What is safeguarding

Safeguarding refers to the measures organisations and individuals put in place to protect the health, wellbeing, and human rights of people. These measures ensure that children, young people, and vulnerable adults can live free from abuse, harm, and neglect. Every organisation, group, or individual working in the VCSE (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise) sector has a responsibility to understand and act on safeguarding.

Safeguarding Support for the VCSE Sector

Here are some resources specifically designed to help voluntary and community groups

West Berkshire Council - Safeguarding Support for VCS

Local guidance and resources for voluntary and community organisations
Click Here

West Berkshire Council - Safeguarding Boards (Adults & Children)

Links to both the Adult and Children's safeguarding boards for West Berkshire
Click Here

NSPCC Safeguarding and Child Protection for Voluntary and Community Groups

Practical guidance for protecting children in VCSE settings
Click Here

NSPCC Safeguarding Standards and Guidance (England) PDF

Key national standards and framework for safeguarding
Click Here

Introductory Guide to Safeguarding and Child Protection for the Voluntary and Community Sector PDF

A clear starter guide for small groups and charities
Click Here

NSPCC Writing a safeguarding policy

Step-by-step advice on creating your organisations safeguarding policy
Click Here

The Ann craft Trust - Safeguarding Adults and Young People at Risk

A leading UK authority on Safeguarding Adults
Click Here

DigiSafe - Digital Safeguarding Guide

A practical guide for charities designing new services or taking existing services online
Click Here

Managing Safeguarding – Using a Risk Assessment

Even if a DBS check is not needed, your organisation still has a safeguarding responsibility. A risk assessment helps you identify potential risks and put in place controls to protect people. Key steps:

  1. Identify Risks – Consider who might be harmed, how, and under what circumstances. Include volunteers, service users, and staff.
  2. Evaluate Likelihood and Impact – Decide how serious each risk is and how likely it is to happen.
  3. Set Safeguarding Measures – Examples include:
    • Clear codes of conduct for staff and volunteers
    • Reporting procedures for concerns or incidents
    • Supervision and training
    • Policies for lone working or home visits
  4. Review Regularly – Update your risk assessment and safeguarding measures at least annually or after any incident.

Tip: Even if no DBS is required, having a written risk assessment and documented safeguarding policy shows you take safety seriously and are complying with legal and ethical obligations.

DBS checks

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is generally required for roles that involve:

  1. Direct contact with children, young people, or vulnerable adults
    • Includes paid and unpaid roles.
    • Examples: volunteering in youth groups, schools, children’s clubs, care homes, or community support services. 
  1. Positions of trust
    • Roles where an individual has significant responsibility over, or influence on, others.
    • Examples: mentoring, fostering, adoption, teaching, or supervising vulnerable groups. 
  1. Specific regulated activities
    • Legal definitions exist for “regulated activity” with children or adults. This includes:
      • Teaching, training, instructing, caring for, or supervising children
      • Providing personal care (washing, dressing, health care)
      • Transporting children or vulnerable adults for work purposes
  1. Other considerations
    • If a role does not involve direct contact but regular access to sensitive information about children or vulnerable adults, some organisations may still request a DBS check as part of safeguarding policy.
    • Certain roles, like fundraising or administrative work, may not legally require a DBS but may require risk assessments or enhanced supervision.

Key points from official guidance:

  • Standard DBS checks show unspent convictions.
  • Enhanced DBS checks show spent and unspent convictions, plus any relevant safeguarding information held by the police.
  • Organisations must assess the role to decide if a DBS check is needed—this is usually part of a safeguarding risk assessment.

Reference:

Where to get DBS checks:

West Berkshire Council offer an umbrella service at a cost of £20 for the VCSE sector. https://www.westberks.gov.uk/dbsumbrella

VCWB uses CBR Solutions for DBS checks, providing both standard and enhanced checks for local VCSE organisations. Their standard rate is £13 + VAT per check, with a one-off setup fee for new clients. Full details and the price list are available here: CBR Solutions DBS Price List