Ann Marie Christian on Safer Recruitment

Ann Marie Christian qualified in 1996 and worked in children and families child protection teams, after which she took a role in a school as a school based social worker from 1999 to 2003.

In 2003 she started a unique role as the team manager of the Vulnerable Children Team and managed teachers working with LAC, advised 75 schools in child protection and delivered child protection training to schools and heads. This role evolved and Ann Marie worked as a LADO in Education, Safeguarding advisor, DSL Local Authority coordinator, LSCB Trainer and School Improvement Advisor and managed a team of social workers allocated to set schools within the local authority. Ann Marie returned to social work management and worked in youth justice and early years by managing child protection in these teams. She started her consultancy in 2010 and has dedicated her time to this ever since.  She writes articles, public speaking, delivers workshops at conferences and opinion pieces for the national press.

Ann Marie in an international award winner safeguarding consultant and now inspires, consultants, trains and motivates international and national organisations in keeping children and adults safer by bringing safeguarding to the front line and embedded in their daily practice with her consultancy Child 1st Safeguarding Consultancy Ltd, better known as AnnMarieChristian.com

The new EYFS safeguarding reforms come into force on 1st September 2025, and this session focuses specifically on safer recruitment practices. Ann Marie unpacks the complexities of the reforms, explaining how to implement them in practice and why they matter for keeping children safe in Early Years settings.

In this episode you’ll:

• Discover what the role of a LADO is and how they support settings with allegations against staff
• Learn about the ‘must have’ requirement for references before employment and what these references need to contain
• Understand how to create robust safer recruitment policies and procedures for your setting
• Explore the concept of ‘harm thresholds’ and when to make referrals about staff concerns
• Find out how to establish effective whistle-blowing procedures and why creating a safeguarding culture is essential

Don’t miss this essential session that will prepare you for the upcoming EYFS safeguarding reforms and help ensure your setting’s recruitment practices keep children safe.

Episode Links:

https://annmariechristian.com/

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6705184530536cb927482dd6/Early_years_foundation_stage_safeguarding_reforms_-_response.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-barring-referrals-to-the-dbs