Safeguarding is always a hot topic for education professionals. But how can you make sure that you are meeting your responsibilities with regard to safeguarding while working at schools on a supply basis?

1 – Pay close attention during your registration interview

Your consultant will run through the company safeguarding policy and also give practical advice for when you are in school. All Axcis staff are then safer recruitment tested at interview and offered further training where needed.

2 – Undertake further training

At Axcis, we take our training responsibilities seriously and are pleased to offer Safeguarding in Education Level 2 as part of our free training courses on offer. If you’d like to enrol on this course, please just speak to your Axcis consultant or alternatively you can email our Candidate Training team.

3 – Read the government guidance on safeguarding

The DfE issue guidance on Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). If you’ve already completed your registration with Axcis then you will already have received and read this. But all school staff should be familiar with this document so if you’ve not read it before, you should take a look.

4 – Be aware of the school child protection policy and staff behaviour policy

When you are new to a school, they should provide you with a copy of (or access to) the child protection policy and the staff behaviour policy. You should take the time to review these documents at your earliest convenience, as they may vary from school to school. However, we would always advise new members of staff to behave with caution and defer to experienced staff members if there are difficult situations, especially when you are new to a school.

5 – Be aware of who the designated safeguarding lead is

If you are not informed as to who the designated safeguarding lead in a school is, you should always ask. This is the person who you should approach if you have any cause for concern or questions regarding safeguarding or child protection while in school, so it’s important you know who they are.

6 – Reflect

Part of the “Safeguarding Trilogy” is to “reflect”. This is because simply the act of receiving a disclosure or being involved in an incident can be traumatic for all parties. The ‘reflect’ section includes both personal and professional issues: thinking about how you might deal with the situation in future or improve your practice to avoid incidents, and also making sure that you’re OK by talking to friends and family, and even your Axcis consultant if you’re feeling vulnerable.

7 – Be aware of early warning signs

All staff, whether on supply or not need to be aware that they are on the front line where safeguarding is concerned, and they are responsible for reporting signs of abuse or neglect to the designated safeguarding lead – there are some excellent support documents and advice provided by the NSPCC.

8 – Remember to inform your Axcis consultant

As an Axcis candidate, it is advised that you keep your consultant in the loop if you experience any safeguarding concerns while on supply at one of the schools we work with. At Axcis, we want to ensure that you receive the appropriate level of support and training to ensure that your experience of working for us is a positive one. Remember, if you have questions or concerns, your consultant is always just a phone call away.

Are you seeking SEND work or staff?

If you’re looking for a SEND teaching or support job in England or Wales, why not register with Axcis, the SEND recruitment specialists? Or perhaps you need to recruit staff for your school or provision? If so, why not take a look at the Axcis Website, or get in touch today to find out how we can help!