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Safeguarding Practice Supervision offer for DSLs in Educational Settings 

As many of you will be aware, between April 2021 – July 2023 Hertfordshire took part in a pilot programme in conjunction with ‘What Works in Children’s Social Care’ (WWCSC) to roll out a model of supervision provided to DSLs in education. During the programme in Hertfordshire, DSLs within 31 secondary and 80 primary schools received regular safeguarding supervision. 

This intervention was well received by DSLs across all the Local Authorities involved in the programme. Looking at our local programme here in Hertfordshire, we were very pleased with the overwhelmingly positive feedback received from DSLs and many have continued to commission supervision from us since the project ceased.

Keeping Children Safe in Education (2024) statutory guidance states “Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure the designated safeguarding lead has the appropriate status and authority within the school or college to carry out the duties of the post. The role carries a significant level of responsibility and the postholder should be given the additional time, funding, training, resources, and support needed to carry out the role effectively”. 

The Child Protection School Liaison Service continues to see the valuable work that DSLs do to safeguard children and promote their welfare amongst the many complexities and challenges that the role can command at times. We fully support the importance of DSLs having a safe space to reflect and be supported in an ever-changing landscape of safeguarding. The service will therefore be widening the current supervision offer to DSLs in all education settings across Hertfordshire; both individual and group supervision will be available to start from September 2024. 

• DSL supervision per session £100.00 or 2 people (DSL & deputy) £150.00. 
• Group DSL supervision per session £200.00 (up to 4 people) or £300 (up to 8 people) 
• All sessions will be 1.5 hours in person or online, at a time and frequency arranged between the setting and the CPSLO. 

All supervision sessions can be purchased in advance for an academic year in blocks of 5 (10% discount) or blocks of 10 (15% discount). Larger packages or specific arrangements tailored to your individual setting/MAT/Trust can be discussed. 

If you would like to organise supervision for your setting/MAT/Trust, discuss further details or any specific requirements, please email CPSLOadmin@hertfordshire.gov.uk

 Thank you for all of the work you continue to undertake to safeguard the children in Hertfordshire 
and we look forward to welcoming more DSLs to this offer of supervision.