Our commitment
ResiCare Staffing Ltd supplies temporary staff to children's homes, supported accommodation, crisis services and secure units across the Midlands and the North West of England. The children and young people in these settings are often among the most vulnerable in our society.
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, to be protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation, and to be cared for by people who are suitable, trained and properly checked. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and we expect everyone who works with or for us to share this commitment.
We work in line with:
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, the statutory guidance for England;
- the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004;
- the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006;
- the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003; and
- the requirements on our clients under the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and related guidance, so that the workers we supply help our clients meet their own regulatory duties.
Safer recruitment
We follow safer recruitment principles for every worker we supply. Before anyone is placed with a client, we carry out the following checks:
- Identity: we verify each worker's identity using original or verified documents.
- Right to work: we check that each worker has the legal right to work in the UK, in line with Home Office guidance.
- Enhanced DBS with children's barred list: we require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate with a check of the children's barred list (and the adults' barred list where relevant) for the type of work involved. Where a worker is subscribed to the DBS Update Service, we carry out status checks regularly.
- References: we obtain at least two references, including from the most recent employer and from any previous employment involving work with children or vulnerable adults. References are obtained directly from the referee, not through the applicant, and we verify them, for example by confirming the referee's identity and contacting them by telephone. We do not accept open references or testimonials in place of verified references.
- Full employment history and gap checks: we require a full employment history and a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps.
- Interviews: every worker is interviewed to assess their values, motivation, experience and suitability to work with children and young people, including questions focused on safeguarding.
- Qualifications and registrations: we check relevant qualifications and, where applicable, professional registrations.
- Health declarations: we ask workers to confirm they are fit to carry out the role, where relevant.
We share confirmation of these checks with our clients so that they can be satisfied that each worker is suitable before an assignment starts.
Working with our clients
Each setting we supply has its own safeguarding policies and its own designated safeguarding lead or registered manager. Our workers must follow the client's safeguarding policies and procedures while on assignment, and must report any concern immediately to the client's designated safeguarding lead or manager on shift, as well as to us.
We work openly with our clients' designated safeguarding leads and managers. We share information promptly, appropriately and lawfully where it is needed to keep children safe, in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and data protection law. Data protection law does not prevent the sharing of information where it is necessary to protect a child from harm.
Allegations against workers and the LADO
If an allegation is made, or there is a concern, that a worker supplied by us may have harmed a child, may pose a risk of harm to children, or has behaved in a way that suggests they may be unsuitable to work with children, we will:
- take the matter seriously and act without delay;
- work with the client, and make sure the Local Authority Designated Officer ("LADO") for the area is informed promptly, in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and local safeguarding partnership procedures;
- not carry out our own investigation in a way that could compromise any police or local authority enquiries;
- remove the worker from assignments where necessary while the matter is considered;
- co-operate fully with the LADO, the police, Ofsted and any other relevant authority;
- refer the matter to the DBS where the legal duty to refer is met; and
- keep clear, accurate and secure records of the concern, the action taken and the outcome.
Whistleblowing
We encourage everyone who works with or for us, including workers on assignment, to speak up if they have concerns about the safety or welfare of children, or about poor or unsafe practice, whether by us, a client or any other person. Concerns can be raised in confidence, and we will not tolerate anyone being treated unfairly for raising a concern in good faith.
If you do not feel able to raise a concern with us or the client, you can contact:
- Ofsted's whistleblowing line for concerns about children's social care services: 0300 123 3155 or [email protected]
- NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line: 0800 028 0285
- the LADO or children's social care team for the local authority where the child lives or the setting is located.
How to raise a concern
If a child or young person is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you have a safeguarding concern about a child or young person, or about a worker supplied by ResiCare Staffing, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead:
- Designated Safeguarding Lead: James McPhee, Operations Director
- Telephone: 07383 679989 (24 hours)
- Email: [email protected]
- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Owen Wain, Managing Director, [email protected], 07383 679989 (24 hours)
You can also contact us 24 hours a day on 07383 679989 or at [email protected].
If you are a worker on assignment, report your concern to the client's designated safeguarding lead or manager on shift straight away, and then tell us.
You can also contact the children's social care team at the relevant local authority directly. Anyone can make a referral.
Review
This statement, and our safeguarding policy which sits behind it, are reviewed at least once a year, and sooner if there are changes in law or guidance or lessons learned from any safeguarding concern. Our full safeguarding policy is available to clients on request.
Approved by: James McPhee, Operations Director and Designated Safeguarding Lead, ResiCare Staffing Ltd
Date: 11 October 2026