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Letters of assurance for visiting professionals

Introduction 

Statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education highlights duties education settings have to do in relation to how to manage visits from those in professional roles (E.g, education psychologists, social workers, school nurses). 

Practice considerations

Here are a few considerations that you need to make in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education: 

  • Settings must not be obstructive of safeguarding/child protection assessments or criminal investigation. Ideally these should be communicated and organised through the Designated Safeguarding Lead who will alert the front office. 

 

  • Professionals should have photographic I.D. which is issued by the organisation that they are representing. Please ensure that you check these where possible. There may be rare circumstances where someone is unable to produce their I.D due to reasons beyond their control (not yet issued, they have mislaid it, or have not managed to obtain it due to an emergency).

- Do consider calling the professional's office to verify identity and the planned meeting.

 - Do consider verifying other forms of I.D in these circumstances. 

 

  • Settings should not request DBS checks or bared list check lists or ask to see existing DBS certificates. 

 

  • Headteachers/Principals (or equivalent) should use their professional judgements about the need to escort of supervise such visitors - (N.B - consider whether this is regulated activity).

 

  • Do ensure that the letters of assurance are shared with reception staff who are likely to checking.