Immediate actions for a New Designated Safeguarding Officer

To begin, you should identify the Prevent referral process in your local authority, update your policies and procedures accordingly, and ensure that both you and your staff are familiar with how to make a referral.

Contact and build partnerships with your:

Local Authority Prevent Lead – This individual is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Prevent duty within the local authority. Their role involves coordinating efforts to identify and support individuals at risk of radicalisation, ensuring staff are trained and aware of referral processes, and working closely with partners such as education officers, social services, policing teams, and safeguarding children partnerships. The Prevent lead also acts as a point of contact for advice, guidance, and referrals, helping to assess local risks and threats, and facilitating communication between agencies to safeguard vulnerable people in the community.
Local Authority Prevent education officer (if you have one)- They play a crucial role in ensuring the Prevent duty is effectively implemented within their area.. They make sure staff are properly trained and understand how to make referrals, and they collaborate closely with key partners such as education officers, social services, policing teams, and safeguarding children partnerships
DfE regional Prevent coordinator – The DfE regional Prevent coordinator role involves supporting education providers in implementing the Prevent duty. Key responsibilities include coordinating training sessions for staff to enhance their understanding of the Prevent duty. They provide strategic engagement with senior leaders and advice to schools, further education, and higher education providers. They can offer virtual training and resources to help schools and educational institutions meet their Prevent responsibilities by sharing updates through regional newsletters to keep stakeholders informed about best practices and developments in Prevent. These coordinators play a crucial role in reducing the risk of radicalization and ensuring a safe educational environment. You can find details of your coordinator here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/regional-further-education-fe-and-higher-education-he-prevent-coordinators

Safeguarding Children Partnership – Role in Prevent: Safeguarding Children Partnerships play a vital part in the Prevent strategy by working collaboratively with local authorities and other key partners. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that arrangements are in place to protect children and young people from all forms of harm, including the risk of radicalisation. In relation to Prevent, the partnership also helps to develop and implement local safeguarding policies that include measures to address radicalisation and extremism. They promote training and awareness for professionals working with children, so they can recognise the signs of radicalisation and know how to respond appropriately. The partnership supports multi-agency cooperation, ensuring effective information sharing between schools, social services, police, and other relevant bodies. They contribute to local risk assessments and the development of strategies to safeguard children at risk of being drawn into extremism and ensure that referral pathways are clear and accessible, allowing timely support and intervention where concerns about radicalisation arise.

Local policing team (search on your local police website). The policing team can assist you in understanding the local risk, offering advice and support and can provide training opportunities and materials for staff and learners. The team may also visit educational setting to talk to learners and staff about local risk and how to keep themselves safe.
Contact local partners to understand the local risk and threats in your area.

The Prevent duty: an introduction for those with safeguarding responsibilities – GOV.UK

If you want to ensure you understand your role and responsibilities join us for our learner reviewed safeguarding training.