About Us
Phyllis Stephenson — Founder & Principal Consultant
Phyllis Stephenson is a highly experienced social worker and safeguarding specialist with over 30 years’ experience across social care, education, voluntary and community sectors, and faith settings. She is widely recognised for her leadership in child sexual abuse prevention, whole‑school education, and systemic safeguarding improvement.
Phyllis combines strategic insight with deep practice expertise to design safeguarding solutions that are scalable, sustainable, and grounded in evidence. Her career spans frontline therapeutic work, national programme development, policy influence, and large‑scale service design — all focused on improving outcomes for children and families.
During her time with the NSPCC, Phyllis led major national projects including the development of an enhanced recovery service for children and families affected by CSA, shaping online safety messaging for parents and professionals, and contributing subject‑matter expertise to widely used resources such as Talk PANTS and Talk Relationships. She also designed and supported the implementation of Keeping Safe, a whole‑school prevention programme proven to improve outcomes for children, parents, and teachers. The evaluation of this work has been published widely and continues to inform best practice across the UK.
Phyllis is passionate about building organisational capability. She has extensive experience in training development and delivery, project management, service implementation, and supporting practitioners and leaders to embed effective safeguarding systems. Her approach is collaborative, trauma‑informed, and rooted in the belief that prevention is both possible and essential.
She is registered with NI Social Care Council (NISCC) and is a member of British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and National Orgsanisation for the Treatment of Abuse (NOTA). Phyllis also brings governance and community experience through her roles in church safeguarding and as a board member of a sexual health charity. She is also an Associate Trainer with Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI).)
As Founder of Stephenson Safeguarding Consultancy, Phyllis is committed to helping organisations create safer environments where children and young people are protected, supported, and heard.
Paul Stephenson — Associate Consultant
Paul Stephenson is a Senior Consultant with a leading UK children’s charity, where he has worked since 2001. A qualified social worker for over 35 years, he brings extensive experience across both statutory and voluntary sectors, working with adults, children, and families. His early career in probation services including managing a hostel for individuals who had sexually harmed children, shaped his strong commitment to prevention‑focused safeguarding practice.
Paul has considerable expertise in supporting voluntary organisations, faith groups, sports governing bodies, and leisure services to strengthen their safeguarding arrangements. His work includes delivering high‑quality training, developing robust policies and procedures, and providing case advice to help organisations respond confidently to complex safeguarding situations. He is particularly passionate about training that empowers staff and volunteers to create safer, more positive environments for children across a wide range of settings.
Paul is also an active contributor to the wider safeguarding community.
His roles include:
• Secretary of NOTA Northern Ireland branch (National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse)
• Member of the All Party Group for Sport and Physical Recreation
• Independent member of the Church of Ireland Safeguarding Board
• Secretary of the Safeguarding in Sport Strategic Group
• Specialist advisor on the development of Mental Health Guidelines for Community Sport across the UK
• Member of the UK’s Children’s Coaching Collaborative steering group
• Member of the Department for Communities Safeguarding Forum
• Former board member of a charity supporting children’s mental health
• Current board member of a charity supporting members with learning difficulties
Paul’s breadth of experience, combined with his practical, prevention‑focused approach, makes him a highly respected safeguarding practitioner and a valued member of Stephenson Safeguarding Consultancy.
How We Achieve This
• Strengthening safeguarding systems by helping organisations develop practical, sustainable policies, procedures, and everyday practice that keep people safe.
• Empowering leaders, staff, and volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognise risks early, respond effectively, and prevent harm before it occurs.
• Facilitating courageous conversations that explore challenges openly, build trust, and support meaningful cultural change.
• Creating lasting impact by working collaboratively to build environments where abuse is far less likely to occur and where children, young people, and adults at risk feel safe, supported, and heard.