Work Matters: Management - Safeguarding Children and Families - Part 2 - Establishing a code of conduct

Successful practice in safeguarding children and their families is made up of three core elements:

- Knowledgeable, competent practitioners (what we know);

- Professional confidence (the manner in which what we know is applied);

- Mindfulness in how the practitioner conducts themselves with children, their families, other practitioners within the setting, and those across the wider professional network.

Here I am going to expand on what I mean by 'professional mindfulness'. Put another way, it is 'how' practitioners do what they do in everyday childcare practice and specifically in safeguarding children. This includes professional conduct or behaviour, attitudes and ability to reflect on practice.

It is vital that room leaders, managers and the lead person for safeguarding hold a sufficiently objective position within the team, in order to spot and then address signs of poor professional practice or conduct. This involves a managerial capacity to 'hover' over the entire operation of the setting, to note the vulnerability of individual children, parents and staff, and any collusions or 'special relationships' forming in the day-to-day dynamic and to intervene as appropriate.