Safer recruitment

Recruitment and selection

We have guidance for safe recruitment, selection and retention for staff and volunteers (opens new window) you can use if you're an agency or organisation. Follow this when recruiting people who will be working with children and young people. 

It provides guidance on all stages of the recruitment process based on current legislation, guidance and best practice. It aims to promote consistent practice across the county. 

Safer recruitment is an important part of safeguarding children.

If you are a large organisation or a voluntary community group, there are steps you can take to try and ensure that the people employed by you or volunteering for you are safe to work with children and young people. These are:

• safer recruitment has key elements which are:
• robust recruitment and selection processes;
• relevant vetting and checking processes;
• a robust induction;
• a good training infrastructure.

The aims of safer recruitment are:

• to prevent unsuitable people working with children, young people and vulnerable adults;
• to promote safe practices and challenge poor or unsafe practice;
• respond promptly and appropriately to concerns about a child's welfare;
• develop partnership working.

Having a safe culture is a key part of safeguarding and as an organisation or group you can do this by:

• having effective recruitment, induction, training, mentoring and supervision processes;
• ensuring that there is an awareness and understanding of safeguarding;
• have open and transparent practice;
• have clear procedures for reporting concerns or issues;
• have a clear reporting structure so that people understand and know who to contact and where to get help;
• have open and agreed standards of behaviour and a code of conduct;
• have robust policies and procedures about safeguarding children and young people;
• have a commitment to safeguarding children and young people, and put safeguarding high on everyone's agenda;
• keep an open mind.