23 housing associations from across South Wales have come together to form a Housing Safeguarding Network, to elevate housing as a vital partner in safeguarding efforts. Lauren Howells, Safeguarding Lead at CCHA, spoke about the network and how it came about:
“My resolution coming into 2024 was to network more with other safeguarding leads at housing associations in Cardiff, and to share resources and best practice. I quickly realised this was a shared appetite and set about putting together a network of like-minded colleagues.
“At our launch event at the end of September, we had safeguarding professionals from 14 housing associations across South Wales come together, united in their commitment to achieving the highest safeguarding standards in housing.
“Moving forward we will be holding quarterly meetings themed around the issues that matter most to us, where we can share our practice and expertise, and offer support to each other as likeminded colleagues. There is now also a Teams channel and a WhatsApp group is being set up, as a more informal platform to share information and resources, and to seek support.
“One of the main purposes of establishing this group, is to raise the profile of housing within the safeguarding arena, and to make sure there is representation from the housing sector at meetings with safeguarding boards and with multi agency groups making sure that themes and concerns emerging in housing are fed into any external meetings, and that these are also being fed back to the network.
“We are also exploring opportunities for bespoke housing-focused Safeguarding Lead training, with the aim of increasing consistency and standards of safeguarding training.
“As a group, we are looking forward to championing the value the sector can add to safeguarding conversations alongside other agencies.”
If you would like to join the Housing Safeguarding Network, please get in touch with Lauren Howells (lauren.howells@ccha.org.uk)
The organisations currently involved in the network are CCHA, Pobl, Wales & West Housing, Cadwyn, Taff, Caredig, Newport City Homes, Melin, Bron Afon, Linc, Aelwyd, First Choice Housing Association, Valleys to Coast, United Welsh, Tai Calon, Hafod, Bro Myrddin, Trivallis, RHA, Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association, Monmouthsire Housing Association, Newydd, and Cynon Taf Group.