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Understanding Ofsted: Annual Safeguarding Audits

Anyone working in the childcare industry, or who has their own kids, will be familiar with the organisation Ofsted. But are you acquainted with their work?

Here we explain Ofsted’s purpose and the required DBS checks in line with Safeguarding Children audits.

Getting to Know Ofsted

The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, Ofsted for short, is a government organisation charged with inspecting and regulating all services for children and young people. This non-ministerial department’s objective is to safeguard vulnerable young people and improve education establishments to give children the best chance in life.
As part of its work, Ofsted inspects each educational establishment every few years, as well as completing many other tests and exams such as the Safeguarding Children Audit.

What is the Safeguarding Children and Young People Audit?

All Ofsted registered childcare providers are required to take part in an annual safeguarding audit. This audit will look at what goes on behind the scenes of these establishments which teach 0 to 19 year olds, focusing on the following in particular:

• Staff recruitment
• Staff training
• Staff knowledge
• Child protection policies and procedures
• Allegations of malpractice

These audits are formally requested once a year by your local authority, but it is important to also run your own audit halfway through the year to review and action any highlighted issues ready for the next assessment. All audits should be formally recorded so you can evidence them to Ofsted.

But what has all of this got to do with the Disclosure and Barring Service? Well, a lot actually.

The DBS and Safeguarding Audits

The DBS helps organisations make smarter and safer recruitment decisions in order to protect vulnerable young people and adults. Therefore, the DBS checking service is a key component in the Safeguarding Children and Young People Audit. The DBS features throughout the audit questioning, a few examples include:

• Has someone in your setting completed training in ‘Safer Recruitment’?
• Does your setting have a ‘Central Record’ for safeguarding?
• Have all staff and volunteers in the setting had an Enhanced DBS (previously CRB) check?
• Have all DBS checks, irrespective of appointment date, been regularly reviewed?
• Are the usual recruitment checks carried out on any temporary/supply staff and recorded in the Central Record?
• Does your setting have written confirmation from training providers that students hold Enhanced DBS Disclosures?

If you are a teacher, school governor or are employed in any kind of role that deals with children on a regular basis, it is essential you complete an enhanced DBS check when applying for a position. This should then be updated on a regular basis to comply with the above investigations.

If you’d like to learn more about our enhanced DBS checking service, click here.
Talk to us directly on 01443 799900 or register online for your background check with CBS today!