NADSL and Leaders in Safeguarding
Strengthening Safeguarding Together
NADSL was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic, at a time when safeguarding leads were carrying increasing responsibility, often with limited peer support, trusted guidance or space to reflect.
The need for a dedicated safeguarding association became clear through the national quality assurance work of Leaders in Safeguarding. Across different organisations and settings, the same message kept emerging: safeguarding roles were becoming more complex, accountability was growing, and many professionals were making high-stakes decisions without the support network they needed.
NADSL was created to address the lack of consistent peer support, practical guidance and professional connection available to many safeguarding leads. We provide trusted updates, practical resources, professional support and a community that understands the weight, complexity and importance of the role.
How NADSL and Leaders in Safeguarding Work Together
NADSL and Leaders in Safeguarding are closely connected, but they have different roles.
Leaders in Safeguarding strengthens organisations through independent scrutiny, quality assurance, professional challenge and improvement.
NADSL strengthens safeguarding professionals through trusted updates, practical resources, reflective support and professional community.
Together, they support stronger safeguarding at both organisational and practitioner level.
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.
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) Children’s Community Nursing and a BSc in Specialist Public Health. She has an extensive, professional background in family support, 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.
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.
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