OUR VISION
The Independent Safeguarding Service is an organisation with a very singular vision, to enable a transformation in the quality of safeguarding in the UK through the provision of industry leading training, policies and procedures regardless of industry sector.
We are a Community Interest Company (CIC) and, as such, reinvest profits back into the business and the safeguarding community to create the best and most affordable products possible.
OUR TEAM
Colum Lowe
(CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER)
Following an early career in the creative industries Colum has spent the last 15 years working in the NHS, and with organisations in the autism, learning disability, dementia and elderly care sectors. Colum’s number one passion is creating the best possible products, services and user experiences.
Nick Pratt
(HEAD OF SAFEGUARDING)
Nick is a qualified Social Worker and has worked in statutory child protection for over 20 years. He has managed LADO Services across a number of Local Authorities and is a coordinator for the London Region and National LADO Networks. He works closely with a number of Safeguarding Partnerships including authoring Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews. He has extensive consultancy experience supporting early years settings, schools, the NHS, faith settings, third sector, premier league football and private sector organisations.
Milly Wildish
(EXECUTIVE TRAINER)
Milly spent 10 years as a detective and safeguarding lead in the Metropolitan police working directly with victims of CSE, DV, HBV and child abuse. Milly is also a specialist arbitrator and National Safeguarding Panel member for Sports Resolution UK. She is passionate about delivering high quality safeguarding training.
Kathy Dee
(EXECUTIVE TRAINER)
Kathy is an experienced and passionate safeguarding lead with over 25 years' experience in education and children's services. She specialises in prevention and building capacity to create learning environments where children feel safe and are empowered to make safe choices.
Stephanie Bissett
(PROJECT MANAGER)
With a background in Child Protection, Stephanie coordinates our safeguarding portfolio of services to ensure full sector coverage and equal access. Stephanie also manages our tailored package services
Jen Miller
(TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER)
With her experience and knowledge in web based business development and management, Jen is heading up our digital development. Jen is passionate about providing high quality business solutions online.
Rita Domingues
(HEAD OF CONSULTANCY)
Rita qualified as a Social Worker in 2006. For the past 11 years, she has worked in frontline teams across Children’s Services, the last 5 managing Court and Safeguarding teams. Her expertise is in Care Proceedings and Court reports. She is steadfast in her commitment to good practice in safeguarding vulnerable children and families. She has also spent the last three years in postgraduate studies and building her expertise in Leadership and Management.
Steve Hall
(HEAD OF QUALITY ASSURANCE)
Steve brings nearly 40 years of experience as a qualified social worker and Service Manager in Social Care for various Local Authorities with a background of Child Protection, LAC, Children with Disabilities and Quality Assurance as well as digital recording systems for social work. He is an experienced LADO and is Chair of the National LADO Network. Steve is an experienced trainer and consultant for a wide range of sectors, including Faith, Sports, Fostering, Education, Early Years and Youth Services.
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“It was by far the most interesting and potentially useful Level 3 course I have completed: I have completed at least five in my career so far. Thank you so much for organising such a superb training.”
- Kensington Prep School
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“We felt that the training was very useful and has given us more context to our safeguarding duties and a lot of useful and important pointers to materials to go through as well as ideas for areas of improvement. Most importantly, it has made us more confident in our roles as DSL and DDSL.”
- Eton-X
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“The trainer's willingness to work with me to incorporate organisational challenges and safeguarding business priorities was exceptional and made for a far more meaningful and useful delivery. That, coupled with the presenter's wealth of knowledge and presentation of current case studies, helped cement knowledge and understanding.”
- West Ham United Football Club
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“DSL Traning objectives met and surpassed - best safeguarding training I’ve been on to date!”
- Wimbledon High School
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“I was very impressed with the DSL training & how it was delivered. It kept my attention & was stimulating unlike previous training I have completed.”
- Brighton Girls
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“The DSL training was very very good. Very knowledgeable trainer, I now feel more confident in my role as deputy DSL, Thank you.”
- Birkenhead High School Academy
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“Training was at a high standard, information was completely up to date (hot off the press in fact) and delivered in an engaging, manageable way.”
- Portsmouth High School
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“Nick at ISS has been a real lifeline to me in sharing his expert safeguarding knowledge and helping me to carefully consider the often complex nuances of safeguarding in the context of therapeutic work with clients. He is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and always goes that extra mile to support small businesses with their safeguarding practice.”
- Heartful Therapy
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“This was the best safeguarding training I've been on. Lack of personal stories or scaremongering - astute observations of how things go in schools in practice and firm conviction in what responses would be appropriate. Empathy with the audience, not patronising, but confident. ”
- Croydon High School
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“Thanks so much for your helpfulness - and for the excellent training on Saturday. We so appreciate working with ISS and it's going to help us up our game in lots of ways.”
- YWAM The King's Lodge
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“Nick and ISS have supported Frontline19 so incredibly well to develop effective and robust safeguarding systems for our newly established organisation. From patiently helping us with policies and procedures, to offering high quality training and support around safer recruitment, we feel extremely reassured at every step that we are in great hands.”
- Frontline19
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“The trainer was experienced and presented the material well. I felt that this was a more useful course than the similar one I attended 3 years ago because it made the processes at local authority level clearer.”
- Streatham & Clapham High School
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“I would highly recommend ISS for their safeguarding consultancy, advice and training. Really friendly and reliable service with the most updated staff members working in their respective fields”
- Health & Safety Assured
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“We have used the Independent Safeguarding Service for a few years now as we needed to ensure our safeguarding procedures and policies were up to date and kept that way. They have proved to be an informative and reliable source of information that has proved invaluable. Thanks ISS. ”
- Accability
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“Thank you for your safeguarding consultancy. It has been so helpful for our whole team. The online training resource has been invaluable for our staff to tap in to and has been really well received as CPD.”
- Limetree Solutions UK
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“Nick has a unique competence in so many areas of safeguarding, both with children and adults. We could not have fine-tuned our practice without his help. The online training by ISS is engaging, cutting edge and professional. The fact you can log on remotely while still asking questions for a tailored experience suited us so well. Thank you!”
- Frontline19
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“A really engaging presenter and it really was the most useful training on safeguarding that I've attended. Rarely does it really offer practical advice on implementing policy.”
- Northampton High School
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“I wanted to thank you for your support over the years on your Safeguarding knowledge and expertise. In particular on the development of our policy as well as the resources your service provides as an addition to our mandatory training. ”
- G4S
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“Professional and reliable service from true experts in safeguarding. Would highly recommend ISS's services to anyone.”
- Tribus Consulting
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““We have used the Independent Safeguarding Service for a few years now as we needed to ensure our safeguarding procedures and policies were up to date and kept that way. They have proved to be an informative and reliable source of information that has proved invaluable. Thanks ISS.”
- London Borough of Waltham Forest
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“Excellent trainer, easy to listen to and great delivery of information - great format to learn in - courses more accessible being online”
- Norwich High School for Girls
