In the new ABC of Safeguarding podcast series for School Management Plus, Delyth Lynch will meet designated safeguarding leads at independent schools across the country. She will ask them about their work, the current challenges they face and what they have learnt in their roles that they can pass on to others.
Delyth, who is the deputy head safeguarding at Wellington College, also looks at how designated safeguarding leads cope with the personal impact of working in such a role.
In this first “Letter A” episode, Delyth speaks to Mark Hindley, deputy head pastoral at Abingdon School in Oxfordshire. He talks movingly about the difficulty of dealing with students with suicidal thoughts and the challenges of family breakdown.
He also outlines the importance of well thought-out administrative systems that allow staff to prioritise spending time with, and listening to, the children they are there to protect.
Mark also gives a glimpse of how he manages to “switch off” from the stresses of his role.
This podcast is essential listening for anyone working in safeguarding or working with a safeguarding lead.
