Safeguarding self-audits
The Early Years and Childcare Service request that all childcare providers complete a safeguarding self audit annually in order to assist with the completion of Section 11 of Children Act 2004 (see summary below). The Safeguarding audit is designed to be a self evaluation tool to support providers ensure that they are meeting the Ofsted and Devon Safeguarding Children Board requirements.
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About Section 11 audits
While everyone shares a responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 places a statutory duty on a number of key agencies and organisations to –
‘Ensure that their functions are discharged with regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children’
The Section 11 duty means that the key people and bodies must make arrangements to ensure two things:
- that their functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
- that the services they contract out (commission) to others are provided having regard to that need.
The duty does not give agencies any new functions, nor does it override their existing functions. Rather, it requires them to carry out their existing functions in a way which takes into account the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
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Who Section 11 audits apply to
Section 11 audit applies to the following agencies:
- local authorities
- district councils
- health bodies
- the police (including the British Transport Police)
- probation and prison services
- youth justice service
- secure training centres
- private and voluntary organisations who are commissioned or contracted to provide services on behalf of the bodies listed above.
Other providers and agencies have commensurate duties under separate legislation –
- Early years providers have a duty under Section 40 of the Childcare Act 2006 to take necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of young children
- Safeguarding self audit form
- Safeguarding self audit form for childminders
These self audit forms are not compatible for use on tablets. You need to use a desktop ot laptop PC.
If you are unsure which safeguarding training you need to attend please see our handy Safeguarding Training Guide.
For advice on providing a safe environment for early years and childcare provision please refer to further information for childcare providers.
Further advice about safer recruitment can be found in our Staffing Matters document on the Recruitment pages.