SAFE Associate – Hazel O’Halloran
With over 25 years working for housing associations, local authorities, social care, and charities, from frontline to the Board, Hazel holds significant experience in implementing and embedding safeguarding practices across a range of organisations.
Previously trained as a Specialist Practitioner in Safeguarding Adults whilst working in Adult Social Care and a Train the Trainer for both children and adults safeguarding.
Hazel has a strong background in homelessness, safeguarding and domestic abuse, and community investment, which enables her to have a deep understanding of challenges facing vulnerable people. As an ambassador for social change, she has been involved in commissioning safeguarding audits, managing key risk indicators and governance, enhancing approaches to safeguarding including learning & development to create greater understanding of the importance of safeguarding and accountability.
Her efforts for raising awareness of safeguarding and domestic abuse were recognised as a winner at the National Housing Awards for ‘Campaign of the Year’.
She is honoured to be a speaker at various conferences as well as contributing to podcasts, webinars, the National Safeguarding & Housing Best Practice forum, and formerly lecturing modules on safeguarding, domestic abuse, and homelessness for Wolverhampton University.
Hazel has recently founded Synergy Safeguarding consultancy, which considers how contractors and businesses who work in communities and homes can play their part in creating safer workforces and safer communities.
Her experience also extends to being a Non-Executive Director for Brighter Futures specialising in safeguarding, as well as voluntary positions as a WISH (Women in Social Housing) Board member, and a mentor for the Housing Diversity Network.
Hazel is privileged to being able to bring together both professional expertise and personal lived experience and is very much looking forward to contributing to the outstanding work SAFE deliver.
Outside of her professional life, Hazel enjoys music festivals and gigs, and practices Pilates and Yoga to focus her body and mind.