The following information is designed to support Service Providers to meet statutory, contractual and good practice requirements for the safeguarding of children and young people.
Useful Contacts
Table showing safeguarding contacts
Contact
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Telephone
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| Wokingham Borough Council Referral and Assessment Team: |
0118 908 8002 |
| Emergency Duty Team – out of office hours: |
01344 786 543 |
| Thames Valley Police - non-emergency number: |
08458 505 505 |
| NSPCC 24 hour helpline: |
0808 800 5000 |
Basic Requirements
It is every Service Provider's responsibility to protect children and young people from harm and respond to abuse.
Safeguarding is the responsibility of all staff, including volunteers, and the employer.
All providers have a duty to follow the online Berkshire Local Safeguarding Children Boards Child Protection Procedures. These procedures are no longer published in paper format so they can be kept up to date online. Providers should check regularly to ensure they have read the latest version.
All providers must have a Safeguarding - or Child Protection - Policy and Procedures document in place, with which all staff and volunteers must be familiar.
Vetting of Staff and Volunteers
All staff and volunteers working with children and families must have the following checks:
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A satisfactory Enhanced CRB - Criminal Records Bureau - Disclosure from within the last 3 years. If a service is contracted by Wokingham Borough Council, this Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure must be obtained through Wokingham Borough Council. No Criminal Records Bureau Disclosures from other organisations will be accepted.
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Registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). All those working in "regulated" or "controlled" activities with children and young people - and their employers - must comply with their statutory duties. Full information is available on the Independent Safeguarding Authority website. The factsheet below provides definitions of regulated and controlled activities.
The Independent Safeguarding Authority's Vetting and Barring Scheme does not replace Criminal Records Bureau Disclosures. Instead it enhances the existing Criminal Records Bureau processes.
