The SHANARRI Safe indicator is one of the most critical elements of Scotland’s approach to child wellbeing. It focuses on ensuring that every child or young person grows up protected from harm, abuse and neglect, within an environment that supports their development.
For professionals working in care, education and social work, Safe is not just about responding to risk. It is about recognising early signs, understanding context and taking action that protects wellbeing over time.
What Does “Safe” Mean in Practice
Within SHANARRI, Safe refers to more than physical protection. It includes emotional and psychological safety, as well as protection in online environments.
This means considering whether a young person:
- Feels secure and supported in their environment
- Is protected from harm, abuse or exploitation
- Has trusted relationships with adults
- Is able to express concerns and be listened to
Safety is often influenced by a combination of factors, including home environment, peer relationships and personal experiences.
Identifying Risk and Early Warning Signs
Recognising risk early is essential. Warning signs may not always be obvious and often emerge through patterns of behaviour rather than single incidents.
Professionals may notice:
- Changes in mood or behaviour
- Withdrawal from activities or relationships
- Increased anxiety or aggression
- Signs of neglect or unmet needs
In residential care settings, these observations can occur at different times of day and across different teams. Capturing and connecting this information is key to building an accurate understanding of risk.
Safe in Different Settings
The meaning of Safe can vary depending on the environment.
In schools, the focus may be on safeguarding within the classroom, peer relationships and online behaviour. In residential care, safety extends across all aspects of daily life, including routines, relationships and living environments.
This requires continuous monitoring and communication between staff to ensure that risks are identified and addressed quickly.
Recording and Evidencing Safety
One of the challenges professionals face is ensuring that safety concerns are recorded consistently and clearly. When information is fragmented across systems or recorded in different ways, it becomes harder to build a complete picture.
Geco Connect supports this by allowing professionals to capture safeguarding information in real time and organise it within the SHANARRI framework. This ensures that concerns are visible, patterns can be identified and appropriate action can be taken quickly.
It also strengthens the ability to evidence safeguarding practices during inspections and reviews.
Supporting Safer Outcomes
The Safe indicator is not only about identifying risk. It is about creating environments where children and young people feel secure, supported and able to develop.
This requires:
- Strong relationships with trusted adults
- Clear communication between professionals
- Consistent recording and monitoring of wellbeing
- Early and coordinated intervention when concerns arise
When these elements are in place, organisations are better able to protect young people and support positive outcomes.
See SHANARRI in Practice
If you would like to see how organisations are strengthening safeguarding and wellbeing reporting through the SHANARRI framework, Geco Connect can help.
Book a demo to see how it works in practice.