Contextual Safeguarding

Young people form different relationships in the home, with their peers, in their neighbourhoods and in school. Understanding the ‘context’ in which young people encounter harm is central to your ability to provide effective safeguarding. 

• In what context are the risks increased or reduced for individuals and groups of young people?
• What information do you have?
• What else do you need to know?
• What partners are you working with?
• What is the overall picture?
• How does this inform your interventions?
• Are you working in the right way in the right environment?

This course provides an introduction to contextual safeguarding covering: 

1. Research, principles and theory underpinning contextual safeguarding
2. The five inter-related contextual themes
3. The strengths and risks associated with the contextual safeguarding themes

• Young people (identity, culture, trauma, resilience)
• Home (impact of substance misuse, mental health, domestic abuse, neglect and poverty)
• Peers (belonging, affirmation, bullying, social media)
• Neighbourhood (gangs, crime, exploitation)

 4. School/college/individuals: (Mapping hotspots; assessing strengths and risk; planning for change)