Emily Keddell, a social work lecturer and researcher at Otago University, New Zealand has recently published a paper on a study looking at the work of Open Home Foundation practitioners using the Signs of Safety approach in building safety to reunify children to their families of origin.
The 4th Signs of Safety Gathering in the Netherlands was attended by 270 people from 11 countries and was a huge success. Presentations came from Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Northern Ireland, Manitoba, British Columbia, Western Australia, Gateshead, Sweden, Maine and Minnesota.
Quite often people ask Andrew what's happened to Steve Edwards? Steve is most definitely alive and well as can be seen in a presentation Steve gave at the West Australian Signs of Safety Gathering in May 2011. This video captures the energy, commitment and vision Steve brought to creating the Signs of Safety. The video can be watched here.
The Western Australian Signs of Safety Gathering held May 2–4 2011 was a fantastic success, far exceeding the best hopes of all of us who organised the event. Terry Murphy, the Director General of the Department for Child Protection stated 'This was the best conference I have been to in my professional career'.
The English Government made public the final report from the Munro Review in Child Protection in England on May 10, 2011. Eileen Munro is one of the world’s leading thinkers on child protection practice and her report makes vital reading for anyone interested in reforming child protection organization and practice.
Following the lead of Olmsted and Carver counties, over 20 counties in Minnesota have been undertaking some form of Signs of Safety implementation through a training and support process facilitated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Casey Family Programs. Casey Family Programs commissioned the Wilder Foundation in Minnesota to undertake an evaluation of the implementation work and the report of this evaluation is available below. Research - Summary
This practical booklet has been written by Gateshead Practitioners Laura Brennan and Sue Robson, and presents Sue and Laura's use of the Three Houses, Words and Pictures and Safety House tools through 11 separate case examples. Each case example includes examples of the children's own words and drawings.
Andrew Turnell and the production team at Resolutions Consultancy have just completed a Briefing Paper that provides a comprehensive overview of the Signs of Safety. The Briefing Paper, available as a free download, covers the following aspects of the approach: history, philosophy, risk assessment and planning framework, tools for working with children safety planning, appreciative inquiry, organisational implementation strategy and research base.
The BBC current affairs flagship Panorama ran a programme on Monday December 13th on the Baby Peter death. Andrew Turnell undertook an extensive interview for this programme which focuses on the video-taped practice of a Haringey supervisor working with Peter's mother. The programme is available for viewing here.
The Gateshead Page is Here!!
At long last we have a page up on the Gateshead Children's Services Authority's use of the Signs of Safety. Gateshead have been using this approach intensively since 2001. Their work is courageous and inspiring. Lots of video and case examples, check it out!
Things are changing in England! Professor Eileen Munro has released part one of her review of English child protection practice. This is a highly intelligent and straightforward document seeking to lead the English system away from excessive fear driven proceduralism and back to child protection social work that is child focused, real human practice. Anyone interested in child protection reform should read this document prepared by one of the world's most respected and practical child protection thinkers. The review contains two honourable Signs of Safety mentions on pages 30 and 32.
Is it possible to integrate Signs of Safety and the US Structured Decision Making risk assessment tool? In April 2010 a dialogue exploring that question was organised and video recorded.
More information and the videos can be found here.
This DVD and workbook, built around many case examples, guides professionals through the entire process of working together with families to create safety plans that are owned and implemented by the family themselves.
The 3rd International Signs of Safety Gathering held on March 29 to 31 in Chaska Minnesota was a huge success. The Gathering featured presentations from agencies using the approach in North America and around the world. Video and PowerPoint shows from each presentation are now available on the Minnesota Gathering page.
Viv Hogg from England who has been leading the use of the Signs of Safety in Gateshead Borough since 2002, also offers training and consultancy and has launched herself on the web.
On this site we also maintain an up to date, as comprehensive as possible list of all the written material we are aware of that articulates strengths-based, solution-focused and safety-organised ideas and practice within the child protection context.
The Department for Child Protection in West Australia has chosen November 12, 13 and 14, 2012 for its second Signs of Safety Gathering. All 17 districts from around the state will present as well as three international presentations. This Gathering will provide an end-to-end picture of a comprehensive system-wide Signs of Safety implementation. Participants from overseas and elsewhere in Australia are welcome though places will be limited.
As Baroness Butler-Sloss said in 1988, ‘the child is a person not an object of concern’. The challenge in child protection work is to involve that young person directly in work that is supposed to be all about them. Our new DVD and 54-page workbook called: Of Houses Wizards and Fairies presents the Three Houses and Wizard and Fairy tools for bringing the child's voice dead centre into child protection assessment and planning. This DVD and workbook introduces the tools and illustrates their use through many examples from practitioners from nine different countries.
Quite often people ask Andrew what's happened to Steve Edwards? Steve is most definitely alive and well as can be seen in a presentation Steve gave at the West Australian Signs of Safety Gathering in May 2011. This video captures the energy, commitment and vision Steve brought to creating the Signs of Safety. The video can be watched 
The Gathering featured presentations from agencies using the approach in North America and around the world. Video and PowerPoint shows from each presentation are now available on the 
The Department for Child Protection in West Australia has chosen November 12, 13 and 14, 2012 for its second Signs of Safety Gathering. All 17 districts from around the state will present as well as three international presentations. This Gathering will provide an end-to-end picture of a comprehensive system-wide Signs of Safety implementation. Participants from overseas and elsewhere in Australia are welcome though places will be limited.