Safeguarding officer

[Deafdoggie]

I was stood on Stafford station one day last week, it wasn't particularly busy, it was early afternoon and a week day in term time.

A staff member with "safeguarding officer" on his back was strolling up & down the platform. Just what is a "safeguarding officer"? And what are the chances of him being on the right platform, at the right station at the right time?

If-and I've no idea-he is there to potentially identify anyone who is about to jump onto the tracks, then there are much better stations he could be at. And if he's not there for that, what is he there for?

 

[realemil]

While I’m not 100% certain that they’re there to prevent suicides, a few years back they had officers to prevent these sorts of things stationed on local stations between Wolverhampton & Birmingham N St due to increased risk in suicides.

It’s also possible that they’re stationed in a group of stations and go up & down the stations to watch them.

I guess they’re trained in incidents, and how to spot these things — maybe domestic abuse etc too in where they can report it, or it allows someone to “safely” approach them if they have any issues.

 

[Carlisle]

Aren’t they more akin to general purpose security guards rather than specifically connected to suicide prevention duties.

 

[Pacef8]

I would of gone and asked them what they do and what they cannot do . I’m sure they would be more than happy to engage with you.

 

[Neo9320]

A large part of safeguarding, in the general usage of the word, is the protection of vulnerable children and adults.

I would suggest that these officers are looking for (as OP suggested) vulnerable individuals who pose a risk to themselves, but also children at risk of exploitation (such as county lines trafficking).

I’m sure they would deployed to areas of high risk and not just thrown about the network in any old fashion.

Anyway, nice to see the railway being more proactive than just popping posters around and giving 3S announcements!

 

[ComUtoR]

If-and I've no idea-he is there to potentially identify anyone who is about to jump onto the tracks, then there are much better stations he could be at. And if he's not there for that, what is he there for?

What makes a better station to commit suicide at ? Fast services ? Bridges ? Level crossings ? Lack of staff ? Are there any statistics the TOC could use to better distribute their staffing ?

 

[Deafdoggie]

What makes a better station to commit suicide at ? Fast services ? Bridges ? Level crossings ? Lack of staff ? Are there any statistics the TOC could use to better distribute their staffing ?

I'm not aware of anyone jumping in front of a train at Stafford. But there seems to have been a few at Barlaston, Stone & Longport.

 

[LowLevel]

Don't overthink it - it's just Avanti's daft newish name for common or garden private security guards. We call ours Travel Safe Officers.

Avanti have recently graduated from the "white shirt with green hi vis with security on it and SIA badge" model into the slightly more professionally dressed but still effectively the same thing with a new name model.

 

[Neo9320]

Don't overthink it - it's just Avanti's daft newish name for common or garden private security guards. We call ours Travel Safe Officers.

Avanti have recently graduated from the "white shirt with green hi vis with security on it and SIA badge" model into the slightly more professionally dressed but still effectively the same thing with a new name model.

Ah! This explains a lot! Didn’t realise it was avanti specific. Many thanks for insight.

 

[Murray J]

While I’m not 100% certain that they’re there to prevent suicides, a few years back they had officers to prevent these sorts of things stationed on local stations between Wolverhampton & Birmingham N St due to increased risk in suicides.

Three Bridges seems to have something similar, most if not all times I've been there during the day there's been a "welfare officer" in a grey jacket patrolling the platforms. Always the same guy too, although I guess in theory it could just be a security guard as per above...

 

[dangie]

Don't overthink it - it's just Avanti's daft newish name for common or garden private security guards. We call ours Travel Safe Officers.

Just makes you wonder who dreams up these names and how much they get paid for doing it.

Reminds we of many years ago when the Bin Man was renamed Refuse Technician.

 

[43096]

Just makes you wonder who dreams up these names and how much they get paid for doing it.

Reminds we of many years ago when the Bin Man was renamed Refuse Technician.

Or “Train Presentation Team”. Nothing to do with PowerPoint, it’s the name for the cleaners.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

At Kingston (upon-Thames) on Saturday, I saw a young woman in a high-vis walking up and down the platform. I did not take note of what was written on her back but clearly, these people are not there to (just) prevent suicides. I had one approach me at Clapham Junction a few years ago (I think he was a "trespass and welfare officer"); a few nice exchange of words and he left me alone

 

[Bletchleyite]

Don't overthink it - it's just Avanti's daft newish name for common or garden private security guards. We call ours Travel Safe Officers.

Avanti have recently graduated from the "white shirt with green hi vis with security on it and SIA badge" model into the slightly more professionally dressed but still effectively the same thing with a new name model.

Crikey. That's terrible; Safeguarding isn't security, it's specifically about protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse.

What's wrong with "security"?

 

[Towers]

At Kingston (upon-Thames) on Saturday, I saw a young woman in a high-vis walking up and down the platform. I did not take note of what was written on her back but clearly, these people are not there to (just) prevent suicides. I had one approach me at Clapham Junction a few years ago (I think he was a "trespass and welfare officer"); a few nice exchange of words and he left me alone

Trespass & Welfare Officers are commonplace on SWR, they wear a white hi-viz and are, I believe, permanently based at a specific station. I’m unsure whether they’re employed by SWR or Network Rail.

 

[30907]

Crikey. That's terrible; Safeguarding isn't security, it's specifically about protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse.

Agree. And "safeguarding officer" in most contexts would be the member of staff (or volunteer) with oversight of an organisation's safeguarding policy and practice.

 

[43066]

Crikey. That's terrible; Safeguarding isn't security, it's specifically about protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse.

What's wrong with "security"?

Not necessarily. It depends on context.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not necessarily. It depends on context.

It doesn't. The word Safeguarding, capital S, refers to protecting vulnerable people. It came about as the evolution of "Child Protection" and "Vulnerable Adult Protection" which are a bit cack handed as terms.

I could just about see it if their role was solely to prevent suicides (as mentally ill people are vulnerable too so need Safeguarding).

The word is not applicable to a generic security guard.

 

[realemil]

Three Bridges seems to have something similar, most if not all times I've been there during the day there's been a "welfare officer" in a grey jacket patrolling the platforms. Always the same guy too, although I guess in theory it could just be a security guard as per above...

It might be a security guard; or could be both!

I know for sure that it was a predominantly a suicide prevention officer at the locals as I’d always chat to them and the ticket office staff.

One lassie worked in the army and had stories to tell


However, I must agree with the above that “Safeguarding” is nothing to do with security…

 

[Murray J]

It might be a security guard; or could be both!

I know for sure that it was a predominantly a suicide prevention officer at the locals as I’d always chat to them and the ticket office staff.

Indeed. Now i'm wondering if this person may be one of the "trespass and welfare officers" mentioned previously, although of course not on SWR.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Just to muddy the waters a bit more. They were strolling up & down the platforms with a security guard-or at least someone whose uniform said "security" on the back of it. Goodness knows what Avanti have interpreted that to mean!

 

[43066]

It doesn't. The word Safeguarding, capital S, refers to protecting vulnerable people. It came about as the evolution of "Child Protection" and "Vulnerable Adult Protection" which are a bit cack handed as terms.

I could just about see it if their role was solely to prevent suicides (as mentally ill people are vulnerable too so need Safeguarding).

The word is not applicable to a generic security guard.

Not necessarily - the capitalisation in this case is due to it being used in a job title, and the word does have a wider meaning than just the protection of vulnerable people.

I can’t really understand the objection to this, which I suspect is something that will only ever occur on this board.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I can’t really understand the objection to this, which I suspect is something that will only ever occur on this board.

I think there's plenty of resistance, certainly among Gen-X and older, to "bull" job titles. "Refuse collection operatives" and similar tripe.

The job is being a security guard. It should say security on the back of their hi-vis. Call a spade a spade.

 

[Murray J]

I think there's plenty of resistance, certainly among Gen-X and older, to "bull" job titles. "Refuse collection operatives" and similar tripe.

I don't think anyone's actually in favour of it, just older folk may care more. I'm against it but struggle to be anything more than ambivalent towards it all.

 

[43066]

I think there's plenty of resistance, certainly among Gen-X and older, to "bull" job titles. "Refuse collection operatives" and similar tripe.

The job is being a security guard. It should say security on the back of their hi-vis. Call a spade a spade.

I suppose there is a broader scope to the role in a railway context, due to the frequency with which they’re likely to come across people with severe “issues” of various sorts, from mental health to addiction and homelessness, and that’s perhaps what the title is trying to emphasise? It’s a little different to what a security guard in Boots or Tesco might be expected to deal with.

We have “travel safe officers” who are probably the equivalent to this (as an aside they get mixed reviews from traincrew, because they often seem a little too keen to put “problem” individuals onto trains and make them someone else’s problem).

 

[357]

I can’t really understand the objection to this, which I suspect is something that will only ever occur on this board.

The job is being a security guard. It should say security on the back of their hi-vis. Call a spade a spade.

In this case, we should not call them security guards, as they aren't.

 

[Horizon22]

Indeed. Now i'm wondering if this person may be one of the "trespass and welfare officers" mentioned previously, although of course not on SWR.

They almost certainly are that. Nothing to do with security and safeguarding in this context will probably be looking out for vulnerable passengers (e.g. tresspassers or at risk of suicide) and might be placed strategically around the Avanti network on locations that are deemed to be risky. It's not the same as security (e.g kicking out people for anti-social behaviour and checking access points remain secure) but that's not to say there couldn't be overlap.

Other TOCs have similar roles, although most are contract/agency roles.

 

[TPO]

What makes a better station to commit suicide at ? Fast services ? Bridges ? Level crossings ? Lack of staff ? Are there any statistics the TOC could use to better distribute their staffing ?

Yes there are statistics. The system all mainline Railway Undertakings report into (SMIS) is managed by RSSB, here's a link to the publicly accessible RSSB SMIS front page https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-h...ligence/safety-management-intelligence-system. So yes, the TOC can and almost certainly does have a good understanding of the risk for each station they manage.

There is also quite a sophisticated understanding in the industry of the sort of characteristics that attract people in such a state of mind. The Samaritans works with the rail sector on this issue and (I am told by someone who was trained by them) their experience is that small interventions such as someone asking "Can I help you?" or seeing a sign offering help may be enough to bring someone in that state of mind back from the brink- apparently the state of mind doesn't always last that long. Having the confidence to engage can be life-saving.

TPO

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I expect Avanti to have used the term "Safeguarding Officer" as a person to look out for anyone on the platform that may appear to be vulnerable and to step in if necessary in order to reduce the risk of harm to themselves. Maybe, a person in a hi-vis may be a deterrent.... (?)

I'd be interested to know what training they are given and the red flags to look out for. Also, are they paid or volunteers?

 

[Howardh]

Here in Greater Manchester I've often seen "Travel Safe" individuals (I won't call them "officers") both on the platform and trains. Apart from a visual presence, not the foggiest what they can/can't do. I assume they can't look at my ticket and have no powers of arrest - other than the same as we do - and probably can't detain anyone. They do seem to carry an awful lot in their pockets, wonder what they are? Shouldn't be handcuffs and pepper spray, they aren't cops, least of all BTP's, so probably a phone, some chewing gum and a mars bar??

But if they can identify and obnoxious individual and at least tell them off or contact the police, that's something.