Safeguarding Redefined

Sex education doesn’t fail because young people are immature.It fails because adults are carrying unprocessed sexual shame.Sexologist, sex therapist and consent trainer Sian Johnson joins us to unpack why sex education, consent conversations and sexual disclosures are so difficult for adults, not because they’re ‘awkward’, but because they activate shame carried in our bodies, beliefs and nervous systems.This episode delves into:The difference between healthy shame and toxic sexual shameWhy sexual shame can stop people reporting abuse or exploitationWhy asking teachers to deliver RSE without proper support is setting them up to failHow shame shows up in classrooms, safeguarding roles and professional responsesThis is an honest, nuanced conversation about what adults bring into safeguarding spaces, often unknowingly, and why ignoring that reality puts both professionals and young people at risk.Because safeguarding is also about what’s happening inside those who hold responsibility.Connect with Sian Johnson:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sian-johnson-37385416/Website: https://sianjohnson.com/Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ0ZwllED1_R0eAmzurUNbXW6dk92TtCp9BE8oysOnlPwBl3L2vNEooyvSJ3fQaQBk_q1onKflh4Subscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

Consent is often taught as simple.Real life rarely is.In the first of our series 'Let's Talk About Sex (and Safeguarding)', Chris East is joined by Rupert James Allison, consent workshop facilitator for university students, to unpick what consent actually looks like in the real world. They touch on why myths from the 1970s still linger, how heteronormative teaching has limited our understanding of consent, and why focusing solely on harm can shut down meaningful learning. Rupert introduces the Wheel of Consent and a deceptively simple question that can transform sexual experiences and everyday interactions alike:Who is this for?From non-verbal communication to the power of asking for a pause, this conversation challenges the idea that consent is a one-off yes or no. Instead, it invites us to see consent as something we arrive at together.This episode is essential listening for educators, safeguarding professionals, university staff, and anyone who wants to move beyond box-ticking and towards ethical, respectful, and genuinely mutual sexual experiences.Contact Rupert James Alison on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupert-james-alison/⁠---Useful Links: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding⁠  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - ⁠www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk⁠ Email us at Cornerstone: ⁠info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk⁠Book in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: ⁠https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ0ZwllED1_R0eAmzurUNbXW6dk92TtCp9BE8oysOnlPwBl3L2vNEooyvSJ3fQaQBk_q1onKflh4⁠Subscribe to Cornerstone Connect - ⁠https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup⁠ - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/⁠Leah East on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/⁠Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

What happens when a teacher breaks and no one notices?In this powerful episode, experienced educator Anna Fannon shares the moment she went beyond burnout, and why it changed everything. From masking in the classroom to hiding in plain sight, Anna describes what it feels like to be physically present at work, but mentally gone.Together, Anna and Chris confront one of education’s biggest blind spots: why staff wellbeing is still treated as a 'nice to have', while safeguarding and care are reserved almost entirely for students, and what it really costs when adults are expected to keep going, unnoticed.This conversation digs into:Why cake, cards and wellbeing posters aren’t enoughThe real cost of constant masking for staffWhat leaders miss when they don’t ask, “What do you need?”If you work in education, leadership, safeguarding or pastoral roles, this one is for you.----Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ0ZwllED1_R0eAmzurUNbXW6dk92TtCp9BE8oysOnlPwBl3L2vNEooyvSJ3fQaQBk_q1onKflh4Subscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

Australia has become the first country in the world to ban social media for under-16s. Some are calling it bold. Others are calling it overdue. Young people are calling it life-ruining.In this episode of Safeguarding Redefined, Chris is joined by online safety specialist Andy Briercliffe to ask the uncomfortable question many aren’t ready to answer yet:Does banning social media actually make children safer or just push the risks somewhere else?Together they unpack:Why an outright ban feels appealing but may miss the real problemThe uncomfortable reality of image sharing, sexting, and peer pressureWhether regulation, education, and culture change are being sidelined in favour of headlinesThis isn’t a neat debate with a tidy solution. It’s an honest, experience-led conversation about uncertainty, unintended consequences, and why safeguarding rarely works when we reach for the nuclear option.If you work with children, lead safeguarding, or are parenting through the digital minefield, this episode will challenge your assumptions and sharpen your questions.Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-briercliffe-760621191/--Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ0ZwllED1_R0eAmzurUNbXW6dk92TtCp9BE8oysOnlPwBl3L2vNEooyvSJ3fQaQBk_q1onKflh4Subscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/

⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses suicide and bereavement.What do you say to someone who has lost a loved one to suicide?How can we actually support them, not just in the moment but in the months and years that follow?In 2018, Caroline’s husband of 18 years took his own life without warning, leaving behind their two young children.Caroline’s journey following this tragedy led her to combine her lived experience with her professional skills and expertise to become a Strategic Communications and Wellbeing Specialist, mentor, and a public speaker where she shares her story of grief and loss to give a voice to those impacted by suicide.She has also written the best-selling book, ‘Daddy Blackbird: the true story of a family surviving and thriving after loss by suicide'. The complex trauma resulting from Steve’s sudden suicide has defined Caroline’s mission to support and empower others who have faced a similar tragedy, helping them to manage their grief, navigate their complex emotions, prioritise their own wellbeing, articulate their own story and ultimately find hope again.For more information: Book: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/bXAtx2S⁠Website: ⁠https://daddyblackbird.com⁠LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-roodhouse-mcipr-a5948622⁠Bluesky: ⁠@daddyblackbird.bsky.social⁠Substack: ⁠https://daddyblackbird.substack.com/⁠💜 Explore the peer-to-peer support from ⁠Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide⁠💚 If you need a safe space to talk, you can speak with ⁠Samaritans⁠ on 116 123💗 Find guidance and support through the ⁠SANE⁠ Textcare and SANEline services💜 Contact the ⁠National Bereavement Service⁠ for practical guidance and emotional support💙 Download the FREE Hub of Hope app from ⁠Chasing the Stigma⁠💛 Explore the resources from ⁠Campaign Against Living Miserably⁠🧡And support a bereaved child with the help of ⁠Winston's Wish⁠Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ0ZwllED1_R0eAmzurUNbXW6dk92TtCp9BE8oysOnlPwBl3L2vNEooyvSJ3fQaQBk_q1onKflh4Subscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

Feeling the Weight of Safeguarding?You’re Not Alone.DSLs carry enormous responsibility - but who supports them?Victoria Morris, with 20 years in education and 10 as a DSL, joins us to talk about the power of supervision.We explore why supervision is essential for those holding safeguarding responsibility - offering not just support, but space to reflect, be challenged, and process the emotional impact of the role.A must-listen for anyone working on the frontline!Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ0ZwllED1_R0eAmzurUNbXW6dk92TtCp9BE8oysOnlPwBl3L2vNEooyvSJ3fQaQBk_q1onKflh4Subscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

Trustees and governors hold ultimate responsibility for safeguarding.So why do so many feel under-equipped and uncertain when it comes to asking the right questions?In this episode, the Safeguarding Collective strip back the myths around governance, DSL capacity, and DBS checks.They explore what boards actually need to know, where organisations unintentionally set people up to fail, and why 'being a volunteer' is not a reason to lower safeguarding standards.Connect with The Safeguarding Collective:Safeguard-Me: https://www.safeguard-me.co.uk/Patronus Safeguarding: https://www.patronus-safeguarding.com/--Useful Links: Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs:  https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ0ZwllED1_R0eAmzurUNbXW6dk92TtCp9BE8oysOnlPwBl3L2vNEooyvSJ3fQaQBk_q1onKflh4Subscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

Think safeguarding records are just admin? Think again. In this episode we reveal why your documentation is more than a tick-box exercise - it’s the lifeline for effective casework.From protecting you legally to shaping the best outcomes for those at risk, good records matter. Are your records clear, useful, and actually fit for purpose? Tune in and take our simple but powerful challenge too.—-------Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/

What if the way we manage behaviour is quietly working against the thing we care about most - a child's safety?In this episode, Chris chats with SEMH specialist Heather Lucas to explore one of the most awkward questions in education:can you manage behaviour and still be someone children feel safe to disclose to?They unpack the hidden tensions built into many behaviour systems, why punitive approaches damage felt safety, and what really happens when a child is expected to trust the same adult who restrains, sanctions, or suspends them.Heather takes the conversation deeper, questioning whether splitting the roles is truly the answer or whether the real issue is how we approach behaviour in the first place.If you’ve ever sensed a mismatch between your behaviour policy and your safeguarding values, this episode will strike a chord and offer a more connected, relational way forward.Connect with Heather Lucas:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8C%B1heather-lucas-6a6aaa319/Email: bitesizedpsychology@gmail.comWebsite is coming soon! -----Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

Uncertainty is baked into safeguarding, but it doesn’t have to paralyse us. In this episode, we dive into how we can reclaim control by focusing on what we can influence. We provide practical strategies and real-life examples, this episode shows you how to stay grounded, confident, and effective, even when the unknown looms large.We’ve also got a simple yet impactful challenge for you - listen in to find out more!—-------Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/

Some teens don’t fit the mould, and the school system wasn’t built for them.Enter Oarsome Chance, where kayaks, skiffs, and carpentry workshops are more than activities: they’re lifelines.This episode is part of our Charity Spotlight week, shining a light on organisations making a real difference for young people.CEO Paul Napthine shares how his team builds trust, safety, and belonging for young people navigating trauma, neurodiversity, and complex life challenges. From breakfast chats to blue‑space adventures, discover what it really takes to give teens a second chance,  and why safeguarding isn’t just a policy, it’s the golden thread through everything they do.Find out more about Oarsome Chance:Website: https://www.oarsomechance.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oarsome-chance/Donate: https://www.oarsomechance.org/get-involved/donate/Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

Safeguarding culture can make or break an organisation, yet most people have no real idea how strong theirs actually is.In this episode, we dig into what truly separates genuine culture from lip service, and why honest reflection might just be the most underrated tool in your safeguarding kit.And yes, there's a challenge waiting for you at the end - listen in to find out more!—-------Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/

What happens when your headteacher is also the DSL… and the culture isn’t just written on paper, it’s actually lived?In this episode, Chris speaks with Jon Turner about the realities of being both Headteacher and DSL - the leadership strain, the sleepless nights, and the cultural backbone that makes it all possible.Jon shares:how he built a trust-first culture from day onewhy empathy is a leadership strength rather than a soft option, andwhat it feels like to make a referral at 4.30pm… then spend the evening wondering if a child is actually safe.This is an honest, vulnerable, and deeply human look at safeguarding from the top, and the emotional weight no policy ever prepares you for.Connect:Jon Turner - Head of Academy & DSLKVPA School: https://www.kvpa.org.uk/index.asp---Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

You know that feeling when your brain can’t quite explain it, but your gut already knows?This episode dives into the instincts we too often dismiss, and why ignoring them could be the biggest safeguarding mistake of all.We unpack what to do when something feels off, how to record it without concrete evidence, and why speaking it aloud in supervision could be the key that unlocks the truth.We’ve also got a simple yet impactful challenge for you - listen in to find out more!—-------Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/

Safeguarding loves a strong policy.But vulnerable children don’t feel policies, they feel culture.And if your culture isn’t giving them stability, belonging and safety, nothing else matters.In this episode, Chris speaks with Dominic Riste, Assistant Headteacher for Pastoral Care and Safeguarding at Woodlands School Basildon, and member of NAPCE – National Association of Pastoral Care in Education.Dominic lifts the lid on a whole-school model that’s actually changing outcomes for children known to social care. Not theory. Not posters. Not paperwork.Real culture. Real consistency. Real change.You’ll hear:what trauma really looks like in schoolwhy consistency beats any interventionthe four pillars of their safeguarding culturehow they kept vulnerable pupils engaged, stable and thrivingwhy this all matters more than anything else we doA punchy, hopeful conversation that prioritises culture over compliance.Connect:Dominic Riste LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-riste-14982630a/Woodlands School Basildon: https://www.woodlandsschool.org/NACPE (National Association of Pastoral Care In Education): https://www.linkedin.com/company/napce-uk/---Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

What happens when someone finally opens up… and isn’t believed, heard, or taken seriously?That moment of being dismissed can hit harder than the original harm. Traumatic invalidation doesn’t just hurt, it shapes how people see themselves, trust others, and engage with support.In this episode, we dig into what invalidation really looks like in safeguarding , how easily it can slip into conversations without us realising, and what we can do to stop it in its tracks.You’ll hear practical ways to validate emotions, rebuild trust, and create space where people feel genuinely seen and safe.We’ve also got a simple yet impactful challenge for you - listen in to find out more!—-------Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/

In our first episode of Collective Insights, Chris teams up with Klaudia from Patronus Safeguarding and Jon from Safeguard-Me, to tackle the questions every DSL wrestles with but rarely speaks about.They dive into:• How to confidently close a concern without anything slipping through the cracks, including Klaudia’s four essential checks and why “lessons learned” shouldn’t be an afterthought. • What schools should actually be checking when social workers, speakers, contractors, or coaches walk through the door,  whilst Jon busts the big myth about flashing DBS certificates at reception! • What a real safeguarding culture feels like, not just looks like,  from the front gate to the first five minutes a visitor walks in, as well as why your tone, welcome, and everyday human interactions matter as much as your policies. • And why safer recruitment starts before anyone even applies (spoiler: your job advert is doing more than you think).It’s practical, honest, and grounded in real frontline experience.Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

What happens when you swap the front line of police investigations for the corridors of a primary school?For 12 years, Katie James worked in child abuse investigations. Today, she supports children in school, and still sees the same stories unfold.In this episode, Katie and Chris unpack the unseen side of safeguarding:Why what happens after a disclosure matters mostHow to stay objective in the most emotionally charged work imaginableThe truth about isolation, and how one simple idea rebuilt connection for DSLs across her areaIf safeguarding ever feels like a one-person mission, this episode will remind you you’re not alone.Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East

Safeguarding doesn’t just live in your caseload.It lives in your body, your sleep, your reactions, the way you brace before opening your inbox.This episode dives into the part of safeguarding most people quietly carry without ever naming it.The emotional toll.If you’ve ever walked away from a concern feeling unsettled, disheartened, emotional, or just not quite yourself - you’re not imagining it.And you’re not weak.You’re human.We explore why these reactions show up, how to spot them before they snowball, and what small shifts genuinely support your wellbeing in the role.We’ve also got a simple yet impactful challenge for you - listen in to find out more!—-------Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/

Tutoring feels harmless enough… until you realise there’s no statutory safeguarding framework holding that world together.In this episode, Rachel Ballantyne lifts the lid on an unregulated industry where anyone can call themselves a tutor and step straight into a child’s life.We dig into the uncomfortable questions:• How can a parent actually know their child is safe?• Why do so many tutoring providers still have no DSL, no vetting, and no process for reporting concerns?• And what happens to the most vulnerable pupils when safety becomes optional?Rachel shares how she’s trying to rewrite the rulebook with Edify - creating real standards, real accountability, and a blueprint the whole sector should be following.If you work with children, hire tutors, or are a tutor yourself, this one’s a wake-up call!Listen in and you might rethink what “safe tutoring” looks like.Connect with RachelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-ballantyne/Edify Tutoring: https://edifyempowertutoring.co.uk/-----Useful Links: https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like youTo find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk Email us at Cornerstone: info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.ukBook in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: https://calendar.app.google/AGMat9bDsAjPtqMZASubscribe to Cornerstone Connect - https://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/cornerstoneconnectsignup - for fresh safeguarding insights, priority access to support, and exclusive discounts. Chris East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-east-801496174/Leah East on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-east-cornerstone/Producers of this episode: Chris East, Leah EastHost of this episode: Chris East