Local Safeguarding Officers

The Local Safeguarding Officers (LoSOs) provide first-line support and advice on safeguarding issues. They have a higher level of safeguarding knowledge than the rest of their colleagues and must have completed and hold up-to-date training.

Roles and Responsibilities

• To act as a source of support, advice and expertise when staff or students have a concern about possible risk or harm
• Enable staff and students to meet their responsibilities towards safeguarding as expressed within the safeguarding policy
• Highlight and champion best practice relating to safeguarding and Prevent
• Be the central point of communication and dissemination into Colleges and Professional Service Departments for any information relating to safeguarding that comes from external partners to the DSL
• Ensure additional safeguarding practices and procedures are in place in relation to their area of work (if required)
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding and oversee the provision of training to others as necessary

What is not within the role of LoSO

• It is not the responsibility of the LoSO to decide whether abuse has taken place or not
• It is not the responsibility of the LoSO to investigate any concerns
• It is not the responsibility of the LoSO to receive safeguarding reports or referrals, these should always be submitted via the official reporting routes outlined on the webpages

Requirements of Local Safeguarding Officer

• To undertake advanced training in child and vulnerable adult safeguarding by an external provider as well as the safeguarding essentials training provided by the University
• To undertake refresher training as necessary and as outlined and provided by the university
• Willing to keep up to date with safeguarding developments including attendance at quarterly safeguarding forum meetings
• To take responsibility for the recording of all safeguarding issues arising

Additional supports

LoSo will be provided with the following to ensure that they can carry out their role;

• Access to a MS Teams site which will contain up to date information, news, training opportunities and events
• Access to quarterly forum events which will include case study discussions, additional training and local and national updates
• Additional training above and beyond the mandatory e-learning module in relation to safeguarding
• Additional training opportunities on matters closely intersecting with safeguarding
• Opportunities for peer-on-peer learning

Local Safeguarding Officers

Welcome to our first LoSOs here at the University of Derby.

For more information, please contact the LoSO directly, or for general enquiries please get in touch with LoSO@derby.ac.uk.