Designated Safeguarding Network (Primary)

The DSL Network provides information and guidance to promote effective multi agency collaboration relating to safeguarding children and young people at risk.  This may include updates from speakers in specialist safeguarding practice areas on occasion.

Purpose of Group:

The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) Network will facilitate and coordinate a culture that embraces safeguarding as everybody’s business and ensures education providers provide a safe environment that safeguards children and young people.

It provides a networking opportunity for DSLs in education settings to keep abreast of the latest safeguarding updates and guidance nationally and locally.

Objectives of the network:

  • Strengthen strategic communication and relationships between Slough Safeguarding Partner Board (SPB), Slough Borough Council (SBC) School Effectiveness Team and education providers.
  • Provide networking opportunities for DSL’s for mutual support, reflection and good practice sharing.
  • Disseminate the latest safeguarding practice and guidance to inform and contribute to needs led safeguarding commissioning intentions by wider partners.
  • Advocate, promote and facilitate continued and consistent development, implementation and review of safeguarding practice through networking and co production.
  • Disseminate learning and recommendations post national inquiries and safeguarding reviews undertaken by national external agencies (e.g. Ofsted, NSPCC) and/or local  safeguarding reviews (e.g. SPR, SBC).

Frequency of Meetings:

The network will meet termly (3 times per year) in line with the academic year. Meetings will be scheduled on an annual basis working to a 12 month forward calendar.

Other forms of communication will include a termly safeguarding newsletter and access to the LINK web portal for education providers. Frequency of the meetings may be increased in exceptional circumstances for better flow of information (e.g. COVID 19).

Working Methods:

No individual case discussion will take place and only anonymized information will be shared in the forums therefore no information sharing protocols are required.

Minutes of the meetings will be sent out within 7 days of the meeting taking place and the agenda will be circulated 3 days prior to the meeting.