The Islington Safeguarding Children Board (ISCB) has produced guidelines covering the recruitment, appraisal and development of staff that work with children and families.
The aim of these guidelines is to support supervisors, managers and organisations in recruiting the best-qualified and safest staff and volunteers, and to provide a process that will ensure recruitment and selection is consistent, fair and safe.
Cllr Ursula Woolley, executive member for children and young people, said:
"Safe recruitment of people who work with children is an important part of protecting them. It applies equally to all staff and volunteers who have contact with and access to children.
"By using these step by step guidelines, Islington organisations will be demonstrating their commitment to child protection to prospective staff and volunteers.
"Employing staff and volunteers who are safe will be an important part of guaranteeing a high-quality service and making sure that children and parents can trust the service they use."
The guidelines are for all organisations in Islington that work with children and families. They comply with the safe recruitment guidelines of the Bichard Inquiry into the Soham murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman and were produced as a multi-agency (Social Services, Education, PCT and Police) initiative with input from the voluntary sector.
To find out more or if you want a copy of the guidelines ('Recruitment Guidelines: Good and Safer Practice') please contact Melissa Friedberg at Islington Safeguarding Children Board, 3 Elwood Street, London N5 1EB. Tel: 020 7527 4209; Fax: 020 7527 4192 melissa.friedberg@islington.gov.uk
Notes to Editors:
What is the ISCB?
ISCB is Islington Safeguarding Children Board, a multi-agency (Social Services, Education, PCT and Police) body with representatives from the statutory and voluntary sectors. The ISCB works to develop improved services for children and families and improved working relationships between different agencies and services, to better protect, safeguard and promote the welfare of Islington's children.
In developing the guidelines, ISCB looked at the documents and procedures of Islington Primary Care Trust and Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, Islington Council's Legal and Human Resources Departments, CEA@Islington and Islington Play Association. Recommendations from the DfES document Safeguarding Children: Safer Recruitment and Selection in Education Settings (2005), and recommendations on interviewing from The Warner Report - Choosing with Care (1992) have also been included.
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008