A Game-Changer For DSLs: The Power of Prevention

As a Designated Safeguarding Lead, you’re on the frontline every day - spotting concerns, making tough decisions, and ensuring the safety of those in your care. 

You’re the first to notice when something isn’t right, the first to act, and often the first to feel the weight of responsibility.

But what if more issues could be prevented before they became safeguarding crises?

Recent statistics paint a stark picture of rising safeguarding concerns. A 2023 survey by the NSPCC and NASUWT found that 93% of teachers had seen an increase in safeguarding referrals over the past year, with 87% reporting more cases of neglect. 

A 2024 Safeguarding Awareness Week survey by Tes revealed that 85% of educators believe safeguarding concerns are more prevalent now than five years ago, with 59% noting a rise compared to the previous year.

If you’re a DSL, you’re probably experiencing this first-hand! 

The volume of safeguarding concerns is growing, and each case feels more urgent and complex. 

But the good news? 

Early intervention can make a tangible difference - not just in preventing harm, but in making your role more sustainable.

What Early Intervention Looks Like for DSLs

Being a DSL is demanding, and the pressure to get things right can feel relentless. 

Early intervention isn’t just about acting quickly - it’s about building a culture that prevents issues from escalating in the first place.

Here’s what early intervention can look like in practice:

• Recognising risks early: Subtle changes in behaviour, shifts in attendance, or emerging patterns of concern can be red flags. Addressing these early can prevent situations from escalating.

• Empowering staff to raise concerns confidently: A well-trained and supported team will notice and report issues faster, ensuring timely interventions.

• Keeping policies and procedures up to date: Safeguarding risks evolve, and outdated policies can create gaps that leave those you support at greater risk.

You’re already skilled at spotting concerns, but tackling them before they escalate is where early intervention makes the biggest impact.

The Cost of Waiting Too Long

We all know what happens when concerns aren’t addressed early enough:

• Increased risk to those in your care: Delayed responses mean prolonged harm or distress for vulnerable individuals.

• Burnout for DSLs: Crisis management is far more stressful than prevention. Constantly firefighting safeguarding emergencies takes a toll.

• Erosion of trust: If concerns aren’t handled swiftly, staff, parents, and those at risk may lose confidence in safeguarding processes, making future disclosures even harder.

The consequences of inaction are serious - but they are avoidable.

Here’s why a Proactive Approach Works

Prevention is always better than cure, and the most effective safeguarding cultures are built on proactivity rather than crisis management.

Key elements of a proactive safeguarding approach include:

• Regular policy reviews: Ensuring safeguarding policies are fit for purpose and align with emerging challenges.

• Ongoing staff training: Confidence comes with knowledge. A well-trained team is better equipped to spot and act on safeguarding concerns before they escalate.

• Clear communication pathways: Safeguarding should be an open conversation, with clear, accessible reporting procedures that everyone understands and trusts.

By embedding these elements into your organisation’s safeguarding framework, you not only reduce the number of serious incidents but also create a culture where safeguarding is shared, rather than shouldered alone.

How We Can Support You

At Cornerstone Safeguarding, we understand that being a DSL is no easy feat. The responsibility of ensuring the safety of those in your care can be overwhelming, and that’s why we’ve developed the Safeguarding Health Check - a comprehensive service designed to support you in embedding early intervention into your safeguarding approach.

We offer a supportive, non-judgmental safeguarding review, beginning with a conversation to understand your needs. We'll then review policies, gather team feedback, observe your safeguarding culture, and provide clear, practical recommendations through a reader-friendly report to strengthen your framework and help build you confidence.

Here’s how our Health Check can benefit you:

• Support in Your Corner – No more navigating safeguarding alone. We’re here to support, guide, and champion your efforts, ensuring you're never left to handle the pressures of safeguarding without backup.

• An Advocate for DSLs – We understand the weight you carry in your role. We’re here to listen, support, and make sure you have everything you need to succeed, without feeling on your own.

• Amplify Your Voice on Safeguarding – Show your stakeholders that safeguarding isn’t just a box-ticking exercise - it’s at the heart of what you do. 

• Your Roadmap to Excellence – Our tailored report doesn’t just highlight compliance; it gives you practical next steps to strengthen and future-proof your safeguarding approach, helping you stay ahead of emerging risks.

• A Simple, Hassle-Free Process – We know that you need quick and easy solutions. Booking a Health Check with us is seamless from start to finish, allowing you to focus on what matters most. 

It strengthens your organisation, supports your team, and makes your role more doable.

Whether you're preparing for an inspection, updating safeguarding policies, or simply ensuring your team is equipped to act early, our Safeguarding Health Check helps you build confidence and stay ahead of emerging risks.

Ready to Get Started?

Get in touch today with just a click! Fill in our 30-second enquiry form or schedule a free initial chat with Chris East, our Safeguarding Consultant, here.