Case Study

You are in your setting’s staffroom and one of your colleagues makes a comment on a recent Child Safeguarding Practice Review that is being reported in the newspaper. Your colleague believes that the local Safeguarding Children Partnership has not done its duty because “nowhere in the recommendations does it say that the people concerned should be prosecuted. Also, there were lots of people in various agencies that knew things were happening but they get off as well”.

1. How would you explain the role of the local Safeguarding Children Partnership to your colleague?
2. What is your opinion on the need to ‘punish’ agencies or individuals that ‘knew things were happening’ but failed to protect a child?
3. How your opinion be any different if you knew the child, their family, the accused or one of the other people directly involved in the case?

It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the responses you have to the above scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague or friend and ask them to tell you whether they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.