My story

Before becoming an instructor, I spent 20 years running the day-to-day operations of two nursing homes, including delivering staff training. Safeguarding was part of everything I did there, so it has always been central to my work.

I hold a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Counselling, I’m a member of the Driving Instructors Association, and I’m continuing my counselling studies.

When I moved into driving instruction, I noticed something that surprised me. Learners spend hours alone with their instructor in a small, enclosed space, yet there was very little training on what safeguarding means in that setting.

That became real for me when I took over a learner from another instructor. What I heard from her, and later from others, made me realise how easily learners can be let down, confused, and left blaming themselves. I reported my concerns, and I saw first-hand how difficult it can be to raise a concern in this profession. I was struck by how little guidance existed for instructors in that position: wanting to act, but unsure how.

So I built this CPD-accredited course to make speaking up clearer, safer and more normal

It’s written by an instructor, for instructors, and it’s practical. It covers how to recognise warning signs, how to respond when a learner tells you something, who to report to, and how to protect yourself and your learners. My aim is simple: every instructor who completes it becomes a safer practitioner and a more capable advocate for the learners who trust them.