Safeguarding Interview Questions to Ensure the Best Staff

As a principal, headteacher, or hiring manager, you should always be on the lookout for the best staff to work in your school or educational setting. This is especially true when recruiting staff who will be in regular contact with children.

The right staff can make a positive difference in the lives of children and families, while the wrong staff can have the opposite effect.

In this article, we outline the key safeguarding interview questions you should ask to ensure that your staff are safe to work with children.

Some Examples  of interview questions with their answers:

 What does safeguarding mean to you?

This is a good question to start with as it will help you to understand the candidate’s existing knowledge of safeguarding. There’s no right or wrong answer here but you want to hear that they understand the basics and can communicate them effectively.

Safeguarding means that everyone has the right to live in safety, they have right in an environment which  is free from abuse and neglect. This includes protecting them from harm, and exploitation, and supporting their well-being.

Why is it important in our organization?

Safeguarding encompasses a wide range of practices, so it’s important to know what that means in the context of your organization. This question is a great way to find out what the candidate knows about your organization’s specific approach to safeguarding.

It also gives you an opportunity to see how well the candidate has prepared for the interview. If they’ve done their homework, they should be able to give you a good answer to this question.

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Can you describe the signs that may indicate potential abuse or neglect in the individuals we serve?

This question checks the candidate’s knowledge of potential safeguarding issues and their ability to identify them. It also gives you a sense of how the candidate would approach a difficult topic with the individuals they are working with.

Follow-up questions could include: How would you go about addressing potential abuse or neglect?  What would you do if you suspected a colleague was abusing an individual?

How do you establish and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with the individuals you work with?

It’s crucial that your staff understand how to establish and maintain professional boundaries with the individuals they work with. This is especially important in the context of safeguarding, as inappropriate relationships can lead to abuse.

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Ask candidates how they establish and maintain professional boundaries in their current or past roles. Look for answers that demonstrate a clear understanding of the importance of boundaries and how to maintain them.

Describe a situation where you had to report a safeguarding concern in your previous role. How did you handle it?

It’s important to understand how your candidates would handle a safeguarding situation. This question will help you evaluate their ability to identify and report potential issues.

Look for candidates who have a clear understanding of what constitutes abuse or neglect and who can explain the steps they would take to report a safeguarding concern.

Candidates should be able to explain that they would report any concerns to their manager or the designated safeguarding lead. It’s also important to note that candidates should never share confidential information with you.

How do you stay informed about changes in safeguarding policies and procedures?

Safeguarding policies and procedures are constantly changing, so it’s important to know that your potential staff are staying up-to-date.

Ask them how they stay informed about changes in safeguarding policies and procedures.

Do they attend training sessions?

Do they read up on current events and research?

Do they have a mentor or advisor who helps them stay informed?

Make sure they have a plan in place to stay up-to-date, and that they’re committed to doing so.

The most important part of the interview process is asking the right questions. This will help you to get to know the candidate and assess their suitability for the role. Here are some safeguarding interview questions to get you started:

Why do you want to work with children and young people?

This question will help you to understand the candidate’s motivation for working in education. It will also give you an insight into their values and attitudes towards children and young people.

What do you think are the most important qualities for someone working with children and young people?

This question will help you to assess the candidate’s knowledge of safeguarding and child protection. It will also give you an insight into the qualities they think are important for working in education.

Can you give an example of when you have had to deal with a difficult situation involving a child or young person?

This question will help you to assess the candidate’s ability to work with children and young people. It will also give you an insight into their problem-solving and communication skills.

What will you do when you have concerns about a child’s welfare?

This question will help you to assess the candidate’s knowledge of safeguarding and child protection. It will also give you an insight into their ability to follow policies and procedures.

Explain me about a time when you had to work as part of a team?

This question will help you to assess the candidate’s ability to work with others. It will also give you an insight into their communication and teamwork skills.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

This question will help you to understand the candidate’s career goals. It will also give you an insight into their commitment to the role.

If you’re a busy headteacher, you may not have time to stay up to date with the latest safeguarding interview questions.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of the top safeguarding interview questions to help you ensure you’re hiring the best staff for your school.

These questions are designed to help you assess a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, as well as their ability to put it into practice.

From questions about the candidate’s experience to their understanding of the Prevent duty, this list has got you covered.

As you can see, it’s important to get the right people in your school. The interview process is a crucial step in finding the best candidate for the job.

In addition to asking questions about their experience and qualifications, you should also ask about their commitment to safeguarding. This will help you gauge how seriously they take the issue and whether they are a good fit for your school.

When you’re interviewing candidates, make sure to ask the following questions to ensure they are committed to safeguarding and that they will help create a safe and supportive environment for your students.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when interviewing a new member of staff, you will want to ensure that they are the best person for the job. This will mean that you need to ask the right questions to ensure they are the perfect fit for your school.

By asking the right questions, you will be able to determine whether they have the right level of experience, knowledge, and understanding of safeguarding. As a result, you will be able to make sure that your school is a safe place for both students and staff.