Signs of Safety – what is it, and what did the evidence say?

Lorna Stabler

Chapter 6 in Experimental Methods and Children's Social Care, 2025, pp 66-76 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Abstract: This chapter explores the effectiveness and implementation of the Signs of Safety (SoS) model in child protection social work within the UK and globally. Originating in Western Australia, SoS aims to actively involve families and children in creating safety plans, focusing on strengths rather than deficits. The chapter discusses a mixed-methods systematic review conducted in 2018 that assessed SoS's impact on reducing the need for children to enter care. Despite widespread adoption and positive feedback from practitioners and families, evidence supporting SoS's effectiveness in improving child safety and reducing care entries is inconclusive, highlighting a gap between favourable perceptions and verifiable outcomes. The chapter underscores the necessity for rigorous evaluations to determine SoS's efficacy in real-world settings and its potential to reshape child protection practices.

Keywords: Signs of Safety; Child protection; Systematic review; Social work models; Evidence-based practice; Child welfare outcomes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035327140
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