Digital safeguarding checklist

Understanding needs

Before embarking on the move into the online context it is important to understand the demand/need and how the offer may apply to your users.



Considerations

• Is there a clear need/demand to switch to online services?
• Will the service need adapting to be delivered in this way?
• Is there a clear need/demand to include children under the age of 18? Under 16? Under 13?
• Are all your internal stakeholders on board?
• How do you operationalise new processes and procedures with staff?
• What kind of platform is going to work best?
• Will a third party platform work or do we need to develop our own?
• Have you tested (the idea of) your service with your target audience?
• Were they involved in the making of it?

Assessing risks

The online and digital space is an increasingly important engagement space, full of opportunities and challenges. It is important that you understand the associated risks and issues and have the appropriate procedures and policies in place to address them. Your risk assessment should consider both the safeguarding and the data protection elements.



In your risk assessment, highlight the main challenges and ensure that you are mitigating them as far as possible. For example: if you are a provider of services to vulnerable young people and you need to continue to engage with them on a 1-2-1 basis digitally, you will need to ensure that you apply a high level of protection to the young people and your staff.



Ensure that your risk assessment follows the appropriate sign off processes and procedures and that there is transparency and ownership.



When considering the risks, the three categories below are a good starting point :

• Content – firstly we’ve got content – this can be content that can be viewed that is age inappropriate, violent or sexual in nature
• Contact – then we’ve got contact – this can be either peer to peer or adult to child and can involve bullying or grooming
• Conduct – finally there’s conduct – this can be individuals sharing inappropriate content or misusing your platform

The level of harm that a user can experience by engaging with you online will vary depending on the type of service that you are offering, how you engage, their own background, abilities and experience. This all needs to be considered when you are planning your approach.



It is important that you consider the worst-case scenarios and plan for them.



If you are planning on engaging with children and young people you will need to consider what additional measures you need to have in place and what the additional risks might be.



Planning your response

After you have assessed the need for the service, considered your target audience and developed your risk assessment, you will need to develop the appropriate responses and ensure that you have the approach in place.



Policies and management

• How will you ensure that all of your policies are updated to reflect your new way of working?
• How do you ensure that all staff are aware of the policies?
• Do you need a code of conduct for staff?
• How will the interactions be monitored and audited and who will oversee the process?
• Who will be responsible for the leadership and implementation?
• Do you need to have a separate acceptable us policy to highlight expectations to users?

Connectivity and digital skills

• How will you ensure that all of your users can access your service?
• Is there parity of access?
• Will the service be available via mobile?
• Have you considered and integrated the cybersecurity issues?
• How will you support all users including children to understand the risks?

Data and privacy

• How will you ensure that you are complying with data protection legislation?
• How will you ensure informed consent?
• Will the service involve encryption and how does that impact on safeguarding?
• Who will have access to the data?
• How will you ensure that provide extra protection for children especially those under the age of 13?

The platform

• Is there a platform that already exists that will meet your requirements?
• How does the functionality support the mitigations that you need to put in place to help to protect users?
• Are you able to take control of the platform and monitor usage and interactions in the way that you need to?
• Are there appropriate privacy settings?
• Is the platform appropriate for your users profiles e.g. is it appropriate for children?
• Does the platform allow for 1-2-1 conversations? If so, what additional safeguarding measures do you need to put in place?
• How will you integrate a reporting system within the platform so that users are able to flag any incidents?

Involving parents and carers

• If you are involving children and young people how will you ensure that you gain consent from parents/carers?
• How will that consent be collected?
• How will you ensure that users are the appropriate ages on the platform?

Reporting and recording incidents

• How will safeguarding concerns/incidents be recorded and where?
• How will safeguarding incidents be managed and escalated?
• What are the arrangements that are in place for referrals to third parties e.g police?
• How can users report any incidents and concerns?

Support for children and young people

• How will you ensure that there are appropriate safeguarding measures in place to support children and young people?
• What information and support will you offer?
• How will you test that it's appropriate?

Support for staff and volunteers

• How will you ensure that staff are upskilled to support users in relation to safeguarding?
• What staff training will be offered?
• How will you support staff in these new ways of working?

Read the full blog post for more information.