EIP and Synergy Safeguarding open conversation on safeguarding in social housing

Echelon Improvement Partnerships has joined forces with Synergy Safeguarding to begin an important sector-wide conversation on safeguarding in social housing.

The online session brought together housing professionals to explore how safeguarding is currently being approached across the sector, the challenges organisations are facing, and the opportunities to strengthen practice across services, contracts and supply chains.

Opening the session, Mathew Baxter CEO of Echelon Group highlighted that safeguarding is becoming an increasingly critical part of service delivery. Drawing on experience across client, contractor and consultancy roles, he explained that safeguarding is now appearing more regularly on contract risk registers, both from a contractor and resident perspective.

The session was chaired by Hazel O’Halloran, Founder of Synergy Safeguarding, who led an open and honest discussion with attendees about the practical realities of safeguarding in housing. Participants shared experiences, challenges and examples from their own organisations, helping to build a clearer picture of where the sector is now and where further support may be needed.

A key theme was the importance of moving beyond a compliance-led approach. The discussion highlighted that safeguarding should not be treated as a tick-box exercise, but as a shared responsibility that is embedded throughout service delivery, customer interaction, procurement, contract management and supply chain relationships.

The group also explored the need for clearer and more consistent information sharing. GDPR was discussed as an area where organisations can sometimes feel uncertain, particularly when deciding what information can be shared with contractors or partners. Hazel explained that, in safeguarding, appropriate information sharing can be vital in protecting residents and enabling effective intervention.

The conversation reinforced the importance of openness, collaboration and shared learning across the sector. Attendees contributed valuable insight into the challenges they are seeing in practice.

Feedback from the session will support the development of a forthcoming safeguarding white paper, which will explore the issues raised in more detail and set out practical considerations for housing providers, contractors and supply chains.

We’re also looking to establish an ongoing Safeguarding Working Group, providing a space for further discussion, collaboration and sector learning.

Anyone who was unable to attend the session but would like to contribute to the conversation or be involved in future work is encouraged to get in touch with the us at amip@echelonip.co.uk