Safeguarding eLearning Courses

Everyone has the right to feel safe from abuse, but sometimes bad things do happen. Ignoring a difficult topic doesn’t make it go away. Quite the opposite. It’s really important to start conversations about abuse so that people are aware of the risks and warning signs, and better equipped to protect vulnerable people from harm. 

Creating a safeguarding culture is all about making sure that people feel safe and confident enough to speak about abuse and take action when they need to. Whatever job you do, safeguarding needs to be integrated into the core values of your workplace. Especially if you work with people at high risk of being abused.

Talking about abuse can be really stressful. If someone comes to you for help, they need to feel safe and supported. They need to be heard, and their disclosure needs to be taken seriously. 

Managing a safeguarding disclosure involves handling concerns about abuse sensitively and effectively. Anyone could be trusted with a disclosure, particularly if your job involves close contact with children or vulnerable adults. If you find yourself in this position, you have a responsibility to respond appropriately and to do what you can to prevent any further harm occurring.

If you’re a teacher, have you ever noticed a girl acting differently after a long absence from school? They might be more withdrawn and have difficulty walking. Or perhaps you’ve worked or volunteered with girls in another field and have heard them talking about ‘becoming a woman soon’? Or that they’re ‘being prepared for marriage’? 

These instances could be signs that a girl has either suffered from, or is at risk of undergoing, FGM. Also known as ‘cutting’ or ‘female circumcision’, female genital mutilation is the alteration or removal of a female’s genitals for non-medical reasons. FGM is incredibly harmful. It’s illegal in the UK and considered to be child abuse.

Abuse is sometimes, but not always, easy to spot. It can be subtle, hidden, complicated, and confusing. It’s a deeply personal topic, and it can be upsetting to think about. But it’s really important to talk about what happens in abusive situations, so that you can recognise the warning signs and help to protect people from it.

We all have a responsibility to look out for each other. Especially if your work or volunteer activity brings you into contact with children or vulnerable adults. It’s vital that you’re aware of the different types of abuse so that you can safeguard people from preventable harm.

The internet can be a wonderful place, opening doors to creativity and innovation. It’s also a great communication tool, keeping us connected to one another. But there’s a dark side to the World Wide Web. And if you’re a vulnerable person, it can be a dangerous place.

The problem with the internet is anonymity. It’s not always clear who you’re communicating with, and that leaves people open to exploitation and abuse. This course highlights potential dangers and scams and explains the consequences of inaction. It will help you to identify how people can stay safe while surfing the net.