Has safeguarding improved enough?

Growing up in the 1970s and 80s, the concept of safeguarding barely seemed to exist. If a child disclosed abuse to a teacher, it was often met with an awkward silence and a swift change of subject. There was little awareness, no clear procedures, and certainly no accountability. The abuse was something that happened behind closed doors, and those doors remained firmly shut.

Safeguarding has improved - but is it enough?

Today, safeguarding has undeniably improved. Protocols, reporting systems, and legal protections exist that simply didn’t exist decades ago. Schools, social services, and mental health professionals are trained to spot the signs of abuse and intervene. But the question remains: Has safeguarding improved enough?

As a counsellor, I work with adults whose childhood traumas continue to affect their lives, impacting their mental health, relationships, parenting, and employment. Many suffered in silence as children and, shockingly, are still being failed as adults.

Safeguarding failures in mental health settings

One area where safeguarding continues to fall short is within psychiatric hospitals and mental health advocacy services. Vulnerable adults sectioned under the Mental Health Act rely on advocacy charities, supposedly independent services funded to protect them from harm. Yet, many of these organisations fail to act unless the patient makes a formal complaint, a requirement that disregards the realities of fear, coercion, and power imbalances.

How can we expect a sectioned patient to report abuse if the perpetrator is the very person responsible for their care and freedom? Much like children fearing the consequences of reporting an abusive parent, psychiatric patients may remain silent to avoid repercussions from those in control of their treatment. Yet, the advocacy services that should speak up for them often remain reluctant to challenge the system that funds them.

The cost of silence: Abuse within the system

This silence is devastating. Research shows that a significant proportion of mental health patients have a history of childhood abuse. Many go on to experience further abuse as adults, whether in relationships, institutions, or the very mental health services meant to support them. Instead of breaking the cycle, the system reinforces it.

High-profile safeguarding failures

The resignation of Justin Welby, former Canterbury Archbishop, highlights ongoing safeguarding failures. He stepped down in November 2024 after a review criticised his handling of abuse allegations against John Smyth, who allegedly abused 130 boys and young men. Though aware of the claims in 2013, Welby failed to ensure police involvement, allowing Smyth to evade justice before his 2018 death.

Welby admitted feeling “overwhelmed” by the scale of abuse in the Church of England and acknowledged his failures. He sought forgiveness from victims, stressing that safeguarding must prioritise survivors’ well-being.

The need for urgent reform

Despite progress, serious gaps remain. Vulnerable individuals, whether children or institutionalised adults, often fear reporting abuse, especially when the abuser holds power. Many organisations avoid confronting these issues due to concerns over reputation or funding, perpetuating the problem.

Yes, safeguarding has improved. However, the fact that vulnerable adults and children still fear reporting abuse speaks volumes. Until every person, child or adult, can speak out without fear of being ignored, dismissed, or punished, we are still failing them.

Once again, it is counsellors, therapists, and mental health professionals who are left picking up the pieces of a broken system.

Society must do better. Victims need safe spaces to speak up, and institutions must respond with integrity. Counsellors and mental health professionals frequently address the damage caused by these failures, reinforcing the urgent need for reform.

It’s time for safeguarding to go beyond just policy and funding and ensure protection, justice, and real change.