Experience-Led Solutions

At Eladdis, we believe that the most effective solutions are those designed with, not just for, the people who use them. Our approach to co-production is rooted in active listening, shared ownership, and practical delivery—ensuring that transformation is shaped by those closest to the work.

This ethos was central to the development of our Safeguarding Huddles, which emerged directly from provider feedback during a comprehensive programme of research, training needs analysis, and deep-dive engagement across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Providers told us that while safeguarding training was widely completed—across all levels of leadership and frontline staff—challenges persisted. Safeguarding remained complex, inconsistently applied, and often misunderstood. Some referrals were made unnecessarily due to uncertainty, while others were used inappropriately as a default response to concerns that didn’t meet the threshold.

Providers asked for something different:

“We need a space to talk through the grey areas—somewhere safe, open, and honest.”

We listened—and co-produced a solution.

The Challenge: Complexity, Confidence, and Misuse

Safeguarding is inherently complex and highly individualised. While it is rightly prioritised across the sector, we found that:

• Safeguarding was being overused or misapplied, often due to uncertainty about thresholds or responsibilities
• Referrals were sometimes made inappropriately, either as a default response or due to lack of clarity
• Providers lacked a safe space to explore difficult cases, share concerns, and build confidence in decision-making

This created pressure on safeguarding systems and risked undermining trust between agencies.

The Solution: Safeguarding Huddles

In response, we co-designed and launched Safeguarding Huddles—a reflective, peer-led space for providers to explore real-world safeguarding and Mental Capacity Act (MCA) challenges in a supportive environment.

These sessions are not formal training. Instead, they offer:

• A safe, informal space to discuss complex cases
• Opportunities to clarify roles, responsibilities, and thresholds
• A platform for shared learning and peer support
• A foundation for cross-sector collaboration, including housing, health, and social care

Engagement and Reach

The first session welcomed 69 external providers from across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, including:

• CQC-regulated care services
• Non-regulated supported accommodation providers

This broad participation reflects the widespread relevance of safeguarding and MCA across diverse service types.

Feedback and Impact

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Participants described the session as:

“A really great idea – well done CCC at a time when it feels there is a lot of pressure on providers!”
“Very helpful session”
“Really interesting and informative”
“Wish this was 1.5 or 2 hours – it went fast!”

Attendees expressed strong interest in:

• Receiving slides and recordings
• Attending future sessions
• Sharing templates and good practice

Outcomes and Next Steps

The Safeguarding Huddles have already begun to:

• Build provider confidence in navigating complex safeguarding decisions
• Reduce inappropriate referrals, by clarifying when and how to escalate concerns
• Foster a community of practice, where providers can learn from each other and share tools
• Growth in training uptake, as providers seek to deepen their understanding—resulting in a measurable increase in engagement with formal training offers
• Enhanced income generation, as increased training demand has supported the sustainability of inhouse safeguarding training programmes

Building on the success of our initial safeguarding huddle, we have taken the following steps to deepen engagement and enhance impact:

• Extend future sessions to allow more time for rich discussion and collaborative problem-solving
• Expand our community of practice, fostering stronger peer networks and shared learning across sectors
• Share practical tools and resources, including care plan templates, legal guidance, and threshold frameworks to support confident decision-making
• Introduce themed sessions on key safeguarding topics such as Falls and Pressure Ulcers, helping to clarify thresholds and reduce inappropriate referrals
• Explore impact measurement, identifying ways to track improvements in safeguarding practice and referral quality over time

Conclusion

Co-production is not just about consultation—it’s about shared ownership of solutions. By creating space for honest dialogue, reflective practice, and peer learning, we are helping to build a more confident, capable, and connected provider community.

At Eladdis, we support organisations to design and deliver co-produced solutions that are practical, inclusive, and impactful. If you're looking to strengthen safeguarding practice or embed co-production into your transformation work—get in touch.