Safeguarding responsibilities for housing professionals – what you must know Two half day workshops Thursday, 6th October 2011 Community Gateway, Preston, or Tuesday, 11th October 2011 Wakefield and District Housing
Front-line housing staff and those responsible for housing management must be aware of their legal responsibilities for protecting vulnerable adults and children. Putting housing’s role at the heart of the wider multi-agency approach, staff need to know what can and should be done to protect the individual, as well as the wider community. Failing to act appropriately by not intervening positively and in partnership with key agencies could be viewed as contributing to on-going harm or negligence of a vulnerable adult or child. One such recent incident resulted in a serious case review, concluding that the lack of awareness of the housing provider by failing to understand that the underlying complaints of anti social behaviour (ASB) were symptomatic of wider abuse, contributed to the danger a child was placed in. By following ASB procedures rather than recognising the safeguarding issues, the wrong procedural response had a disastrous impact on the vulnerable child. Housing organisations must: Ensure there is a high level of awareness and commitment to act at key levels within their organisation. Identify who their key partners are in the local safeguarding community. Align their own policies and practices with their key local authority partners, ensuring distribution of responsibilities, collective accountability and shared risk management. Be clear about their own role in safeguarding, and when to pull in specialist resources. Have a minimum ‘cause for concern’ protocol which is understood, and ensure common language is used throughout every department in the organisation. In February 2011, the Government’s review of the vetting and barring scheme prompted a fresh look at how we, as a society, can safeguard vulnerable adults and children. Whilst the review recommended a protracted version of the legislation to be included within the Protection from Freedoms Bill, there are two key retained offences which should be at the forefront of housing providers’ minds: It will still be an offence for any barred individual to work with vulnerable groups in regulated activity. It will still be an offence for employers to knowingly employ a barred person in regulated activity. By attending this workshop you will: Know your legal responsibilities on safeguarding as a housing professional. Understand how to respond to the continuum; ranging from cause for concern to referral for suspected abuse. Learn how to make safeguarding ‘business as usual’ within your organisation. Learn from approaches taken by leaders in the field and understand where we are in relation to them. Understand what role housing providers should be looking to play on safeguarding boards.
Who should attend?
Those working in front-line housing and those responsible for housing management.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Delegates will be able to record up to 2.5 Continuing Professional Development hours for attending this workshop.
Programme 2.00pm
Welcome
2.10pm
Getting safeguarding right and your legal responsibilities
Helena Taylor Knox, One Contiuum
Helena Taylor Knox, One Contiuum
Why housing should be concerned. What happens when we take the wrong approach.
2.30pm
Independent safeguarding authority referral scheme Sarah Harris, Partnership Engagement Team, Independent Safeguarding Authority The role of the ISA and when to make a referral. Circumstances where the legal duties arise for an organisation.
3.30pm
Refreshments
3.50pm
Making safeguarding ‘business as usual’ Helena Taylor Knox, One Contiuum
Learning from the leaders in the field and understanding where we are in relation to them. What role should housing providers be looking to play on safeguarding boards? What multi agency networks should be established?
4.40pm
Questions
5.00pm
Close of workshop
Safeguarding responsibilities for housing professionals – what you must know Two half day workshops Thursday, 6th October 2011 Community Gateway, Preston, or Tuesday, 11th October 2011 Wakefield and District Housing Delegate fees Northern Housing Consortium Member
£79.00
Non Member
£99.00 All delegate fees are shown excluding VAT.
How to book Online
To book your delegate place at this event and to view our full terms & conditions and cancellation policy, please click below.
Book Online Telephone To make a provisional booking please telephone our events team;
0191 566 1000 Please note any telephone reservations are made on a provisional basis and must be confirmed in writing within 2 working days.
Contact us For further information or if you have a query please contact a member of the events team: Telephone: 0191 566 1000 Email: events@northern-consortium.org.uk
Download a copy of the programme here