CSCP / CSAB Organisational Safeguarding Assessment (Formerly Section 11 / Safeguarding Adults Self-Assessment

The West Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnerships and Safeguarding Adult Boards have worked together to introduce a shared online Organisational Safeguarding Assessment which replaces the previously named Section 11 / Safeguarding Adults Self-Assessment.

The West Yorkshire Online Organisational Safeguarding Assessment Tool should be used to complete your safeguarding self-assessments.

Information about the Online Organisational Safeguarding Assessment Tool

The question set for the online tool has become a shared one for the whole of West Yorkshire and has similar questions to those previously asked in Calderdale.

Access the Online Organisational Safeguarding Assessment

Support with Navigating around the website

Please note: if you are a school, do not choose the ‘Section 175’ Form link, please use the ‘Organisational Safeguarding Assessment’ link.

Guidance Notes

Please look at the guidance notes for each question (see bottom of each question), as this describes the areas to cover in the evidence and should be read before completing each question to allow you to appropriately RAG rate and provide the correct level of evidence / assurance about the effectiveness of your safeguarding arrangements.

You can save partially completed assessments as you work through, and once you have completed you need to press ‘submit’ for the response to reach us.

The Purpose of the Organisational Safeguarding Assessment

Section 11 of the 2004 Children Act sets out the provision for Local Children Safeguarding Partnerships to undertake a self-assessment audit of how organisations and services are meeting standards to safeguard children and young people.

Section 43 of the Care Act 2014 requires Local Safeguarding Adults Boards to co-ordinate, and ensures the effectiveness of, what each of its members do in protecting individuals from abuse and neglect and delivering the outcomes that enhance their wellbeing.

The Organisational Safeguarding Assessment will provide all organisations across West Yorkshire with a consistent framework to assess, monitor and/or improve their Safeguarding arrangements and in turn will support both the CSCP and CSAB in assessing the effectiveness of safeguarding practice. Please note: If your organisation has a footprint over more than one of the West Yorkshire areas, this means that you will only have to do one version of the assessment.

The purpose of the Organisational Safeguarding Assessment is the same as the purpose of the previous Section 11 / Safeguarding Adults Audit, and is to:

  • Provide all organisations and groups that work with / are involved with children, young people and adults with the opportunity to provide an account of how they prioritise safeguarding.
  • Provide evidence of how organisations and groups have been able to learn, improve and better shape services to safeguard children, adults and families.

The role of the CSCP and CSAB is to support this exercise and to collate responses in order that the Partnership may determine:

  • What the self-assessments tell us about the effectiveness of arrangements for the safeguarding of children, young people and adults in Calderdale, including joint working arrangements
  • Strengths and gaps in knowledge so that the Safeguarding Partnerships can better support organisations through training, policy and guidance
  • Trends, patterns and the identification of new or emerging safeguarding concerns.

The results of the assessment will then form an important part of:

  • Demonstrating in a transparent way how all organisations, professionals and others who are involved with children, young people and their families, and adults are accountable for how individually – and collectively – they safeguard people in Calderdale
  • The CSCP and CSAB Annual Report, which is a public statement as to the sufficiency of joint working arrangements to protect children, young people, and adults in Calderdale
  • The development of priorities to provide leadership and support for learning and improvement, and sharing things that work well

The benefits of completing the Organisational Safeguarding Assessment

How will completing the Organisational Safeguarding Assessment benefit your organisation?

  • Provides evidence for national inspection organisations e.g. Ofsted / CQC / HMIC
  • Provides evidence that Safeguarding is a priority within your organisation
  • Provides evidence that your organisation works closely with the Calderdale Safeguarding Children Partnership and Safeguarding Adults Board and understands its roles and responsibilities.
  • Demonstrates compliance with the relevant legislation e.g. Working Together 2023, Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Early Years Foundation Stage 2021 etc.
  • Provides evidence of reflective practice
  • Feeds into improvement / development plans for your organisation
  • Identifies good practice within your organisation.

Overview of OSA Results and Themes

Contact Details for Support and Advice

If you need any support or advice on the Organisational Safeguarding Assessment, please contact:
safeguardingaudit@calderdale.gov.uk