The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast

In this episode, I continue my series exploring what Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews teach us about domestic abuse and the impact on children. This time, I'm discussing the research report Rethinking Domestic Abuse in Child Protection: Responding Differently and some of the important questions it raises about how we respond to families experiencing domestic abuse.
In this episode I discuss:
Why the research argues that child protection responses often focus too heavily on the non-abusing parent, while those causing harm receive comparatively little meaningful engagement.
How taking a whole-family and intersectional approach can help practitioners better understand the complex realities families face, including poverty, trauma, discrimination, mental ill-health and social isolation.
Why safeguarding professionals need to look beyond individual incidents and recognise the cumulative patterns of harm that emerge across agencies over time.
The importance of building trust and relationships with families while maintaining professional curiosity and a clear focus on reducing risk.
Why prevention matters, and how earlier intervention and stronger relationships could help reduce harm before families reach crisis point.
Are you interested in becoming an independent reviewer? Download my FREE workshop 'How to Establish an Independent Review Practice which Aligns with the Next Step in Your Career' here to find out more.
 
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 all 3 types of reviews covering both children's and adults' safeguarding and 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

In this episode I am exploring the latest NSPCC Learning from Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews publication 'Domestic abuse: learning from case reviews' and the powerful messages it contains for everyone working with children and families. Domestic abuse is often viewed through the lens of adult relationships, but Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews continue to remind us that children are victims in their own right.


In this episode I explore:
Why domestic abuse rarely exists in isolation how this increase risk for children.

How coercive and controlling behaviour can remain hidden, leading professionals to misunderstand victims' responses and underestimate the impact on children.
Why children's voices can become lost within safeguarding processes, even when professionals are actively involved with a family.
The importance of building a picture across agencies, sharing information effectively and maintaining professional curiosity when concerns persist.
 
Are you ready to find out more about independent review work?
 
You can download my free workshop 'How to Establish an Independent Review Practice which Aligns with the Next Steps in Your Career' to find out how you can begin your journey to Independent Review work. Download the workshop here. 
 
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 all three types of independent reviews including children's and adults' safeguarding and domestic homicide. She 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

In this week's episode I am reflecting on the tragic death of 13-month-old Preston Davey and asking the difficult question that follows so many safeguarding tragedies: how can warning signs exist, yet a child still isn't protected?


Rather than focusing on blame, this episode explores what statutory reviews repeatedly tell us about how systems fail, why information doesn't always become understanding, and what we can all learn as about the system.
In this episode I discuss:
Why safeguarding failures are rarely the result of one individual mistake, but an accumulation of small decisions and missed opportunities.
How agencies can each hold pieces of information without anyone seeing the complete picture.
The proposed mechanism for learning
The Children's Commissioner's call for greater accountability and the proposed Child Protection Authority.
Are you interested in joining a supportive community for independent reviewers and review professionals? My Momentum membership provides a space for community, reflection and experiential learning. The doors are open for a limited period. Whats app me here the word COMMUNITY and I can send you the details. 
 
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 all 3 types of safeguarding reviews in both children's and adults' safeguarding and 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].

In this episode I explore why children affected by domestic abuse must be recognised as victims in their own right, rather than simply witnesses to the abuse experienced by adults.
 In this episode you will hear:
• Why children do not need to be physically harmed to experience significant harm from domestic abuse
• How living with fear, coercion, control and unpredictability can affect a child's development, wellbeing and future relationships
• The challenges created by a lack of data about children's experiences and outcomes following domestic abuse interventions
• How Pathfinder Courts aim to place children's experiences at the centre of family justice proceedings and improve responses to domestic abuse
Are you interested in becoming an independent reviewer? Download my FREE workshop 'How to Establish an Independent Review Practice which Aligns with the Next Step in Your Career' here to find out more.
 
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 all 3 types of review 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

In this episode I explore the new standalone offence of cuckooing, introduced under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, and why this legislation represents an important shift in recognising exploitation hidden behind closed doors. 
In this episode you will hear:

• What cuckooing is and how criminals take control of vulnerable people's homes for illegal activity
• Why the new offence is significant and how it shifts the focus onto the exploitation experienced by victims
• The three key elements prosecutors must prove
• Why apparent cooperation or resistance to support does not necessarily mean someone is making a free and informed choice
This episode also reflects on the importance of understanding coercion, recognising hidden vulnerability and ensuring that people affected by cuckooing are seen as victims in need of protection rather than simply occupants of properties linked to crime.
 
I announced this month that there will be two SILP School scholarships available for the October 2026 intake. The SILP School mission is deeply intertwined with my decision to launch this scholarship scheme. It is important to me that we promote diversity and inclusion in this profession I'm proud to be part of. 


This year we will award 1 full needs-based SILP School scholarships & 1 part scholarship. One place will attract zero payment & the other will be charged at 50% to begin SILP School with the October 2026 intake.


The SILP mission is to create a "tidal wave of positive impact." Would you like to part of this movement?


How to Apply
All you need to do is answer 3 questions. The new extended closing date for applications is Thursday 18th June at 2pm. You can find out more information here.
 
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