Welcome to the Contextual Safeguarding Network from the University of Bedfordshire. This network brings together practitioners, researchers and policy makers who are committed to protecting young people from harm outside of the home. Join the network for free to access resources, tutorials, videos and briefings.
To find out more about Contextual Safeguarding follow the links below.
Sophie Whitehouse (Early Help and Wellbeing Lead) and Madeleine Tester (Contextual Safeguarding Coordinator) share how they are using Contextual Safeguarding in Adur & Worthing Councils to build safety in community spaces and resources they have created, including a podcast, a case study, a Park Audit tool, a communities partnership plan for responding to serious incidents involving young people and a hotspot area register.
This briefing explores the relationship between Contextual Safeguarding and Relationship-based Practice within social care and related youth and community work. It considers the potential for bringing these two ideas together to create child protection practices that utilise relationships to build safety in extra-familial contexts.
Latest Blog - A strategic visit…
Mike Botham, of Sandwell Children's Trust, tells us what it's like to have a 'strategic visit' from the Contextual Safeguarding team. Mike oversees a range of services for Sandwell Children’s Trust, including youth offending, edge of care services and the substance misuse team. Mike also supports the Criminal Justice work strand for the West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit.