SD2S115 - Public Protection and Safeguarding: The Challenge of Keeping People Safe 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: SD2S115
Module Title: Public Protection and Safeguarding: The Challenge of Keeping People Safe
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Leadership and Public Services
Faculty Sub Group: Leadership and Public Services
Module Leader:
Module Team: Hayley Jenkins
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

This module aims to develop professional knowledge of models and approaches to managing risk within Public Protection and working with multi agencies to facilitate a best practice approach for safely dealing with cases relating to the vulnerable in society.

Content Summary

This Public Protection and safeguarding module covers multiple strands (often referred to as the 13 strands of Vulnerability) and requires multiple agency approaches and partnership working for long term resolution, prevention and protection. Therefore, this module will enable students to examination working relationship (and the barriers) to partnership working (Health, Education, Probation Services as well as the Third Sector, Voluntary Sector and Local Authority Safeguarding Boards) in England and Wales. This will be carried out by examining the following content:

  • Social Services and Well-Being Act 2014 

  • Definition and importance of safeguarding within the context of criminal justice. 

  • Overview of legal and policy frameworks guiding safeguarding practices.

  • Care Act 2014

  • Prevent

  • Children’s Act 1989/2004

  • Wales Safeguarding Procedures

  • Safeguarding Boards

  • Public Protection and Public Protection Units

  • Safeguarding in context: to include legislation and the historical and political drivers of current policy.

  • Recognition and responding to abuse.

  • Roles and responsibilities.

  • Holistic assessments and the assessment of risk.

  • The importance of multi-agency and multi professional communication and working in relation to safeguarding.

  • Discuss and debate legal and ethical issues.

  • Exploration of developmental stages to inform age-appropriate safeguarding strategies.

  • Consideration of the impact of trauma and adverse experiences on young individuals.

  • Understanding risk factors for children and young people within the criminal justice system.

  • Development and implementation of effective intervention strategies to mitigate risks.

  • Exploration of ethical dilemmas and considerations when safeguarding children and young people.

  • Examination of relevant legislation and its application in safeguarding practices.

  • Analysis of victim support mechanisms within the criminal justice system.

  • Consideration of rehabilitation programs tailored for children and young offenders.

  • Strategies for addressing digital risks and promoting online safety. 

  • Analysis of real-life cases to illustrate effective safeguarding practices.

  • Identification and dissemination of best practices within criminal justice agencies. 

  • Public Health / Welsh Government Strategy and relevant Policies.

Explain key definitions, legislation and guidance associated with ‘public protection’ policing, including: 

  • Protection from Harassment Act 1997 

  • Sexual Offences Act 2003

  • Child abuse, including neglect, child sexual abuse/exploitation (CSE) 

  • Adults at risk 

  • Domestic Abuse Risk Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) 

Assess the role and impact of MAPPA and the use of community intelligence in managing offenders.

  • Role of Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in managing offenders: 

  • Risk Management

  • Use of community intelligence to manage offenders. 

  • Managing offenders

  • Decision-Making

  • Evaluate the effect of media coverage on public protection policing strategy.

  • Psychology of an offender’s use of position of authority to commit sexual offences.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 12
Practical Classes and Workshops 24
Independent Study 84
Directed Study (Including online independent learning) 80
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Apply knowledge and comprehension of Public Protection legislation and its application in multi-agency scenarios.?
LO2 Identify and valuate the role that public protection and safeguarding plays in preventing, reducing and dealing with the vulnerable population in society.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Report 1 Completion of a child protection referral and a short report? 0 1500 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Report 1

Reading List

ACPO. (2012). Guidance on Safeguarding and Investigating the Abuse of Vulnerable Adults, Wyboston: ACPO. 

College of Policing. (2015). Risk-led policing of domestic abuse and the DASH risk model. Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/News/College-news/Documents/Risk-led_policing_of_domestic_abuse_and_the_DASH_risk_model.pdf 

Hester, M. and Lilley, S.J., 2017. Rape investigation and attrition in acquaintance, domestic violence and historical rape cases. Journal of investigative psychology and offender profiling, 14(2), pp.175-188. 

Mitchell, K.J., Wolak, J. and Finkelhor, D., 2005. Police posing as juveniles online to catch sex offenders: Is it working. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 17(3), pp.241-267. 

Nash, M., and Williams, A. (2010). Handbook of Public Protection. Abingdon: Willan Publishing. 
Peckover, S. (2013). From ‘Public Health’ to ‘Safeguarding Children’: British Health Visiting in Policy, Practice and Research. Children & Society, 27(2), 116–126. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2011.00400.x 

Quartermaine, A. (2017). Safeguarding Approaches. Educational Review, 69(5), 660–663. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2016.1222384 

Waterhouse, L., et al. (2015). Challenging Child Protection: New Directions in Safeguarding Children (Vol. 57). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 

Williams, J. (2017). Adult Safeguarding in Wales: One Step in the Right Direction. The Journal of Adult Protection, 19(4), 175–186. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-04-2017-0011 

Windle, J., Moyle, L., & Coomber, R. (2020). ‘Vulnerable’ Kids Going Country: Children and Young People’s Involvement in County Lines Drug Dealing. Youth Justice, 20(1-2), 64–78. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/1473225420902499