SKEF – Signs of Safety: A comparative critique across two London Boroughs

The North London Social Work Teaching Partnership is dedicated to sharing best practice and knowledge about innovations and improvement programmes across partner organisations.

The SKEFs provide a unique opportunity to share practice experience and specialist skills, network and enhance collaborative dialogue between managers and practitioners that will inform practise and service development.

These sessions are suitable for social workers, managers and anyone involved in supporting the learning of others, practice or service development.

Facilitated by Sarah Lewis-Brooke BA Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer in social work at Middlesex University, this session will be presented by Liz Shaw, Signs of Safety Implementation Lead, London Borough of Barnet in collaboration with Sam Seddon, Signs of Safety Practice Coordinator and Programme Manager, London Borough of Enfield.

Participants will learn about the experiences of two London boroughs in implementing the ‘Signs of Safety’ practice model that is increasingly being utilised by local authorities to improve children and families services. An evaluation of the successes and challenges of using this model of practice will be explored with ample time for discussion. Participants will be able to share their own experiences of using Signs of Safety, or other practice models, within their organisations and consider the applicability and potential impact on practise and service outcomes.

The session aims to :

• Provide a brief recap of the model for those unfamiliar with Signs of Safety
• Compare the experience of implementation in different local authority contexts
• Share learning in relation to the role of implementation leads in influencing practice systems
• Consider the benefits and drawbacks of using practice models as a means to improve outcomes for children