Our iHV Insights webinar ‘Strengthening Safeguarding Practice: Professional Curiosity and Confident Challenge’ explored the essential safeguarding skills of professional curiosity and professional challenge – two areas frequently highlighted as lacking within Serious Case Review recommendations.
We looked at how these concepts translate into everyday practice and the complex realities of safeguarding babies, children, and families, with expert contributions from the following safeguarding leaders:
- Annette Blackstock – Deputy Director, National Safeguarding Service, Public Health Wales
- Liz Plastow – Safeguarding consultant and iHV Fellow
- Marcia Smikle – Head of Safeguarding Children, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Visiting Lecturer at City University London & Queens Nurse
Please note: Safeguarding Arrangements Across the UK
England uses local safeguarding arrangements led by three statutory safeguarding partners: Local Authority, Chief Officer of Police and Integrated Care Board (previously Clinical Commissioning Groups). Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 provides the current legal/statutory guidance for these arrangements.
Wales operates a Regional Safeguarding Board model under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. Wales publishes functions and procedures through the Safeguarding Boards (Functions and Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2015.
Scotland uses Child Protection Committees which are multi agency strategic partnerships responsible for child protection policy development, inter‑agency cooperation and reviewing practice and learning. For further information see Scottish Government – Child protection: guidance.
Northern Ireland has the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland which coordinate child protection strategy and policy, local Safeguarding Planning Groups and child death review mechanisms. For further information see Co-operating to Safeguard Children and Young People in Northern Ireland.