NOT A SINGLE CASUALTY.

Imagine looking at safeguarding through a completely new lens. A lens that has not already been distorted by “the system”. A lens that requires you to be completely honest with yourself, setting aside any preconceived notions about what the system says is right or wrong.

That is the lens I operate from, and from where I stand, things are starting to make a lot more sense.

In my 16 years working within child protection and safeguarding, I have encountered experiences that have forced me to question not only individual integrity, but the integrity of the social care system itself.

Recently, I carried out research into the origins and history of the social work profession. I was surprised to discover that, historically in the UK, there was no expectation that the state should protect people from harm within families. In cases where a child was beaten, a woman abused by her husband, a disabled person neglected, or an older person mistreated, this was treated as a private family matter. For some, it was explained away as God’s will, misfortune, or simply “how life is”.

Safeguarding did not begin as compassion. It began as a response to fear of social disorder.

The question, then, is how safeguarding rules came about in the first place. They emerged as a response to serious harm happening behind closed doors: child abuse, exposure to domestic violence, drugs, rape, and more. These experiences profoundly affect children, increasing the likelihood of unresolved trauma, mental health difficulties, and, in some cases, violent behaviour later in life.

Over the last ten years, I have seen what it looks like to have a housing system that is completely free from these things. A system where like-minded people unite for the greater good of their community. Though often misunderstood, rejected, or falsely accused, there has never been a recorded casualty within these houses. Not because the individuals are perfect, but because they are bound by vision, purpose, and leadership.

It is time to write a new narrative for what safeguarding should represent and look like. We cannot continue to view safeguarding through outdated lenses. If we are serious about leadership, we must act before harm occurs. We must take ownership, set the standard, and create environments where people are protected, empowered, and able to thrive.