Supervision for Designated Safeguarding Leads and School Staff.

At Create Safer Organisations based in the West Midlands, we have been providing more and more Supervision, prior to lockdown. 

This has been for the individual DSL’s and Group Supervision for the safeguarding team. 

•Supervision is an accountable process which should provide a safe environment for critical reflection, challenge and professional support that operates alongside an organisations appraisal process

•It should support, assure and develop knowledge, skills and values of the individual, group or team

•The purpose is to improve the quality of their work to achieve agreed objectives and outcomes 

Now that schools have started the Autumn term, and after all the problems that have been identified during lockdown it is important that DSL’s and their team look to organising their Supervision as per Keeping Children Safe and The Ofsted Inspection Guidance.

Keeping Children Safe in Education expects the Designated Safeguarding Lead to “act as a source of support, advice and expertise for all staff” (Annex B). Inspection guidance for early years, education & skills settings then builds on this requiring “staff and other adults receive regular supervision and support if they are working directly and regularly with children and learners whose safety and welfare are at risk” (paragraph 13).