001 What Does Think Family Really Mean in 2025
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
Release Date: 11/13/2025
Reviews which respond to latest requirements for anti racist practice
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
In this episode, we explore the powerful intersection between Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 and the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s report, It’s Silent: Race, Racism and Safeguarding Children. Together, these two publications create a direct challenge for everyone involved in safeguarding review work. One sets the expectation. The other exposes the reality. We unpack what the Panel’s thematic review found across more than 50 rapid reviews and LCSPRs, including the persistent “silence” around race and racism in safeguarding analysis and why this...
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Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
This episode explores the key changes in the 2026 update to Working Together to Safeguard Children and what they mean for those carrying out review work. From anti-racist practice and adultification bias to new expectations around babies, child sexual abuse assessments, and Rapid Reviews, this guidance marks a significant shift in how safeguarding reviews are expected to generate meaningful learning. In this week's episode we discuss: Why anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice are now explicit expectations within safeguarding reviews The importance of exploring adultification bias...
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Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation: What Are We Missing in Recording, Recognition and Response?
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
What are we missing in how we record, recognise, and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE)? In this episode, we explore key insights from two important pieces of research: the Department for Education (March 2026) report on recording practices and serious incident notifications, and findings from the Child Sexual Exploitation Centre. Together, they highlight a critical issue: recording is not a neutral process. It actively shapes what becomes visible, what is understood as harm, and ultimately, how systems respond to children’s experiences. In this week's episode we discuss: ...
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Older adults and support for alcohol use
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
Alcohol use in older adults is often described as a hidden issue not because it’s uncommon, but because it is frequently overlooked, misunderstood, and under-responded to. In this episode, we explore a recurring theme emerging from safeguarding reviews: when alcohol-related harm presents in later life, it is often masked by other factors, misinterpreted, or not explored with sufficient curiosity. This isn’t simply about access to services. It’s about how systems see (or fail to see) risk, need, and vulnerability in older adults. In this week's episode we discuss: Why alcohol use...
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Older adults and criminal justice outcomes
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
Do older adults experience the criminal justice system differently? Research and reviews suggest the answer is yes — and the reasons are rarely visible on the surface. Policy, guidance, and legislation all point toward equality, protection, and access to justice. But practice tells a more complex story. In this week's episode we discuss: Why criminal prosecutions involving older victims remain comparatively low, and what that tells us about how the system responds. How abuse in later life is frequently reframed as a safeguarding issue rather than recognised as a crime. The tendency to...
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are we normalising abuse in later life?
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
In this week's episode, we explore how ageism, often subtle and unintentional, shapes the way abuse is recognised and responded to when the victim is older. From normalised harm to compassionate ageism, we examine the biases that can leave older victims invisible within the very systems designed to protect them. In this episode we cover: Why abuse doesn't become less serious simply because the victim is older and how societal assumptions about frailty and decline can minimise harm The normalisation of abuse in later life, including how violence or coercion can be misframed as "family...
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reviews which analyse domestic abuse affecting older adults
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
In this week's episode, we explore the important but often overlooked connections between Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews and the Care Act 2014 and what these reviews are really telling us about how systems respond to older victims of domestic abuse. In this episode we cover: Why Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews matter beyond understanding individual tragedies Missed opportunities to recognise and support carers — a recurring theme in reviews How caring relationships can create complex dynamics where dependency, care needs and safety intersect The Care Act's proactive duty on...
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how independent reviews fit within a portfolio of independent work
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
In today's episode I speak to Katie Fazal. Katie was already an Independent Social Worker when she signed up for SILP training. Now her independent practice includes independent review work. In this Reviewer Spotlight conversation we cover: Why she believes SILP School was the best way to become successful with independent review work How she balances her consultancy work and ensures there is a constant flow of work How independent review work ensures that she is not always working alone and broadens her connections If Katie's story has resonated with you and you want to explore...
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How an independent reviewer can keep one foot in practice
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
In today's reviewer spotlight I talk to Sarah Mantom. Sarah is a Designated Safeguarding Nurse and has an employed role alongside her independent review work. In this Reviewer Spotlight conversation we cover: -Why she chose to formalise her practice through SILP training -How she balances working for an organisation with independent review work -How she chose her specialism in reviews Whether you joined the 5 Day Training last week, dropped off halfway through, or knew nothing about it… There is one session that brings all the best elements into one. It’s called The...
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Independent review work post retirement: the balance
The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast
In today's reviewer spotlight I talk to Hazel Chamberlain, a registered children's and adults nurse with over 40 years of safeguarding experience who has recently retired from the NHS to build her own independent review practice. In this Reviewer Spotlight conversation we discuss: Why she chose to formalise her practice through SILP training How flexible independent review work really is Why doing this work alone, without a network, is one of the hardest things about it. Whether you joined the 5 Day Training last week, dropped off halfway through, or knew nothing about it… There is...
info_outlineIn this bitesize episode of the Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast I talk about tackling domestic abuse through the lens of children facing services v adult facing services.
Hear me talk about:
Key points from the newsletter e.g.
why I believe the Think Family agenda is beginning to get the attention it deserves
the reason that we have services that service children and adults separately
the frustration that arises around how these services support the whole family
what is lacking in our system
the latest government initiative designed to protect children from harm
Are you fired up to generate implementable learning in reviews which could potentially improve the lives of vulnerable people? Join me for my on demand webinar 'How to Establish an Independent Review Practice which Aligns with the Next Steps in Your Career'. Click here to sign up.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Stop Blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers: How to Transform the Way We Keep Children Safe from Domestic Violence, David Mandel, February 2024
About Donna:
Donna has 16 years public sector experience, including her last role as Head of Law for a leading metropolitan authority. Now a safeguarding adviser & trainer, Donna is involved in serious case reviews in both children’s and adults’ safeguarding, domestic homicide and is a SILP Reviewer and Mentor. Donna offers ‘SILP School’ her university accredited training course, Momentum her space for reviewers & a free online network for leaders in review practice.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-ohdedar-review-consulting-ltd/
Join my free Facebook group Blue Light Professionals here
Engagement + proportionality + strengths = SILP