Six months ago, I leaped into the world of consultancy and training as a Safeguarding professional full of ambition, curiosity, and a determination to support organisations in keeping children, young people and vulnerable adults safe. Today, I’m pausing to reflect, celebrate, and share what an incredible (and sometimes challenging!) journey it has been.
Over the past half-year, which has flown by, I’ve had the privilege of working with many organisations including further education colleges that were navigating complex challenges. I conducted a comprehensive safeguarding audit, helped strengthen their frameworks, and offered ideas and support on how to achieve outcomes differently. I have also supported another college with DSL cover while their safeguarding lead dealt with an extremely distressing situation for the students and staff. Supporting them during that critical period was a true honour, the whole college stepped up and went above and beyond every single day.
From several safeguarding workplace investigations to ongoing supervisions with pastoral, safeguarding and wellbeing staff, I’ve seen first-hand the impact that reflective, trauma-informed practice and professional curiosity can have on outcomes. The chance to train entire college staff, teams and governors on safeguarding, Prevent Duty, and resilience has been a rewarding experience. Witnessing confidence grow and cultures shifting is why I do this work.
I’m also thrilled to be contributing to the future of safeguarding nationally too. Working on a project with the Education and Training Foundation (ETF), I’ve gathered feedback and strategic suggestions on how they can take their safeguarding training offer forward. And I’m over the moon to be part of a small team that was successful in securing the Department for Education (DfE) tender to design the new Prevent tutorial materials for the FE sector, an initiative that will shape staff understanding and practice across the country.
And on a personal note after many late nights, cups of coffee, and mild website-related meltdowns and a few tears I’m proud to be launching my own website today. I built it all from scratch, myself (yes, every single bit of it!), and while the process wasn’t always joyful, the sense of achievement is immense. It feels like the perfect way to mark this 6-month milestone.
If we’ve worked together thank you, you have been amazing to work with and for. If you’re looking for safeguarding consultancy, training, investigation support or reflective supervision I’d love to talk, you can find my contact details on http://www.bcssafeguarding.co.uk.
So here’s to the next six months of collaboration, challenge, and collective safeguarding excellence,
here’s to changing lives together.
Bianca
Leave a Reply