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Supervision Of Designated Safeguarding Leads In Primary Schools

Supervision of Designated Safeguarding Leads in Primary Schools

This study is evaluating the impact of providing formal, individual supervision to Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in primary schools in Bolton.

Project Status

Completed

Related Theme

Education and Skills

Funder

Summary & aims

By providing supervison, the programme aims to improve the appropriateness and quality of contacts to children’s social care, and to better support DSLs in their role. This project is funded by What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC).

Methodology

DSLs are the members of staff in a school who have the lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, including responsibility for referring cases that meet threshold levels of concern on to Children’s Social Care. The role can involve having to make difficult decisions about complex situations and vulnerable children. This intervention provides regular supervision sessions for DSLs, delivered by an experienced social worker.

NIESR is evaluating the impact of the programme, exploring impacts on contacts and referrals to children’s social care, through a randomised controlled trial. The RCT is complemented by qualitative work exploring experiences of participating DSLs and the supervising social worker.

Further details are available here.