Youth Work in Private Dwellings: Safety first – no compromises
We have a legal and moral duty to safeguard the young people we work with. All work with young people in the youth sector must be free from harm and danger – there should be no compromise in standards. This important resource ensures that youth workers are fully equipped to protect and safeguard young people, … Continued
Safeguarding Standards for the Sector
These standards promote good safeguarding practices for those working with children and young people, adults at risk, volunteers and paid staff. Safeguarding Standards for the Youth Sector This document sets out how best to embed a culture of safeguarding across your organisation to support staff (paid and unpaid) and young people.
External Providers
Youth work organisations often choose to use external organisations such as transport operators, first aid providers, caterers or venues to assist in the delivery of programmes.
Health and Safety Policy
A health and safety policy provides a youth work organisation the opportunity to detail what it will do to manage health and safety, and how it will make youth programmes safe.
Risk Assessment Process
Risk assessments should always be considered in the context of the potential benefits of the specific programme, location or activity for the young people participating.
Incident Reporting
An incident is any unplanned event that could result in injury or ill health, damage or loss to property, including data losses and/or a negative impact on reputation
Safety Monitoring and Audit
Effective safety management is normally delivered using a systems-based approach and an important component of this is monitoring and review
Informed Consent
Youth work organisations are legally required to inform workers and others affected by their services of the potential health and safety risks that they may be exposed to and the arrangements in place to keep them safe.
Competent Advice
Youth work organisations, as ‘employers’ are required by law to appoint a ‘competent’ person or people to help them meet their legal health and safety responsibilities. Further information regarding competence can be found on the HSE Website
Critical Incident Response
Youth work organisations and workers must be prepared and know what to do if faced with an emergency or critical incident i.e. a situation that overwhelms the immediate staff team and requires the wider support of the organisation and/or external support services.