What does Literature say about Signs of Safety? Making an Inquiry through Critical Literature Review

Abstract

In child protection and welfare, Signs of Safety (SoS) provides a safety-organised, strength-based tactic. Owing to ever-increasing application of this approach in Ireland and elsewhere, SoS has come to be the national child protection practice framework for the Republic of Ireland. Even so, criticisms of SoS have been levelled toward its evidence base, which is arguably modest at best. This article presents findings of a critical literature review method with thematic analysis. The study’s central research question sought to establish how Signs of Safety (SOS) for child protection and welfare is represented in the academic literature. Findings offer critical insights for social work students, practitioners and policy makers. This includes evidence of wide usage and valuing of SoS, in the context of inadequate evidence in Ireland of its claimed effectiveness. Findings demonstrate that practitioners ought to exercise care in applying SoS as it is oftentimes being wrongfully implemented, including lack of consideration of context in its application.