Safeguarding example scenarios: issues and concerns | NSPCC Learning (2024)

One-to-one working

The scenario

Sharon is a qualified counsellor. She sets up a free counselling service and holds sessions in the local community centre. A 15-year-old asks to arrange individual counselling sessions to talk about their problems in private, without their parents or carers.

Our advice

Safeguarding and child protection measures

If you are working one-to-one with someone under 18 you need to have clear safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures to ensure both of you are protected.

> Learn more about writing safeguarding policies and procedures

If you’re carrying out certain types of work with children you need to undergo criminal records checks.

In England, Northern Ireland and Wales you will need an enhanced with barred list check if you are undertaking “regulated activity”. This includes unsupervised activities such as providing advice and guidance on wellbeing.

In Scotland, you will need a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check if you are undertaking “regulated work”. This includes providing personal services to children.

> Find out more about how and when to get criminal records checks

If you’re self-employed in England, Northern Ireland or Wales, you can:

  • request a basic check for yourself
  • ask an organisation you’re working with to apply for an “enhanced with barred list” check for you, if they are able to check and verify your eligibility and documentation.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) provides information about criminal records checks in England and Wales (DBS 2020)1.

More information about criminal records checks in Northern Ireland is available from Access NI (Access NI, n.d.)2.

If you’re self-employed in Scotland you can request a PVG check for yourself. The PVG scheme provides information about how to get a PVG check (Mygov.scot, 2020)3.

You need to assess the risks of the service you’re providing and make sure that you have appropriate measures in place to work safely and responsibly.

When working with anyone under 18 you should undertake training to make sure you know how to recognise and respond to safeguarding and child protection concerns. You should also keep up to date with relevant legislation and guidance.

> Get information on child protection training requirements in the UK

> View our training courses

> Sign up to CASPAR, the NSPCC’s current awareness newsletter for policy, practice and research

Best practice for one-to-one working

There are several measures you should put in place when working alone with a child or young person to make sure you are both protected.

  • Make sure an appropriate adult, preferably someone with safeguarding responsibility, knows the time and place when you are alone with a child.
  • Choose a suitable venue: use a room with windows so people can see in, or leave the door open.
  • Ensure the young person knows they can stop the one-to-one contact at any time and make sure they know how to complain or get help if they need it.
  • Make sure the child or young person knows they can contact Childline if they need to talk about anything.
  • Keep a record of the fact you were alone with a child or young person, recording the reason you were alone and describing what happened.

> Learn more about working safely alone with children

It is important to get appropriate consent when undertaking a one-to-one session. Get consent from a parent or carer if the child is under 16. If they are 16- or 17-years-old, carefully consider whether parental consent is needed.

> See our example consent forms

It's best practice never to work with children under 16 without parental or carer consent. If the child doesn’t want their parents or carers to know they’re seeking counselling, suggest they get support from Childline instead.

Professionals in some roles might occasionally need to work with a child without parental consent.

> Find out how professionals use Gillick competency and Fraser guidelines to decide whether a child is mature enough to make decisions about things that affect them

In the case of counselling, children and young people might ask you not to tell their parents or carers about the things you discuss in your sessions. But if you become aware that a child or young person is at risk of significant harm you must share this information with the relevant agencies. If you are unsure whether to report something, contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice, support or reassurance.

You should inform the child and their parents or carers before you start that you might not be able to keep information confidential if you need to take steps to protect them.

> Learn more about sharing information and consent

> Learn more about assessing a child’s competency to give consent

Renting spaces

If you are working with children and young people in a rented space, it is your responsibility to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect them.

You should have your own safeguarding and child protection policy and make sure you know what to do if you have a safeguarding concern.

> View our range of introductory child protection courses

You should also make sure you comply with the safeguarding policies and procedures of the organisation you are renting space from.

There should be procedures in place for you to escalate concerns about behaviour from members of other organisations using the space. Make sure you know who the nominated child protection lead is in the organisation you are hiring from.

References

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (2020) Criminal record checks when you apply for a role. [Accessed 13/01/2021].
Access NI (n.d.) Access NI for individuals and self-employed. [Accessed 07/12/2023].
Mygov.scot (2020) My PVG. [Accessed 13/01/2021].

Safeguarding example scenarios: issues and concerns | NSPCC Learning (2024)

FAQs

What are the examples of safeguarding scenarios? ›

What are Safeguarding Issues? Examples of safeguarding issues include bullying, radicalisation, sexual exploitation, grooming, allegations against staff, incidents of self-harm, forced marriage, and FGM. These are the main incidents you are likely to come across, however, there may be others.

What is an example of a safeguarding concern? ›

For example, a child or young person lives in conditions with possible maltreatment. Then, it is a child or young person safeguarding issue (physical, sexual, emotional, or neglect). In addition, an issue may occur when a young person poses a high risk of causing severe harm to others.

How to answer safeguarding interview questions? ›

Tips for answering safeguarding interview questions
  1. Read and familiarise yourself with the school's safeguarding policy.
  2. Provide example situations.
  3. Be honest with your answers.
  4. Be mindful of confidentiality.

How to respond to safeguarding concerns? ›

Any individual or agency can respond to an adult safeguarding concern raised about an adult. This can include reporting the concern and seeking support to protect individuals from any immediate risk of harm (e.g. by contacting the police or emergency services).

What is an example of a safeguard? ›

A store's security system is a safeguard against theft, and a secret password is a safeguard against your sister reading your email. You can use it as a verb too: "We clearly need to safeguard our Halloween candy so Mom and Dad don't steal it after we go to bed."

What is an example of a safeguarding statement? ›

For example "we will give equal priority to keeping all children and young people safe regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation".

What are examples of safeguarding in the workplace? ›

Examples of safeguarding in the workplace

Policies - Establishing and enforcing policies and procedures around topics such as confidentiality, bullying and harassment, discrimination and safeguarding.

What would you do in a safeguarding situation? ›

If you think you or someone you know is being abused, or neglected you should tell someone you trust. This could be a friend, a teacher, a family member, a social worker, a doctor or healthcare professional, a police officer or someone else that you trust. Ask them to help you report it.

What is an example of a safeguarding procedure? ›

These include: recognising and responding to abuse. responding to allegations of abuse made against a child. recruiting the right people to work and volunteer with children.

What is the best way to explain safeguarding? ›

Safeguarding means protecting a citizen's health, wellbeing and human rights; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. It is an integral part of providing high-quality health care.

What is an example of a leading question in safeguarding? ›

Examples of leading questions are things like “who hit you?” or “did your uncle do this to you?” They are leading questions because there is a presumption on the part of the questioner as to what happened. A non-leading question would be “how did that happen?” or “can you tell me how you got that bruise?”

How do you recognize a safeguarding issue? ›

Monitoring a person's emotional and physical wellbeing

Through monitoring these signs and reviewing them regularly you may identify a safeguarding issue. Indicators to record include changes in physical wellbeing, signs of distress or illness, and noticeable changes such as weight gain or weight loss.

What are the 4 R's of safeguarding? ›

The 4Rs of Safeguarding Children is professional practice for how you can recognise, record, report and refer in the situation of child abuse.

What are your 4 key actions in safeguarding? ›

What are the six principles of safeguarding?
  • Empowerment. People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent.
  • Prevention. It is better to take action before harm occurs.
  • Proportionality. The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
  • Protection. ...
  • Partnership. ...
  • Accountability.

How can safeguarding be demonstrated? ›

Raising awareness, training staff and making information easily accessible are all ways that they can demonstrate prevention measures and encourage individuals to ask for help.

What are 3 examples of contextual safeguarding? ›

Contextual safeguarding includes addressing the following safeguarding concerns Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), County Lines, Child Trafficking, Children affected by Gang Activity, Harmful Sexual Behaviour (where this is outside of the family home) and Missing.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Trent Wehner

Last Updated:

Views: 6304

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Trent Wehner

Birthday: 1993-03-14

Address: 872 Kevin Squares, New Codyville, AK 01785-0416

Phone: +18698800304764

Job: Senior Farming Developer

Hobby: Paintball, Calligraphy, Hunting, Flying disc, Lapidary, Rafting, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.