WELCOME

Things I wish I knew before I took on my first DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) role People have always asked me how I got into safeguarding, and the honest answer is, I very ungracefully fell into it.    I have always enjoyed working with young people; it has been the backbone of my career. As anyone who works with children knows, you need to do safeguarding training. So, from early on I knew what safeguarding was. When I began working for small grassroots organisations, I became aware that the role of a DSL was often  com bined with other roles. What feels like overnight I became the DSL.    I had completed safeguarding courses on and offline, I knew the highlights, but I’m not ashamed to say it was a long and steep learning curve when I took on the mantel of my first DSL role. So, what do I wish someone had told me?    Below is a little bit of a memo to past me... Be organised As a front-line practitioner, my desk, brain and practice could be described as organise