Leaders in Safeguarding
Independent safeguarding inspections, consultancy and accreditation
Leaders in Safeguarding provides quality assurance and specialist support, advice, training and scrutiny of safeguarding and wellbeing arrangements. Our work covers many settings including education, health, social care, business and leisure. We help organisations attain high standards and provide expert accreditation through the Leaders in Safeguarding Award and the Wellbeing Award. The positive impact of this work has been referenced within both Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection reports, where the attainment of our awards is cited as evidence of strong and ‘outstanding’ safeguarding practice.
Supporting You to Safeguard Children and Adults
Achieving the Leaders in Safeguarding Award demonstrates your commitment to helping keep children and adults safe and supporting their wellbeing.
Our registered safeguarding quality mark was introduced in 2016 and remains the only one of its kind in the UK. Achieving the award shows that your organisation cares about ensuring it complies with all relevant legislation, government guidance and professional best practice.
Leaders in many of the organisations who hold our award tell us how, from start to finish, the process and experience have helped them to identify improvements, build staff confidence, prepare for statutory inspection and support people to feel safe. Our aim is to ensure the culture in your organisation supports effective safeguarding practices.
Supporting mental health and wellbeing has become an increasingly significant focus for many organisations. The links between safeguarding and wellbeing are very well established and in response to customer demand we have introduced our Wellbeing Award in 2025
Who can apply for the Leaders in Safeguarding Awards?
- Schools, academies and colleges
- Health and care providers
- Charities and local authorities
- Businesses and corporate organisations
- Leisure, sport and community settings
- Any organisation responsible for the safety, wellbeing and protection of others.
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Holders of our Award have told us…
The team were great to work with and gave us the space to reflect on the many ways we promote learner and staff wellbeing and how we could keep moving this work forwards.
Expertise and Professionalism
Our team comprises experienced safeguarding leaders from education, health and social care, with extensive operational and strategic expertise.
All our work is standards driven, evidence informed and aligned with current statutory guidance and inspection expectations.
Through rigorous audit, clear reporting and independent validation, we provide objective, defensible assessments that strengthen safeguarding culture and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the safeguarding quality mark recognised by Ofsted and CQC?
Yes. The Leaders in Safeguarding Award is a registered and widely recognised quality mark that demonstrates robust safeguarding arrangements, leadership and practice. While it is not a statutory inspection judgement, our frameworks and awards have been referenced positively within regulatory inspection reports, demonstrating their value as credible indicators of strong safeguarding practice.
Achieving the award provides externally validated assurance that your safeguarding systems are effective and well led.
How long does it take to achieve the award?
Timescales vary depending on the size, complexity and readiness of your organisation. The process includes a comprehensive external review using our safeguarding standards, preparation of a detailed report, and presentation of findings to our independent Scrutiny and Validation Panel. Once achieved, the award is valid for two years.
If we don’t meet the standards, will you tell us what to do to improve?
Yes. Where standards are not fully met, our report reports include clear, proportionate and practical recommendations. Our approach is developmental as well as evaluative. We provide structured guidance to support improvement and, where required, can offer additional consultancy, training and support.
Is this award just for schools?
No. The award is available to organisations across education, health, social care and other sectors working with children, young people and adults at risk. Our safeguarding standards are applied proportionately to reflect the context and statutory responsibilities of each setting. We have worked with several organisations where there are no statutory obligations to have safeguarding arrangements in place. These organisations recognise the importance of keeping staff, customers and other stakeholders safe.
Is it best to wait until we make further improvements before applying for the award?
Not necessarily. Many organisations find the review process itself highly valuable, as it provides a structured external evaluation and a detailed improvement roadmap. If your safeguarding arrangements are new or only broadly established, the review can help refine systems, strengthen governance and support continuous improvement.
How do we prepare for the audit?
Preparation involves ensuring your safeguarding policies, procedures, training records, governance arrangements and quality assurance processes are well documented and embedded in practice.
To support you, we provide a detailed preparation checklist outlining the documentation and evidence required. You will also have access to our secure online portal, where relevant information can be uploaded and reviewed in advance. Our team can assist throughout the process, offering guidance and clarification to ensure you are fully prepared for the review.
What is the role of the Scrutiny and Validation Panel?
The Scrutiny and Validation Panel provides independent oversight of the accreditation process. It evaluates the review findings and detailed report submitted by the safeguarding consultant and determines whether the required standards have been met. The panel comprises experienced safeguarding professionals from education, health, social care and inspection backgrounds, ensuring robust, objective and defensible decision-making.
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Contact Us
Leaders in Safeguarding Limited is a company registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: 34 School Lane, Appleby, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN15 0AN Company No. 05797929 VAT No. GB139596466.