NQSW resource - Outcome statement 7: Safeguarding
Safeguarding: Achieving this outcome
Here are some ways of demonstrating that you have achieved this outcome.
- Show that you are aware of and have used and complied with relevant national and local guidance in planning for support.
- Be clear about how you have applied the Skills for Care's Common core principles to support self-care.
- Show that you have involved the person and heard and recorded their wishes and aspirations. You also need to have involved family, friends, carers, advocates and any networks of support in the community.
- Show how you have balanced any concerns about risk and safeguarding. Make sure you are clear about the issues and have recorded the action have you taken as a result.
- Provide evidence in your records of your decisions and note any areas of conflict or disagreement.
- Show how you have worked with others to resolve any issues.
- Where resolution has not been possible, show you have made sure that people know of their rights to complain and how to get advocacy support.
- Consider your role in terms of prevention and early intervention, and what needs to be in place to minimise risk and maximise choice and control.
- It is highly likely that other professionals will be involved with safeguarding. Show that you are aware of your particular role, and how you have used and shared information from elsewhere to inform your judgement and make decisions.
- In high-risk situations, ensure that accurate information is communicated to relevant parties in a timely manner.The Department for Children, Schools and Families' Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (PDF), sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004.
- If you are not sure about your decisions, role or judgement, you should record where you have raised the issue and with whom, for example, your supervisor, colleagues or other organisations.
Check how far you have met this outcome
Have you:
- Used appropriate guidance, legislation and policy to inform your actions and decisions?
- Maximised the involvement of the person, and their family, friends and carers, and used independent advocates where appropriate?
- Worked with other professionals, as part of the safeguarding process, to improve your knowledge and understanding of the person, to inform your judgement, and to manage any areas of conflict?
- Identified and discussed ethical dilemmas and worked with others to resolve issues?
- Identified and taken action to safeguard the well-being of people, while having due regard for their rights to take risks?
- Critically analysed all the information available and used it to produce a review which balances the needs and wishes of individuals?
Use the Portfolio (Word file) document to record your reflection on this outcome statement.