Leaders in Safeguarding
We Are Leaders In Safeguarding
NADSL and Leaders in Safeguarding are independent organisations with distinct roles, working in partnership to strengthen safeguarding practice and systems across sectors.
NADSL strengthens the people who carry safeguarding responsibility-through community, resources, evidence-informed updates and supervision.
Leaders in Safeguarding strengthens organisations-through independent audit, quality assurance, training, specialist advice, and the nationally recognised Safeguarding Quality Mark.
Together, we offer end-to-end safeguarding leadership: support, development, scrutiny and recognition.
What Leaders in Safeguarding does
Leaders in Safeguarding provides independent safeguarding quality assurance, specialist advice and training, and accreditation of safeguarding arrangements through the Safeguarding Quality Mark.
The Safeguarding Quality Mark
Practitioner-led | Ethically awarded | Independently scrutinised
The Quality Mark recognises organisations demonstrating effective, ethical and proportionate safeguarding beyond policies and paperwork-focusing on culture, leadership and real-world practice.
How the Quality Mark is awarded
The Quality Mark is earned through a robust process:
- Independent audit of safeguarding arrangements and practice
- Practitioner panel scrutiny using collective professional judgement
- Contextual, ethical assessment based on proportionality and risk
- Decision and feedback to support continuous improvement
It is not a tick-box badge or a replacement for safeguarding responsibility. It recognises commitment, maturity, adherence to statutory guidance, professional development and wellbeing. Go to Visit: www.leadersinsafeguarding.com for further information.
How we work together
Independent:
NADSL and Leaders in Safeguarding operate separately and provide distinct services.
Partnered:
We collaborate to strengthen safeguarding practice and quality across sectors.
Joined-up (when requested):
Organisations undertaking the Safeguarding Quality Mark can access NADSL support alongside the audit and accreditation journey.
Safeguarding is a continuous journey
Safeguarding evolves.
Many organisations use NADSL to sustain strong practice between audits-supporting ongoing development, reflection and confidence in safeguarding systems.
NADSL and Leaders in Safeguarding remain independent in what we provide. Where organisations pursue accreditation, our services can align to support both people and systems.
Meet the team
Dr Dan Grant
Director of Safeguarding, Leaders in Safeguarding
Dr Dan Grant holds a PhD in Social Work (Safeguarding) and brings extensive safeguarding leadership experience across residential children’s care, learning disability services, adoption and fostering, child protection, youth justice, probation and prisons, and further/higher education. A former Ofsted Inspector, Dan has deep expertise in inspection frameworks, safeguarding evaluation, and quality improvement. He is highly experienced in complaints handling, investigative interviewing with adults, and disclosure work with children. Between 2009 and 2013, he undertook independent service evaluation and improvement work for the London Borough of Merton SEND and Inclusion Service. Dan now leads safeguarding quality assurance and scrutiny across sectors, supporting organisations to strengthen safeguarding culture, governance and practice.
Yvonne Grant
Co-Founder and safeguarding lead, NADSL
Yvonne Grant is a safeguarding and quality assurance professional with over 30 years’ experience across public health, education and multi-agency safeguarding environments. She founded and leads NADSL, providing a UK-wide professional network supporting safeguarders with practical guidance, training resources and evidence-informed updates. Yvonne also serves as a safeguarding panel member with Leaders in Safeguarding, contributing to auditing and quality assurance across sectors. Her expertise includes safeguarding governance, auditing and quality assurance, multi-agency risk management, reflective supervision and evidence-based training. She holds a BSc (First Class Honours) in Family and Community Services and a BSc in Public Health, with a professional background in nursing and safeguarding leadership.
Pete Donnelly
Safeguarding and Mental Health Legislation Specialist
Pete Donnelly is an experienced social worker and Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) with extensive expertise in adult safeguarding, complex risk and mental health legislation. He spent over a decade with Leeds City Council, progressing to Senior Mental Health Specialist Social Worker and AMHP, providing consultation and leadership across safeguarding, the Mental Capacity Act and Best Interests work. Pete has also worked as a Clinical Advisor within the NHS, supporting staff through training, audit and the practical application of mental health legislation and regulatory expectations. He brings strong legal and ethical insight to safeguarding supervision, governance and quality assurance.
Erica Lorenzon
Legal Consultant, Leaders in Safeguarding
Erica Lorenzon is a cross-jurisdictional lawyer, qualified as an Advogada in Brazil and admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in England & Wales. As a Consultant with Leaders in Safeguarding, Erica provides legal advice, drafts policies, and supports compliance and audit processes. Her expertise spans safeguarding law, employment law, criminal law, wills and estates, property law, and regulatory compliance. She strengthens safeguarding governance by ensuring documentation is clear, lawful and operationally robust.
Contributors
NADSL is strengthened by a network of volunteers drawn from local authorities, education, health, and other public-facing organisations. These professionals contribute specialist insight, sector knowledge and practice-based perspective, helping ensure NADSL resources reflect statutory expectations and frontline realities.
Our shared commitment
NADSL was created to close gaps in safeguarding practice across all sectors where safeguarding responsibility sits.
In partnership with Leaders in Safeguarding, we are committed to:
- Ethical safeguarding leadership
- Independent quality assurance
- Professionally delivered supervision
- Accurate, evidence-informed guidance
- Reducing professional isolation
- Strengthening safeguarding culture
Because safeguarding is strongest when it is supported, scrutinised, and shared – and no safeguarding lead should have to carry that responsibility alone.
Visit www.leadersinsafeguarding.com, call 07843 049271 or email admin@leadersinsafeguarding.com to learn more about this market leader
NADSL and Leaders in Safeguarding are independent organisations. Partnership content describes how services can align; it does not imply a bundled or exclusive offer.
Contacts
Yvonne Grant
Membership Coordinator
yvonne@nadsl.co.uk
07730 365924
Erica Lorenzon Da Silva
Legal Executive
askus@nadsl.co.uk
Dr Dan Grant
Founder and CEO
dan@nadsl.co.uk
07843 049271
Peter Donnelly
pete@nadsl.co.uk
07805 312091