The 5 R’s in safeguarding will help staff to recall the steps they should take if they ever have a safeguarding concern. They are:
- Recognise – Know the signs and indicators of abuse and neglect.
- Respond – Respond appropriately when you have a concern about abuse or neglect. Your safeguarding policy will detail the steps you should take to respond safely and effectively to any potential safeguarding issue.
- Report – Report your safeguarding concern to your designated safeguarding lead. You can often find who this person is in your safeguarding policy.
- Record – Ensure you record everything you have seen or heard in relation to the issue.
- Refer – Refer your concerns to the correct authority. It’s normally your designated safeguarding lead that will report this, so it’s best to make sure you pass on everything you have.