Safeguarding Redefined

Safeguarding culture can make or break an organisation, yet most people have no real idea how strong theirs actually is. In this episode, we dig into what truly separates genuine culture from lip service, and why honest reflection might just be the most underrated tool in your safeguarding kit. And yes, there's a challenge waiting for you at the end - listen in to find out more! —------- Usefu...

What happens when your headteacher is also the DSL… and the culture isn’t just written on paper, it’s actually lived? In this episode, Chris speaks with Jon Turner about the realities of being both Headteacher and DSL - the leadership strain, the sleepless nights, and the cultural backbone that makes it all possible. Jon shares: how he built a trust-first culture from day one why empathy is a lead...

You know that feeling when your brain can’t quite explain it, but your gut already knows? This episode dives into the instincts we too often dismiss, and why ignoring them could be the biggest safeguarding mistake of all. We unpack what to do when something feels off, how to record it without concrete evidence, and why speaking it aloud in supervision could be the key that unlocks the truth. We’ve...

Safeguarding loves a strong policy. But vulnerable children don’t feel policies, they feel culture. And if your culture isn’t giving them stability, belonging and safety, nothing else matters. In this episode, Chris speaks with Dominic Riste , Assistant Headteacher for Pastoral Care and Safeguarding at Woodlands School Basildon, and member of NAPCE – National Association of Pastoral Care in Educat...

What happens when someone finally opens up… and isn’t believed, heard, or taken seriously? That moment of being dismissed can hit harder than the original harm. Traumatic invalidation doesn’t just hurt, it shapes how people see themselves, trust others, and engage with support. In this episode, we dig into what invalidation really looks like in safeguarding , how easily it can slip into conversati...

In our first episode of Collective Insights, Chris teams up with Klaudia from Patronus Safeguarding and Jon from Safeguard-Me, to tackle the questions every DSL wrestles with but rarely speaks about. They dive into: • How to confidently close a concern without anything slipping through the cracks, including Klaudia’s four essential checks and why “lessons learned” shouldn’t be an afterthought.  •...

What happens when you swap the front line of police investigations for the corridors of a primary school? For 12 years, Katie James worked in child abuse investigations. Today, she supports children in school, and still sees the same stories unfold. In this episode, Katie and Chris unpack the unseen side of safeguarding: Why what happens after a disclosure matters most How to stay objective in the...

Safeguarding doesn’t just live in your caseload. It lives in your body, your sleep, your reactions, the way you brace before opening your inbox. This episode dives into the part of safeguarding most people quietly carry without ever naming it. The emotional toll. If you’ve ever walked away from a concern feeling unsettled, disheartened, emotional, or just not quite yourself - you’re not imagining...

Tutoring feels harmless enough… until you realise there’s no statutory safeguarding framework holding that world together. In this episode, Rachel Ballantyne lifts the lid on an unregulated industry where anyone can call themselves a tutor and step straight into a child’s life. We dig into the uncomfortable questions: • How can a parent actually know their child is safe? • Why do so many tutoring...

Ever felt the urge to ‘just check a bit more’ before referring a concern? That instinct could be the very thing that collapses a case. This episode draws the line between information gathering and investigation, and why crossing it can derail justice. You’re not the detective. You’re the gatekeeper. Tune in for the one question every DSL should stop asking, and a simple challenge to strengthen you...

What if the danger isn’t the moment someone turns violent,  but the months or even years before? In this episode Chris East speaks with Jane Harvey, CEO of the Hollie Gazzard Trust, about the hidden reality of stalking: how fixation becomes obsession, how victims lose control of their lives, and why society still laughs off this type of behaviour that actually ruins lives. Jane shares what she’s l...

For our first episode of Supervision Central in its new home on Safeguarding Redefined , we’re asking: whose voice carries the weight? Ever been in a meeting where the quietest person said something vital, only for it to vanish beneath the louder voices? When the same few people dominate, you risk missing the one insight that could change everything. This episode explores what it really means to g...

What does it really mean to be a boy in 2025? How can we redefine masculinity to foster genuine self-worth? In this episode, Ben Oliver, founder of Worth Educating , joins Chris to unpack how today’s culture sells masculinity to young men, and why phrases like ' toxic masculinity' might be doing more harm than good. They explore how shame-based language shuts boys down, how fear hides behi...

Do suspensions and exclusions actually improve student behaviour, or could they be doing more harm than good? In this episode, Chris talks with Zelpher Ferguson, education and youth advocacy specialist at Aluna Behaviour Consultancy. Zelpher shares her expert insights on how certain school policies can inadvertently push young people towards the justice system and highlights why building strong, r...

What does real change around sexual and gender-based violence look like? Are e-learning modules really enough to make a difference? In this episode, Chris East talks with Ruth Heneke Eliot, Co-Founder of Training Works, about how institutions can go beyond tick-box training and policies that protect their reputation to create genuine, trauma-informed cultures of safety. They cover: Is a simple cli...

Ever felt a safeguarding incident crush you? The guilt. The what-ifs. The sleepless nights wondering if you missed a sign. Chris talks with Hayley Cameron, Education Safeguarding Manager at Cognus Ltd, about the moments that stop time. They share the raw, unfiltered truth of working on the frontline: the victories, the heartbreak, and the impossible reality that you can’t save everyone. If you’ve...

Why do girls with ADHD so often slip under the radar? Boys are diagnosed two and a half times more than girls - but that doesn’t mean girls aren’t struggling. In this episode, we welcome back Louise Belshaw, neurodiversity and education expert, who reveals the hidden signs, the silent struggles, and the surprising triumphs of girls with ADHD. Learn what to look for - and why recognising it could c...

As part of our Charity Spotlight series for this month, we chat with Vanessa Lanham-Day , Co-Founder and Chair of The Green Hub, about how a small garden in Milford grew into a thriving nature-based programme helping teens build resilience, wellbeing, and confidence. Discover the story behind their work, the impact on families, and why nature can be a powerful tool for supporting young people! Con...

What if everything you thought you knew about yourself was rewritten by a late diagnosis? In this episode, Chris chats with our guest Victoria Morris, about uncovering the raw realities of discovering ADHD and autism later in life. They dive into the hidden cost of masking, the toll on mental health, and the journey toward genuine self-understanding. The conversation also challenges how education...

Are we really listening to neurodiverse children?  And what does it mean to adopt a neuroaffirmative approach to safeguarding? In this episode, Chris is joined by Rebecca Hitch from The Myriad Collective to explore how valuing difference can transform schools, organisations, and support systems. They unpack why neurodiversity, especially in females, is so often missed or misunderstood, and why it’...

Safeguarding can leave your mind crowded with tough stories, heavy emotions, and the constant pressure of getting it right. In this episode of Safeguarding Redefined , Jane Reason joins Chris to explore how that mental clutter builds up, why supervision matters, and practical ways to process what you carry home. Whether you’re on the front line or leading from behind the scenes, this conversation...

While we take a summer breather, we're revisiting one of our most-loved episodes from earlier this year... Ever been labelled 'difficult'? Or watched a child dismissed as the 'naughty one'? In this episode, Chris is joined by Louise Belshaw, The ADHD Teacher, to challenge the misconceptions surrounding ADHD and how they affect children's safeguarding. They explore why behav...

While we take a summer breather, we're revisiting one of our most-loved episodes from earlier this year... Every year, an average of 40,000 teachers leave the classroom. Why is this happening - and what can we do about it? In this episode, we speak with Mike Leaman, Founder of Classroom Exit Coach and former school leader with over a decade in education leadership. Mike shares powerful insight...

While we take a summer breather, we're revisiting one of our most-loved episodes from earlier this year... What happens when we really listen to those who have lived through unimaginable experiences? In this deeply moving episode, our guest bravely shares their lived experience of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) with our host, Chris East, offering an unflinching and honest account of the realities...

While we take a summer breather, we're revisiting one of our most-loved episodes from earlier this year... We teach kids to stay safe online, to be careful in public, to look out for danger. But what about financial safety? Right now, young people are entering adulthood without being taught the basic financial knowledge they need whilst at school. They're falling victim to scams, sinking into debt...