Recently, I have been pondering how we can improve our practice around safeguarding children. Often, when an organization identifies problems in its practice, it creates new procedures or practice aids, offers training, or enforces better adherence to procedures. All of the above is fine and can be beneficial. However, I think there may be instances where we keep using similar ways of working when problems occur and don’t investigate deeper into what may be causing them. Plenty of...

The questions we ask families do more than gather information; they shape what we hear, the relationships we build, the records we create, and ultimately the decisions we make about children. Child protection places enormous emphasis on assessment tools, procedures, documentation, thresholds, and decision-making. Yet something comes before all of them: the mindset of the practitioner. Before a practitioner asks a question, they have already begun interpreting the situation. What do I think...

Welcome to ATA Connect: Tools for Supporting Practice. Exceptional safeguarding practice isn’t done in a single moment or through just one system. To do their best work, practitioners need access to trusted tools and resources, opportunities to learn, strong supervision, time to reflect, and chances to learn with and from their peers. ATA Connect provides all of these supports through one easy-to-use platform. With an ATA Connect account, you can access ATA Apps, the Safeguarding Library, the...