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Good morning, everyone.
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It's 10 o’clock. It's Monday morning.
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Welcome to the start of Safeguarding Week.
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We have a busy and exciting week ahead.
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And what better way to start that than
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with the launch of
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the National safeguarding training, learning
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and development framework?
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I'm Lance Carver.
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I’m Director of Social Services in the Vale of Glamorgan.
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Wales took a really positive decision
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several years ago to develop a single
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set of safeguarding procedures
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to use across the country.
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Writing that guidance was one thing
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but updating practice is far harder.
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And throughout the development of procedures,
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we heard about the need to train and develop our workforce.
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This framework really helps underpin the training standards
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that are in place and should enable us
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to deliver consistent and high-quality practice
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across Wales.
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I'm really grateful for the huge amount of work
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that's gone into developing it
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including contribution from agency leaders
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and regional colleagues from across Wales.
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To start us off
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I would like to share a message from Tony Young
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from the National Independent Safeguarding Board.
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Good morning.
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My name is Tony Young, for those of you who don't know me.
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I'm the Chair of the National Independent Safeguarding Board for Wales.
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I'm very pleased to have been asked to say
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a few words in opening at the launch of the Wales
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Safeguarding learning, training and development framework today.
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From my point of view
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as Chair of the National Independent Board
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the timing of your launch could not have been more apt.
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I say that because at the time of recording this message
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I've have just come from making the closing remarks
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at a national round table workshop with around
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40 senior leaders from across a wide range of
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safeguarding agencies and disciplines.
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And the purpose of that workshop was to consider
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the findings of an All Wales thematic review of the
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most recently concluded child practice reviews across Wales
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33 of them in all.
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So a very good evidence base in terms
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of standards of practice.
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The National Board commissioned this report
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earlier in the year from
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Professor Michelle McManus of
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Manchester Metropolitan University
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and it's entitled Risk Response and Review.
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So I'm taking the opportunity to plug the report and
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urge you to read it
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and there should be a hyperlink somewhere in your chat box.
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I hope that you can access the report directly.
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As you might expect, a really, really important report.
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You won't be surprised to learn that
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learning, training, development and issues of
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consistency of practice, consistency
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of training and of supervision are
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front and centre in that report
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and in its recommendations
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of which there are eleven.
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Support is the other thing
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that's front and centre in its widest sense.
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Support to the frontline practitioners themselves
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in terms of dedicated time for reflecting on practice
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in terms of learning
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and in terms of benefiting from
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well-informed practice supervision.
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These were all seen not just as key ingredients
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of good practice but
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also in the current very difficult climate
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of staff retention.
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And then thirdly, that the obligation on all agencies
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to demonstrate collective responsibility for ensuring
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strong and effective alignment in terms of learning
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and activity and practice, is absolutely key.
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In the absence of a safeguarding learning, training
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and development framework
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the core of these findings would stand very little chance
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of receiving rather systematic attention across Wales
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as a whole, across all agencies working to the same terms
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or even within each relevant discipline.
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For a very long time
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a number of us had been urging the development
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of just such a framework as we're talking
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about today.
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And here we are a year on from the launch of the training
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standards and now this new companion piece the new
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framework, which is obviously really very important.
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Too often we hear in Wales, or in children's services
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or adult services, about low morale.
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All too often that's justified because of the difficulties
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we're getting with recruitment and retention.
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But this framework is a good example of what can
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be achieved through effective collaboration across Wales.
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I wish you a productive event and one that I hope
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will energise you in the face of the challenges
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of the day job.
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Thank you very much.
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Tony mentioned a report that you should be able
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to find in a link to in the chat.
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So that's it. That's all there.
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And next up, we have a presentation in from Esyllt Crozier
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from Social Care Wales.
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Over to you, please, Es.
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Good morning, bore da, and welcome to the launch
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of the National safeguarding training, learning
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and development framework.
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This framework is linked to the safeguarding standards.
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Just as a recap, I'm going to explain why we did it.
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Now, the main reasons were in relation to consistency of
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training across Wales, the quality of training
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and to encourage multi-agency training
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learning and development.
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We did it by getting a development group together
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that had all the key partners around the table and
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in addition to other parties, who are also
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very important in relation to safeguarding.
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The standards were launched in Safeguarding Week 2022.
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So a year ago now.
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We issued a questionnaire in September this year
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to find out how the implementation was going.
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As with all implementations, there are bound to be
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teething problems.
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So what you told us you liked about the standards was
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that the standards were clear.
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You liked how they were laid out, and the language used.
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You liked the fact that there were and aims for each group
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in relation to practitioner groups.
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You like the staff groups themselves, in terms of the
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explanations around them and who was in each group
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and what their responsibilities were.
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You felt that there was consistency in terms of the
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expectations of each staff group and you liked the memorable
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principles which were the three points laid out at the start of
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each group in relation to the principles for that particular staff
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group on what they needed to know about safeguarding.
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Some of the challenges you identified was availability of
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safeguarding training the level of training in relation to each
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group and whether this was correct
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or identifiable across Wales.
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There were several concerns in relation to Group B
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and the size of the staff group that was operating at Group B
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and there were some concerns in relation to Group C
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from the differing levels of knowledge that would be
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required for Group C practitioners.
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There were also concerns in relation to availability of
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resources and to cater to these different needs and
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availability of trainers themselves to deliver the training
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required to ensure people were complying with the standards.
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So the purpose of the framework that's being launched today
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is to address some of the issues raised
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in terms of clarity of training needs.
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The framework is very specific in terms of expectations of
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trainers themselves and staff groups and employers.
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The entire purpose is to provide a framework for training,
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delivery and implementation.
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So who is it for and how to use it?
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It's for anybody and everybody that is involved
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in safeguarding training.
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It is designed to help to implement
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the standards and provide greater clarity.
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It's important to use it alongside the standards.
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It is not a standalone document.
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It is to be used alongside the standards
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to understand the training requirements
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for yourself and others.
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In terms of the practitioner groups
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they’re stated within the framework
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it sets out very clearly who's in the group
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and this is aligned with the standards
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on what the competencies would be for the people
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in that group.
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It brings across the memorable principles
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and what should they know from the standards.
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So that's being directly pulled across to the framework.
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There are specific learning outcomes
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underneath each group subgroup things
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for people to consider
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in relation to training and then the actual specifics
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of the training, learning and development area
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which includes hours, refreshers
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and what the expertise would be in relation to that staff group.
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In terms of next steps, so following the launch
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of the framework today
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and the inevitable questions and queries
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that may follow the launch
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we will be looking at doing some additional work
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in next year's workplan.
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This will include a review of the
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All Wales safeguarding awareness training pack,
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which currently sits on our website.
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And so this will ensure compliance
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with Group B of the standards
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and that would be a resource for trainers.
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This is not a resource for individuals.
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It is a resource for trainers use in relation to
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delivery of training.
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We will also be looking at a production of
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generic group C training materials.
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So this would not incorporate all of the
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different training and that is required at Group C.
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This would only be for the generic training,
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which would be the first two-day requirement
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for all staff in Group C.
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We would be looking at the production of generic group C
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training materials.
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This would be for the first two-day requirement for
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all staff within the group C staff group.
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We would also be looking at training the trainer events.
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We would be talking to the Regional Safeguarding Boards
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directly in relation to these
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and they will be provided on a regional basis.
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The framework itself would be added to the
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continued reviewing process of the standards.
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And as part of this continued work
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the standards reviewing process
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we will be looking now at a task and finish group
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to review the feedback
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from the survey and to look at
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Group B and group C in more detail
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in terms of the issues raised.
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So, thank you very much. Diolch yn fawr.
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Thank you for that.
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And I suppose as you would probably expect
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and I think was highlighted in the presentation
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we have had a number of queries about the framework.
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So I'm now going to be joined by Esyllt and Cheryl Stevens
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for a question and answer session.
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So I think I'm going to hand over to one of them.
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Thank you.
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I hope you've enjoyed the launch so far.
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We are going to be doing a question and answer session now
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based on some frequently asked questions
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that have been sent through to us from the sector.
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If you have any further questions following this session
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please email safeguardingstandards@socialcare.wales
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I think the email is going to be put in the chat
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for everybody to access
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and those questions will be considered by ourselves
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and by members of the development group
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and we will be posting the replies onto the website
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under the FAQ section following the framework.
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Okay. So without further ado
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we’ll address the questions that we already have.
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Question number one is “Where can I access training?”
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And that's going to be answered by my colleague Cheryl.
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Thank you Es.
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So the standards have been designed to be
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the same across all agencies
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and, therefore, multi-agency training is encouraged
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at all times.
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Your employer has a responsibility to provide training
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that is relevant to your role and responsibilities.
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Social Care Wales doesn’t identify training providers
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but the Regional Safeguarding Boards
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will be able to advise on training.
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If you are a member of the
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Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
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you may also be able to access information
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around training from them.
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There are also some workforce teams
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in the local authorities who may be able to help.
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Fabulous, thank you, Cheryl.
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The second question that we have is
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“How do I know the trainer is reputable?”.
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And again, welcome to share with that answer, please.
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Okay, there’s specific things to look for which set out the
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training standards in the appendices
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of the training framework.
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This includes the knowledge, experience and ability
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of the trainers that you would be looking
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for each training or development event.
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Trainers need to be appropriately experienced practitioners
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or qualified trainers
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and they should have extensive practical knowledge
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of safeguarding from a relevant background.
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For example, from health and social care, social work
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youth work, maybe education or the police
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and criminal justice system.
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It's the role of people that commission or hire
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the trainer to ensure that they are suitable and qualified
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to complete the training.
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And it's the trainer’s responsibility to ensure that the
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training is compatible with the standards.
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So I'm going to switch roles now and I'm going to
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ask the next couple of questions.
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So question three:
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“How do we know what is essential in each group
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and what can be tailored to each staff group?”
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and I'd like to invite Esyllt to answer this question, please.
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Thank you, Cheryl.
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So the standards and learning outcomes in the
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framework are all essential to make sure practitioners
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are competent in their knowledge and practical skills.
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Organisations can add to the learning for their workforce.
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We should not reduce or take away any parts.
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Practitioners will undertake continued professional
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development specifically to support them with their roles
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and responsibilities.
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So for example, childminders and social workers
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are in group C.
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The roles in each group are looked at in terms of things like
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unsupervised time with people, level of autonomy
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the need for assessment skills and level of responsibility.
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Childminders and social workers may need to complete the
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same generic group C training
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the social worker would then go on to complete
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a whole suite of other training
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the childminders would not need to do.
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It is not expected that one single training event
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would provide all the learning a person would need.
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It is important to take on board that the learning
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is continual and progressive.
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Thank you, Esyllt.
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Question four is
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“Why are there so many people covered in Group B?”
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and Esyllt could I invite you back in please?
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Yes, this question has come on quite a lot
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in terms of discussions.
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So the reality is that the majority of the workforce
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supporting children, young people, adults and families
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will have roles and responsibilities that sit in Group B.
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This is the situation and it's important to note that
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this would be the main level of connection
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between the workforce
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and the people that are
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receiving care and support or other interventions
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from other agencies.
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If we get the training, learning and development right
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for this group in particular
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then it sets up the rest of the learning journey for that individual
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throughout their working life.
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Right, this is our final question
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and it's a really important one.
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It’s: “How can we ensure multi-agency buy-in
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at a local or regional level?”
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I'd like to invite Lance to answer this one please.
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Thank you, Es.
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Our expectation's that the Regional Safeguarding Boards
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take hold of this within their regions
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after all Regional Safeguarding Boards
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were set up and organised to facilitate this kind of
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work and they do have particular responsibilities
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around ensuring training is provided across all agencies.
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However, I am realistic and we know in times
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where services are under significant pressure
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and face financial difficulties,
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that this can be difficult.
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But every agency around the regional safeguarding table
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is responsible for the delivery of this within their organisation.
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And we also know that high quality, well organised training
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improves practice significantly.
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That should mean despite those financial
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and service pressures
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that we spend more of our collective time
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involved in intervening professionally
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and, in the most effective way
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therefore save time overall.
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So I would commend the regional safeguarding
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to do that work.
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Okay, I think I’ve brought us
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to the end of the Q&A session.
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I just want to thank Cheryl, Es and Tony and I
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just want to leave you really with a reminder
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of how important this is.
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The framework is a multi-agency opportunity to cement
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really good practice.
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We know that when we work together
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as different agencies in the same direction
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we are at our strongest and we are best placed then
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to protect those we serve.
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So I commend the framework to you and look forward
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to hearing about how it's being implemented
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across Wales in the future.
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So from all of us, thank you very much
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and goodbye.