Safeguarding in Higher Education and Public Services
Specialist, trauma informed safeguarding training, policy review and implementation support tailored to Scottish law and multi agency practice.
Overview
Who this is for
- Designated Safeguarding Officers and safeguarding teams
- Student support, registry and HR staff in colleges and universities
- Senior leaders responsible for governance and inspection readiness
- Multi agency partners working with students, placements or adults at risk
Why this matters
Scottish safeguarding duties require clear roles, thresholds and multi agency pathways. Institutions must manage risk for students under 18 and adults at risk, align with ASP and PVG requirements, and meet Prevent responsibilities. Effective safeguarding is both trauma informed and rights based, and it must be defensible for governance and inspection.
Outcomes for Participants and Organisations
Participant's will be able to:
- Understand Scottish safeguarding law and key frameworks including Children, Adults, ASP, PVG and Prevent.
- Apply roles, thresholds and escalation pathways such as IRD and JII.
- Manage casework and information sharing across multi agency partners.
- Assess and mitigate risk for students under 18 and adults at risk in campus, placement and research settings.
- Align institutional policy with UNCRC incorporation and sector expectations.
Organisational outcomes
- Confident staff who understand roles and thresholds
- Clear, defensible decision making across IRD and JII pathways
- Safer systems for students and service users
- Stronger governance and audit readiness for inspections
Core content and Materials
Core Modules and Supporting Materials
Module overview
Module 1 Legal and Policy Foundations
Scottish safeguarding law overview and governance expectations.
Module 2 Roles Thresholds and Pathways
IRD, JII, escalation flow and role clarity for DSOs and partner agencies.
Module 3 Case Management and Information Sharing
Practical tools for casework, confidentiality, records and multi agency coordination.
Module 4 Campus Placements and Research
Safeguarding in placements, research ethics and campus life risk management.
Module 5 Operational Readiness
Policy alignment review, DSO training, simulation case reviews and inspection ready evidence.
Supporting materials
Interested in our research into Education within Bairns Hoose?
Use the link below to read about our work and research into implementing education into the Bairns Hoose process.
Delivery options Impacts
Delivery formats
- Bespoke full day or multi session packages tailored to institutional needs
- Delivered in person, live online or blended
Optional Add-ons
- Policy alignment review included for multi session packages
- Case review workshop to test processes and decision making
- Follow up coaching for DSOs and senior leaders
How we measure impact
- Participant confidence and knowledge checks pre/post training
- Uptake of revised policies and clearer case flow metrics
- Inspection ready evidence packs and governance sign offs
Schedule brief safeguarding huddles (5–10 minutes) at the start or end of shifts and pair them with a simple, visible escalation flow (IRD → JII → multi‑agency referral).
Next steps
Schedule a short consultation so we can map your needs to the right programme and delivery format. Workshops can be tailored with sector case studies and managerial inputs to support sustained change.