Sustaining Your Safeguarding Culture During a Period of Change
In this blog, we explore the realities of change management and offer advice on maintaining your company's safeguarding culture during a period of change.
What is CHANGE mANagement?
‘Change management is a collective term for all approaches to prepare, support, and help individuals, teams, and organisations in making organisational change.’ – Francesca Clarke, Senior Change Manager Cloud Technology Solutions
Organisations who successfully implement change whilst maintaining their safeguarding culture prepare from the top down and procure buy-in company-wide from the beginning. Culture is planted at the top but is cultivated by employees.
Why is change management important?
Change is a necessary part of any organisation's growth and development. However, without proper management, changes can be met with resistance, confusion, and even failure and this can apply to education settings too. Change management helps ensure that communications are deployed effectively, that employees are prepared for the changes, and that the organisation can adapt to the new circumstances.
47% of organisations that integrate change management are more likely to meet their objectives than the other 30% that did not incorporate it.[1]
Maintaining your safeguarding practises during a period of change are not only vital for the safety and wellbeing of people in your care, but for maintaining safeguarding culture, which you have worked hard to develop.
Safeguarding and ChANGE mANAGEMENT
Whether your setting is considering embedding a new system (e.g. a case management system such as MyConcern/Confide) or you are looking to consolidate safeguarding across your MAT or group of schools, then it’s important to consider how effective change management can help the success of the project:
- Has a stakeholder mapping exercise occurred?
- Is there a timeline for the scope of work?
- Have objectives and outcomes of the project been mapped and communicated?
- Have the relevant parties been informed and is there a comms plan in place to provide regular updates?
Giving all relevant parties who will be affected by the change, a voice and a chance to input, put forward their concerns or suggestions at the beginning of a project can be crucial to the successful implementation of change. Particularly one involving safeguarding procedures and process which is core to any schools or organisations commitment to the wellbeing of their children and young people.
Features of a sAFE ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE
- An explicit safeguarding culture and ethos with values and behaviours which are both articulated and lived at each level of the organisation
- Clear policies and procedures which make it clear to staff what is expected of them and facilitate the raising of concerns
- Courageous management who are prepared to act appropriately on concerns, and staff who are prepared to challenge and raise concerns
- Children and young people having a voice and mechanisms for raising their concerns which are taken seriously
hOW TO PREPARE FOR CHANGE
Begin with a comprehensive external safeguarding audit of your current safeguarding practises and software. A better understanding of your existing safeguarding operations, along with any practical advice an audit can offer, can help when developing a change management plan. Utilise this period of change to make any necessary adjustments to ensure you comply with ever-changing legislation and inspection guidance. A thorough audit should offer detailed feedback, support risk management and mitigation and adheres to safeguarding best practice.
Safeguarding is a key priority during any period of change, and despite any changes happening around it, should remain immovable. This should be continuously communicated to anyone involved in safeguarding, by management or change management teams, to ensure stability.
By planning ahead, communicating clearly, involving employees, monitoring progress, and
celebrating success, organisations can ensure that changes are implemented smoothly and with
minimal disruption. Remember, change is a necessary part of growth and development, and with
effective change management, organisations can embrace change and ensure their safeguarding culture thrives in an ever-changing world.
TAKING THE NEXT STEPS
Our Safeguarding Self-Assessment Audit, developed by our team of in-house safeguarding experts, has been created with the consciously competent safeguarder in mind. Our self-assessment audit will ensure your organisations is compliant with statutory guidance, including Ofsted/Estyn/ISI inspection framework (in education settings) and adheres to safeguarding best practice in settings. As well as highlight any areas that need improvement, our safeguarding audit can help you optimise your current case management software, whether you use MyConcern, Clarity, or other programmes.
Start your self-assessment instantly at Safeguarding Audits.
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