Course Duration

6 hours (2 x 3 hour sessions)

Target Audience

Practitioners who are or will be Designated Child Protection Officer or Deputy Designated Child Protection Officer. APPLICANTS MUST HOLD A CURRENT FULL OR REFRESHER SAFEGUARDING CERTIFICATE OR A CURRENT DCPO CERTIFICATE THAT IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE.

Good Practice would suggest that the Designated Safeguarding Officer should be an experienced member of staff.

Period of Validity of Awarded Certification

3 Years from date of completion of course. Those who hold a Childcare Partnership Designated Child Protection Officer Certificate are not required to refresh their basic safeguarding training as the CCP Designated Officer course updates core knowledge.

Purpose of the Course

Upon completion, the trainee will be knowledgeable in their role and responsibilities when working as a Designated Safeguarding Children / Child Protection Officer.

The course will meet the current (at time of delivery) legislative requirements and use early years safeguarding/child proctection scenarios to refresh knowledge of signs and symptoms.

Course Learning Outcomes will Include

All information must be linked to Early Years policies and to the DoH Minimum Standards for Children Under Age 12 and, where appropriate, the ETI Guidelines.

The trainee will understand how to deal with a range of safeguarding issues including:

• Understanding the role of the Designated Safeguarding Children/Child Protection Officer and identification of areas of responsibility within an early years setting
• The importance of a child-centred and trauma informed approach
• Current relevant legislation, policies, procedures and protocols 
• Developing/reviewing the Early Years Setting's own Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies and Procedures in line with the DoH Childminding and Day Care for Children Under Age 12 - Minimum Standards
• Local Health and Social Care structures, referral procedures, case conferences and multidisciplinary working
• Responding sensitively to a disclosure and making a referral
• Exploration of barriers to staff reporting child protection concerns and consideration of strategies to alleviate them
• Record Keeping and communicating confidential and sensitive issues
• Whistleblowing and managing allegations against staff
• Working with all parents when dealing with sensitive issues
• Managing stress and seeking support for self and others
• The roles and responsibilities of a committee in regard to safeguarding
• Supports and the role of the Early Years Social Work Team.