Welcome to the Safer Recruitment Consortium website
Safer recruitment training became a statutory requirement for Head teachers and at least one member of every appointment panel in schools in response to the Bichard Inquiry (Soham). Originally overseen by the NCSL (National College of School Leadership) and then CWDC (Children's Workforce Development Council) the content was prescribed and the course could only be delivered by trainers that had undertaken specific training to be 'accredited' by the Secretary of State for Education. The Lucy Faithfull Foundation has been involved in the design and delivery of accredited Safer Recruitment training - both online and face-to-face - throughout these years.
The Secretary of State indicated in 2013 an intention to redact the legislation requiring Safer Recruitment trainers and training content to be approved. However, Keeping children safe in education makes clear that those involved in recruitment in schools should receive appropriate safer recruitment training. In addition, the School Staffing Regulations 2009 and the Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) Regulations 2007 require that maintained schools and PRUs should ensure that at least one member of every appointment panel has completed safer recruitment training. The DfE recognised that the existing training - whilst somewhat out of date in some areas - was highly valued by local authorities, LSCBs and school & college staff alike. Consequently, professionals from a range of backgrounds were brought together to update the training and ensure its continuing relevance and availability. From this group, a consortium was formed - NSPCC , Lucy Faithfull Foundation , NASS and CAPE
Since September 1st 2014, existing accredited face-to-face trainers have been able to register with the Safer Recruitment Consortium and, subject to some quality assurance checks, access the updated materials. The consortium has also developed a Safer Recruitment package for the wider children's workforce and another for those working with adults at risk. In addition, the consortium reviewed the national safer working practice guidance in 2015 (previously DCSF 2009) to reflect new and emerging professional conduct issues and this was updated again in May 2019 and most recently in February 2022.
Why us?
The Safer Recruitment Consortium logo reassures you that:
- the content is up to date and relevant to the education and children's workforce sector
- the trainer belongs to a national network of properly trained and accredited facilitators
- your training will meet the standards required by the DfE in Keeping children safe in education (2022)
Safer Recruitment workshop content
- Safer recruitment and the wider context of safeguarding
- Prevalence of abuse and profile of abusers
- How abusers operate within organisations
- Features of a safer recruitment process
- Planning a safer recruitment process
- Making the right decisions: interview and selection
- Setting acceptable standards of behaviour
- Maintaining an ongoing culture of vigilance
