The NSPCC has been
awarded £2.2m by the Department for Children, Schools and Families
to set up a third sector safeguarding unit to improve child
protection standards within charities.
The unit, which will be set up at the NSPCC National Training
Centre in Leicester in conjunction with child care
charity coalition Children England,
will be a “one-stop-shop” for information and advice on
safeguarding.
It will also establish a framework of child protection standards
specifically for the third sector, and advise on recruitment
practices for both paid staff and volunteers.
Specialist support
Junior children’s minister Baroness Delyth Morgan said that the
unit would provide specialist additional support where it was
needed. She added: “The role of this unit is to co-ordinate the
work of any agency, charity or organisation working with a child or
young person to ensure that every child can stay happy, healthy and
safe.”
The NSPCC is planning to launch the unit, along with an
associated website, in April this year.
NSPCC chief executive Andrew Flanagan said: “The third sector
makes a major contribution to children’s well-being and development
but it is vital they can reassure and demonstrate to parents that
their children are in safe hands.”
The creation of the unit follows the cross-departmental
Staying Safe
consultation, which highlighted the need for tailored safeguarding
support for the third sector.
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