From Protection to Partnership: Changing the Tone of Safeguarding
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Safeguarding doesn’t mean ‘doing to’ — it means ‘working with’. Too often, services frame safeguarding as protection from harm, rather than a partnership for wellbeing. But when people feel controlled, judged, or excluded from decisions, safeguarding becomes something done to them — not with them.
🧭 Reframing Safeguarding as Partnership
Commissioners and inspectors now look for a clear shift in tone — away from paternalism and towards co-production. That means:
- Seeing people as experts in their own lives
- Working with, not for, the person
- Making time for dialogue, not just forms
Safeguarding is no longer just a legal function — it’s a relational one. And that changes how we work.
🧩 Building Trust Before a Crisis
You can’t make safeguarding personal in a crisis if you haven’t laid the groundwork beforehand. This means:
- Embedding rights-based conversations in everyday support
- Giving people space to discuss concerns without fear of consequence
- Normalising reflection, curiosity, and challenge
When people trust their support workers, they’re more likely to raise concerns — and be part of the solution.
📝 Reflecting Partnership in Tenders
In your bids, focus on how you:
- Involve people in safety planning, even around complex risk
- Use advocacy to support choice
- Review safeguarding actions with the person, not just about them
Commissioners are looking for evidence that your service is with the person every step of the way — not acting on their behalf without consent.