Assessing and Mitigating Risk in Safeguarding Concerns

When safeguarding concerns arise, organisations must do more than simply follow procedures. Leaders and practitioners are often required to make complex decisions about risk while investigations or enquiries are ongoing. Determining whether a concern presents an immediate safeguarding risk, what protective measures may be required, and how those actions should be reviewed over time requires careful judgement and structured decision-making.

This session explores how organisations assess, mitigate, and manage risk when safeguarding concerns emerge, particularly when those concerns involve members of staff. Participants will examine how risk can originate from different sources and how services can respond proportionately while safeguarding children and maintaining fair processes for staff.

📅 Date & Time: 12th May, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Live Online via Teams
📢 Early Bird Price: £40.5 + VAT (Register 2+ weeks before)
🎟️ Standard Price: £54 + VAT (Group Discount available for groups of 5+)

Through practical examples and discussion, the training focuses on how leaders move beyond procedural compliance to develop a clear understanding of organisational risk and safeguarding responsibilities.

Why This Course Matters

Safeguarding concerns involving staff are some of the most challenging situations services face. While statutory guidance and local safeguarding procedures provide a clear framework for responding to allegations or concerns, organisations must still make important decisions about risk while those processes are underway.

Managers must decide whether a staff member can continue working, whether safeguards need to be introduced, or whether more restrictive measures are necessary. These decisions carry significant implications for the safety of children, the wellbeing of staff, and the integrity of the organisation.

This course helps professionals develop a structured approach to assessing and mitigating safeguarding risk. By strengthening understanding of how risk should be identified, evaluated, and reviewed, participants will gain greater confidence in making proportionate and defensible decisions during safeguarding concerns.

Course Highlights

🔹 Understanding different forms of risk that emerge during safeguarding concerns
🔹 Identifying whether risk originates from behaviour, context, or organisational factors
🔹 Assessing safeguarding risk when concerns involve members of staff
🔹 Using structured decision-making to determine appropriate safeguarding measures
🔹 Exploring escalation pathways and proportionate responses
🔹 Implementing and reviewing risk mitigation strategies during investigations
🔹 Monitoring whether actions taken have effectively reduced risk

Meet Your Trainer: Ray Said
Ray has an extensive background in managing the investigation of allegations against people who work with children and most recently served as L.A.D.O. for Tameside Council

Ray also spent 7 years in the dual role of L.A.D.O. & Risk Manager for Liverpool City Council where he managed the investigation of allegations against people who work with children and ,as Risk Manager, he was Children Services lead officer for Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)

Ray has previously been Quality Assurance & Safeguarding Service Manager, Social Care Complaints Manager and spent 5 years as Learning and Development Officer.

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