Child Focused ©SAFE Interviewing
The Certified Framework for Trauma-Informed Safeguarding Interviews with Students
Move beyond basic training. Equip your safeguarding team with the certified ©SAFE methodology to handle disclosures in a legally defensible manner with expertise and confidence.
The ©SAFE Interviewing course provides a structured methodology for conducting child-focused safeguarding enquiries with accuracy and sensitivity. Built on trauma-informed principles, the programme prioritises the child’s emotional well-being while navigating complex disclosures. By following this framework, schools ensure their processes are robust and grounded in defensible practice, minimising procedural risk while keeping the child’s needs at the centre of every enquiry.
The Solution: ©SAFE Interviewing
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Have the Safeguarding team certified in child focused ©SAFE Interviewing.
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Follow the step by step framework and protocols provided.
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Understand that the interview process starts long before you ever meet with the child.
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Ensure that the Safeguarding team and Senior Leaders understand and are committed to the ©SAFE interview process.
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Ensure that the child's needs are at the centre of decision making.
The ©SAFE Interviewing Curriculum
Foundational training for all staff to establish facts and flag issues.
Advanced training to ensure students are asked the right questions in the right way.
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7-8 hrs Theory, Self-paced online
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2 days Practical, in-person skill embedding
Train the trainer
Become a ©SAFE InterviewingTrainer.
Available 2027
Asking the RIGHT questions the RIGHT way
Complete the Theory ONLINE and then join ONSITE training to practice and embed the Child Focused ©SAFE Interviewing framework
Senior Leadership Perspective: The Impact of ©SAFE Interviewing
Why do you need enhanced interview training?
©SAFE Interviewing empowers school staff with the skills and confidence to conduct sensitive conversations regarding safeguarding concerns that have not yet reached the threshold for external referral.
The problems that schools face in interviewing students:
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Schools are often the first place a child discloses abuse
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Staff are not trained in interviewing children
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Children rarely provide the full information
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Detailed information is necessary to determine next actions
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International schools are less likely to have external support
The risks that unskilled interviewing can cause:
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Place children at additional risk of harm
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Protect the abuser
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Lead to false information being gathered
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Lead to miscarriages of justice
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Cause significant emotional, reputational and financial harm to others (staff member, parent, school, other children)
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Risk contaminating information and potential evidence
©SAFE Conversations
This foundational course equips all your staff with the practical skills and confidence to engage sensitively with students who are upset or emotionally dysregulated. It ensures every interaction fosters trust while maintaining professional boundaries and providing the tools to recognise when to escalate concerns to the DSL or guide a student to make a report themselves
Focusing on trauma-sensitive communication and emotional safety:
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Essential Communication Skills: Learning to facilitate child-centred conversations where students feel heard, validated, and supported.
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Recognising and Responding: Practical guidance on identifying when a student is in distress and how to respond in a safe, respectful environment.
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Escalation Protocols: Gaining the confidence to know exactly when and how to report concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
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Empowering Student Voice: Techniques to guide students in making their own reports or leading conversations about their needs.
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Trauma-Informed Practice: Applying core principles of effective communication to reduce student anxiety and foster a culture of trust.
Course Outline
Target Audience
Designed as a vital foundation for all school staff, regardless of role. This training ensures that every adult on campus is prepared to provide the right support the moment a student needs it.
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Format: Safeguarding specialist on-site. Half Day
Option of School Facilitated delivery
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Duration: 2–3 hours.
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Certification: CPD-certified. Certification valid for 2 years
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Fee: £249 per person
Delivery formats
Part 1 : Child Focused ©SAFE Interviewing
The Advanced ©SAFE Interviewing course can be completed in 2 parts:
Part 1. The online Theory providing the core knowledge required to conduct effective, child-centred interviews within a safeguarding context.
Part 2. The 2 day in-person Practical to embedd the theory and practice the skills through
It combines theoretical insights with practical application to ensure practitioners can manage disclosures with professional rigour and sensitivity.
Focusing on the foundational mechanics of the SAFE framework:
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The SAFE Framework: Master the core principles of Strategic, Accessible, Factual, and Empowering interviewing.
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Planning and Structuring: Learning how to prepare for sensitive enquiries to ensure information is gathered accurately.
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Ethical Considerations: Navigating the complexities of student disclosures while maintaining professional and ethical boundaries. Develop skills to ensure interviews are child-centred and ethically sound.
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Evidence-Based Practice: Understanding how to structure questions to minimise the risk of contaminating information or potential evidence.
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Reflective Application: Engaging in practical tasks designed to bridge the gap between theory and real-world school scenarios.
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Gain essential knowledge for SAFE Interviewing Accreditation.
Course Outline
Target Audience
Designed for Safeguarding Teams, Counsellors, and Senior Leaders in both international and UK schools. This course serves as the mandatory prerequisite for those seeking full ©SAFE Interviewing Accreditation.
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Format: Self-Paced (Online) 7–8 hours
○ Pre-recorded webinars covering theoretical insights, practical examples, and ethical considerations.
○ Reflective tasks and an online assessment
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Certification: Upgrade to Advanced ©SAFE Interviewing at a reduced cost within 6 months
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Certification: CPD-certified. Certification valid for 2 years
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Fee: £249.00
Delivery formats
Part 2 : Advanced Child Focused ©SAFE Interviewing
This advanced programme is for professionals conducting in-depth interviews with students who may have experienced or caused harm. It bridges the gap between theory and high-stakes practice, combining advanced cognitive techniques with hands-on application to ensure complex disclosures are handled with professional confidence.
Focusing on mastery of the SAFE methodology and defensible practice, the session covers:
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Advanced Cognitive Interviewing: Mastery of the science behind memory retrieval and trauma-informed questioning.
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Complex Disclosures: Techniques for managing sensitive conversations involving serious harm or peer-on-peer abuse.
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Contextual Case Studies: Two days of hands-on practice using school-specific scenarios to refine interviewing skills.
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Evidence Management: Ensuring information is gathered to a standard that supports formal investigations or external referrals.
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Structured Reflection: Integrated group supervision to reinforce learning and provide feedback on real-world application.
Course Outline
Target Audience
Designed for Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs), Deputy DSLs, and Senior Leaders who conduct formal safeguarding enquiries. While the methodology is child-focused, the advanced techniques are equally effective for interviewing adults.
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Format:
○ Part 1 - Self-Paced (online): Work through 8 hours of pre-course theory including videos, reflective tasks and tests.
○ Part 2 - Safeguarding Specialist Training (onsite) 2 full days: Develop and refine interviewing skills in a structured, supportive environment. Hands-on practice using contextually relevant case studies.
○ Follow-Up Support: Online group supervision (3–4 months after training) for reflection, reinforcement, and feedback.
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Flexible Pathways: Choose to complete both parts in succession or gain partial certification by deferring Part 2 until on-site training is available in your local area.
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Certification: CPD-certified. Certification valid for ?? year
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Fee: ????
Delivery formats
Child Focused ©SAFE Interviewing
Accreditation for Schools
School / Organisational Accreditation:
Let everyone know that you are a school or organisation that takes Safeguarding extremely seriously and are focused on ensuring children’s voices are heard and interviews are conducted ethically and appropriately.
Requirements:
All school staff certified in Level 1: ©SAFE Conversations
Extended Safeguarding Team and Leadership certified in Part 1: Child Focused ©SAFE Interviewing
Minimum of 1 Advanced ©SAFE Interviewer per 600 students
Completed the ©SAFE Interviewing Agreement, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to
supporting qualified staff in following the ©SAFE Interviewing Framework
Senior Leadership Team to complete an annual 1-hour Child Focused ©SAFE Interviewing implementation training session* to ensure an understanding of the framework, system, and necessary support.
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Included in Membership fee
Strategic
Accessible
Factual
Empowering
Keep the CP Enquiry CHILD focused
Meet the needs of THAT child
Ask the RIGHT QUESTION's in the RIGHT way
Remember, this is YOUR work but THEIR LIFE