The Role of a Designated Safeguarding Lead DSL

The Role of a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Narrated Power. Point

The Emergence of DSL’s The role of the Designated Safeguarding Person was specified in the Children Act (2004) to ensured that every organisation had a “named person” for safeguarding children and young people.

National Commitment The role of the DSL ‘should be given the time, funding, training, resources and support to provide advice and support to other staff on child welfare and child protection matters, to take part in strategy discussions and inter-agency meetings – and/or to support other staff to do so – and to contribute to the assessment of children’ (Keeping Children Safe in Education – 2015: 11)

Key Role of a DSL A Designated Safeguarding Lead is the person who has responsibility for ensuring a school’s safeguarding policy is adhered to

Responsibilities MANAGING REFERRALS SUPPORT AND EMPOWER STAFF RAISING AWARENESS REFER TO THE LADO WHEN NEEDED

Empower Staff to: Recognise signs of abuse, how to respond to disclosures and when it is appropriate to make a referral Have access to and understand schools Child Protection Process and the Safeguarding Policy Have a working knowledge of Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership and of the Integrated Front Door

Support for staff

Changes due to COVID 19 SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES REMAIN THE SAME OTHER STAFF MAY NEED TO TAKE ON THE DSL ROLE IF TEAM NUMBERS DECREASE STAFF MAY NEED TO STEP INTO THE DSL ROLE USE YOUR SUPPORT NETWORKS

Referral Route: INTEGRATED FRONT DOOR – 0151 606 2008 IFD@wirral. gov. uk Outside of these hours call 0151 677 6557. In an emergency always dial 999 Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) – www. wirralsafeguarding. co. uk