Jahnine Davis: Championing Safeguarding, Equality, and the Rights of Vulnerable Children
Jahnine Davis is widely regarded as one of the United Kingdom’s most influential voices in child safeguarding, equality, and social justice. With over two decades of experience in both statutory and voluntary sectors, she has become a leading expert on child protection, particularly in addressing the often-overlooked issue of adultification bias. Her work bridges academic research, policy influence, and practical safeguarding interventions, ensuring that vulnerable children’s voices are heard and their rights are protected.
Early Career and Professional Journey
Jahnine Davis began her professional journey with a deep commitment to children’s rights and welfare. Over the years, she has held a variety of roles in the safeguarding sector, ranging from frontline work with at-risk children to senior advisory positions influencing national policy. Her early work exposed her to the complexities of protecting children from harm in contexts both inside and outside the home. This experience shaped her understanding of the systemic challenges faced by marginalised communities, particularly Black children.
Davis’s expertise spans not just safeguarding but also equality, diversity, and inclusion within the child welfare system. Her ability to navigate both the practical and policy aspects of protection work has made her a trusted voice for government bodies, academic institutions, and non-profit organisations.
Understanding Adultification Bias
One of Jahnine Davis’s most notable contributions to safeguarding discourse is her work on adultification bias. This term refers to the tendency of adults to perceive Black children as older, more mature, and less vulnerable than they actually are. As a result, these children may receive less protection, support, or empathy from those entrusted with their care.
Davis has spent years researching how this bias influences decision-making within child protection systems. Her findings reveal that adultification can lead to serious consequences, including a lack of early intervention, over-policing in schools, and missed opportunities for safeguarding. By raising awareness of this bias, Davis aims to dismantle stereotypes and ensure that all children are treated with the care and understanding they deserve.
Co-Founder of Listen Up
In her quest to challenge systemic inequalities, Jahnine Davis co-founded Listen Up, an organisation dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices in child safeguarding research and practice. Through Listen Up, Davis and her colleagues conduct research, deliver training, and engage with policymakers to promote more inclusive approaches to child protection.
The organisation’s mission aligns perfectly with Davis’s personal and professional ethos: that safeguarding practices must be informed by diverse perspectives, particularly from those who have lived experience of the systems in question. This initiative has been instrumental in shaping conversations about equality in safeguarding and has created platforms for voices that are too often ignored.
Government Roles and National Influence
Davis’s expertise has not gone unnoticed at the highest levels of government. In November 2021, she was appointed as a member of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, a body responsible for reviewing serious child safeguarding cases and ensuring lessons are learned to prevent future harm.
In September 2024, she was further recognised when she was appointed as the National Kinship Care Ambassador by the Department for Education. In this role, she advocates for children being raised by relatives or close family friends, often in challenging circumstances. Her lived experience of kinship care adds a personal dimension to her professional knowledge, allowing her to represent these children’s needs with authenticity and authority.
Academic Contributions and the Davis Scholarship
Alongside her practical work, Jahnine Davis is a dedicated academic researcher. Her doctoral research focuses on decision-making in safeguarding Black children who experience harm outside the home. This work not only addresses critical gaps in the academic literature but also provides evidence-based recommendations for practitioners and policymakers.
In recognition of her contributions, Durham University established the Davis Scholarship, aimed at supporting care-experienced students pursuing PhDs in sociology. This prestigious scholarship not only honours her achievements but also reflects her commitment to creating pathways for others from underrepresented backgrounds to succeed in academia.
Advocacy for Racial Equality in Safeguarding
Racial disparities in child protection are a long-standing issue in the UK. Jahnine Davis has been at the forefront of addressing these disparities by challenging discriminatory practices and advocating for systemic reform. She has consistently called for culturally competent safeguarding approaches that recognise and respect the diverse experiences of children and families.
Her advocacy includes working closely with organisations, local authorities, and educational institutions to provide training on recognising and counteracting racial bias. By promoting inclusive policies and practices, she helps ensure that safeguarding systems serve all children equitably.
Impact on Policy and Practice
Davis’s influence extends far beyond academic and policy circles. Her work has directly impacted how safeguarding professionals are trained and how they approach cases involving marginalised children. She has been a key contributor to national guidance, ensuring that concepts like adultification bias are understood and addressed at every level of child protection.
Her research and advocacy have informed multi-agency safeguarding strategies, encouraging collaboration between schools, social services, police, and community organisations. This integrated approach ensures that children receive the right support at the right time, regardless of their background.
Public Engagement and Media Presence
Recognising the importance of public awareness in driving change, Jahnine Davis frequently engages with the media to discuss safeguarding issues. She has appeared in interviews, panel discussions, and conferences, using these platforms to highlight the realities of child protection work and the urgent need for reform.
Through these public engagements, she not only informs professionals but also educates the wider community about their role in safeguarding. This inclusive approach fosters a collective sense of responsibility for protecting vulnerable children.
Commitment to Kinship Care
As the National Kinship Care Ambassador, Davis has taken significant steps to improve the visibility and support for kinship carers. These carers often face unique challenges, including financial strain, lack of access to resources, and limited recognition from formal systems.
Davis’s work involves listening to kinship carers’ experiences, identifying systemic gaps, and advocating for targeted policies that address their needs. Her leadership has helped bring kinship care to the forefront of national discussions on child welfare.
Recognition and Awards
Throughout her career, Jahnine Davis has been recognised for her outstanding contributions to safeguarding and equality. While the Davis Scholarship at Durham University stands as a particularly significant honour, she has also received praise from professional bodies, charities, and community organisations for her dedication to improving outcomes for children.
Her work continues to inspire professionals and young people alike, demonstrating the impact one individual can have in creating a more just and compassionate society.
Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Jahnine Davis remains committed to driving systemic change in safeguarding. Her vision includes embedding anti-racist practices in all child protection work, expanding research on adultification bias, and ensuring that the voices of children and their families are central to decision-making.
She advocates for ongoing training for professionals, robust community engagement, and evidence-based policy reform. By combining lived experience with academic rigour, Davis offers a powerful model for how safeguarding can evolve to meet the needs of every child.
Conclusion
Jahnine Davis stands as a powerful advocate for vulnerable children, a respected academic, and a transformative leader in safeguarding. Her tireless work to expose and address adultification bias, promote racial equality, and support kinship care has left an indelible mark on the UK’s child protection landscape.
Through her leadership, research, and advocacy, Davis exemplifies how expertise, compassion, and determination can change lives. As her influence continues to grow, there is no doubt that her legacy will be one of justice, equality, and unwavering commitment to the rights of children.
