Naming the silence: Identity in safeguarding

Open to all social work practitioners across Adult and Children's Services within the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership. Please see our Partner organisations below. 

Session overview: 

This session invites practitioners to reflect deeply on how race, culture, and bias shape safeguarding assessments. Through quotes, prompts, tools, and collaborative activities, we will explore the silences that surround identity in multi-agency practice—and how to challenge them. Participants will leave with strengthened confidence, practical frameworks, and a renewed commitment to equity-informed safeguarding

Session Objectives

• Deepen understanding of how identity influences risk, protection, and visibility

• Explore how racism and bias manifest in safeguarding systems and assessments

• Build confidence in naming and responding to racial harm in practice

• Reflect on missed opportunities and systemic drivers of silence

• Engage with tools to support identity-informed assessments and documentation

• Exploring Race, Culture, and Bias in Multi-Agency Practice

Facilitator: Delroy Madden, Chief Executive, DM Consultancy Services | Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Consultant

Delroy Madden is a seasoned Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Consultant and the Chief Executive of DM Consultancy Services. With over two decades of experience spanning public, private, and therapeutic sectors, Delroy is dedicated to designing transformative learning experiences that drive systemic change. His work centres on anti-discriminatory practice, racial equity, cultural competency, and organisational development.

Delroy’s approach is trauma-informed, psychologically safe, and globally adaptable, empowering organisations to move beyond reflection toward sustained, measurable action. Through his consultancy, he supports teams and leaders in embedding equity into their culture, policies, and everyday practice.

Partner Organisations: 

Birmingham City Council

Birmingham City University

Cheshire East Council

City of Stoke-on-Trent Council

City of Wolverhampton council

Coventry City Council

Coventry University

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Keele University

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Shropshire Council

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Staffordshire county council

Staffordshire University

Telford & Wrekin Council

University of Birmingham

University of Warwick

University of Wolverhampton

University of Worcester

Walsall Council

Warwickshire County Council

Worcestershire County Council