Safeguarding Level 5 Refresher

he ICD 2025 statement around the requirement states ' Health care staff in every service recognise the necessity to protect people with increased vulnerabilities and those in need of safeguarding. There is a moral, professional, and statutory duty of care. Being able to do this effectively is built upon a structure of personal knowledge, skills and competence, and access to health care staff with appropriate expertise and strategic leadership.

The levels themselves describe a ‘complete’ set of expectations but acknowledge clinicians will be working towards more detailed levels of knowledge and will need to be up to date with emerging themes and refresh knowledge and skills across their career and commensurate to role.

All health care providers delivering services, including mental health services, to under 18 year olds will be expected to have staff fulfilling level 4 (senior, experienced staff) and level 5 (strategic leadership) roles. Maintaining child safeguarding competencies is expected of every health care staff worker involved in the care of any child or young person, or who have any contact with, or responsibility for, children, or the care of adults who are parents/carers. 

Clinicians at senior levels, e.g. levels 4 and 5 professionals, will require more expansive review in relation to expert knowledge, leadership skills, governance and outcomes. It is recommended that level 3, 4 and 5 competencies and learning related to safeguarding children and young people, and children and young people in care are discussed at annual appraisal. 

Every revalidation cycle (3 – 5 years) should consider competence in safeguarding children and young people and children and young people in care, including all areas of experience, skills, and knowledge, with a relevant multi-agency working approach, and reflection across a range of adult learning activities.

These recommendations regarding competence and keeping up to date, apply to National Health Service (NHS) commissioned independent provision. Professionals working in independent providers have a professional responsibility to maintain appropriate competence. 

Each health system area of practice must have senior leadership in place as safeguarding children and young people and children and young people in care are integral in general population health needs. 

There is also reference to Level 5 in the Competencies for Senior Managers and Executives.