1.6 Other important Safeguarding Lead qualities in action

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A female safeguarding lead.

Let’s hear from Patience again, as she describes her Safeguarding Lead experiences.

Activity: Patience describes her experiences

Listen to Patience’s description, identify the qualities or attributes she demonstrated in her Safeguarding Lead role, and type them in the boxes below. We have provided one example to help get you started.

Download this audio clip.Audio player: patience_english_nc5266_2024_aug002a_1.6.mp3
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Transcript

PATIENCE
One thing I learned in my early years is that instead of sitting a child in an office and asking them to talk to me, it is often far better to take them for a walk or to go somewhere quiet. Some of my best connections with children have been in comfortable environments where they can chat away about all sorts of things.
Some colleagues questioned the changes I wanted to bring in that were prioritising athlete welfare. Challenging long-held attitudes was difficult. I had to keep repeating my messages and explaining why safeguarding is so very important – using appropriate and eye-opening examples.
Discussions could be heated – the criticism could be quite personal. On bad days I just wanted to give in, but I knew that was not an option. So, I would take a deep breath and keep going.
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Open and approachable (made efforts to connect with children)

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Here are the qualities or attributes we came up with:

Open and approachable (made efforts to connect with children)

Determined and courageous (continuing despite criticism)

Adaptable (finding different examples to promote safeguarding messages)

Patient and resilient (repeating messages, ignoring obstacles)

Recognising how you already demonstrate these qualities is an important way to celebrate what you bring to this challenging area of work.

Now let’s think about who else can help you in your role.

1.5 Qualities that Safeguarding Leads need

1.7 Who can help me in my role?