concerns, respond appropriately and keep their knowledge up to date. Below are a range of local and national training opportunities, including both free and paid options.
Adult Safeguarding
- Islington Safeguarding Adults Board (ISAB) – Training on a range of adult safeguarding topics, including safeguarding awareness, mental capacity, modern slavery and home fire safety.
- Islington Adult Learning – Offers safeguarding courses as part of its adult learning programme.
- London Borough of Islington – Safeguarding Adults – Training for organisations delivering Islington Council-funded services. For more information, contact the Safeguarding Adults Team at SafeguardingAdultsTraining@islington.gov.uk.
- National Safeguarding Week – Annual programme of free online webinars covering adult safeguarding and wider safeguarding good practice.
Children's Safeguarding
- Islington Safeguarding Children Partnership – Free safeguarding training for people working or volunteering with children, young people and families in Islington, including single and multi-agency courses.
- Child Safeguarding Toolkit – Free online training resources, including e-learning, videos, case studies and practical exercises.
- National Safeguarding Week – Annual programme of free online webinars covering a range of safeguarding topics, including safeguarding children and young people.
Safeguarding Resources
Safeguarding is a priority for every voluntary and community organisation, regardless of its size. Whether you're developing your first safeguarding policy or reviewing your existing arrangements, the resources below provide practical guidance, templates and good practice to help you protect the people you work with.
Safeguarding Policy Templates
- Charity Excellence Framework – Sample Safeguarding Policy
A free safeguarding policy template for small charities and community organisations. - Ann Craft Trust – Safeguarding Adults Policy Templates
Templates and guidance for developing safeguarding adults policies and procedures.
General Guidance
- NCVO – Safeguarding Policies and Procedures
Practical guidance on creating safeguarding policies and procedures for your organisation. - Charity Commission – Safeguarding for Charities and Trustees
Official guidance on trustees' safeguarding responsibilities and legal duties.
Adult Safeguarding
- Care Act 2014: Statutory Guidance
Government guidance on adult safeguarding responsibilities under the Care Act.
Children and Young People
- NSPCC – Writing Safeguarding Policies and Procedures
Guidance on developing child safeguarding policies and procedures. - NSPCC Resources
A collection of safeguarding resources, templates and best practice guidance. - Working Together to Safeguard Children
Statutory government guidance on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. - NSPCC – 8 Steps to Safeguarding and Child Protection
A practical guide to strengthening your organisation's child safeguarding arrangements. - Islington Safeguarding Children Partnership – Are You Worried About a Child?
Guidance on recognising concerns and what to do if you're worried about a child.
10 Steps to Good Safeguarding
Identify and assess risks
based on your organisation's activities, the people you work with and your operating environment.
Develop a safeguarding policy
that reflects your risks and includes clear procedures for raising and responding to concerns.
Create a code of conduct
setting out expectations for trustees, staff and volunteers.
Carry out safer recruitment checks
including DBS checks where appropriate.
Put supporting policies in place
such as bullying, harassment and whistleblowing.
Record and report concerns
through clear procedures, secure record-keeping and, where necessary, reporting to the relevant authorities.
Make safeguarding everyone's responsibility
by creating an open culture where concerns can be raised and acted on appropriately.
Ensure safeguarding documents are accessible
to trustees, staff, volunteers and, where appropriate, the people who use your services.
Review your policies regularly
updating them at least annually or whenever your activities change.
Provide regular safeguarding training
and ensure appropriate resources and clear accountability are in place.