In 2017, the Contextual Safeguarding programme (CSP) began partnering with local authorities to begin testing the Contextual Safeguarding (CS) framework in practice. This project was the first systematic attempt at evaluating the extent of the programme’s reach and impact. The Reach and Impact (R&I) workstream aimed to evidence the value that the CSP adds in terms of influencing policy and practice in response to extra-familial harm (EFH). Below is one of the case studies from the Reach and Impact Project. This case study describes how Contextual Safeguarding has influenced local systems and practice to improve the lives of young people experiencing or at risk of extra-familial harm. Names and some details have been changed to preserve young people’s anonymity.
What was the vision for Contextual Safeguarding?
Kingston and Richmond Safeguarding Children Partnership (KRSCP) identifies Contextual Safeguarding (CS) as one of three strategic priorities within its Business Plan. The vision is to implement the CS framework across the London boroughs of Kingston and Richmond for whole system change in child protection, so it has the structures in place to recognise, and respond to, children experiencing extra-familial harm (EFH) and the contexts where the harm occurs. Through implementing CS, KRSCP aim to embed a shared responsibility for safeguarding across agencies operating beyond family contexts and put in place referral processes for coordinated partnership activity that complements social care practice with individual children and families.
What has been put in place?
Achieving for Children (AfC) is a social enterprise with responsibility for developing and delivering children’s services within the boroughs of Kingston and Richmond. A Vulnerable Child and Adolescent (VCA) Subgroup oversees the priorities of the SCP’s CS workstream and is chaired by senior leads from the Police (Detective Chief Inspector) and AfC (Director of Children’s Social Care). The delivery plan of the VCA Subgroup is supported by task and finish groups. The VCA Subgroup has oversight of the Multi-Agency Child Exploitation (MACE) strategic panel and meets quarterly to discuss issues and trends on identified EFH for young people.
The Borough Councils and AfC have developed a Youth Safety Strategy, which is governed by the Kingston and Richmond Community Safety Partnerships. The strategy aims to coordinate multi-agency responses to the contextual issues impacting upon the safety of young people (aged up to 25) in the community. The Multi-Agency Vulnerability to Exploitation (MARVE) protocol and the CS framework act as the operational frameworks to target and respond to EFH. The strategy also outlines AfC’s role to provide CS training to the workforce and wider community to increase understanding of CS and create consistent responses to EFH.
AfC supports both workforce understanding and implementation of CS, as well as providing a bespoke Adolescent Safeguarding team to support children who are at risk of EFH. AfC has established a CS lead professional role, held by the adolescent exploitation and missing manager. The lead is a key point of access for AfC on CS and is developing how CS will be fully implemented across the boroughs. There are monthly Champions meetings supporting best practice and the development of guidance documents for identifying extra-familial risks when working with children and families.
Starting in December 2020, AfC have been running a pilot to develop a contextual safeguarding and exploitation (CS&E) conference. The pilot has 3 focus points in responding to EFH: 1. building EFH into child protection conferences where there are identified intra- and extra-familial risks for a child; 2. a child protection equivalent response for only EFH; and 3. a child protection equivalent response to the location. Key identified leads are allocated to those children identified as being at risk of EFH and oversee the identified plan the child is receiving (i.e. child protection, child looked after, or the CS&E plan). To support the Conference Chairs and the Independent Reviewing Officers, training has been provided by the CS lead on how to adapt child protection and child looked after plans to incorporate extra familial risk safety planning; as well as support the Lead Conference Chair for the pilot in developing bespoke plans which respond to EFH only.
CS has been integrated into the various technology pathways, including the contact forms for referrals received into AfC, processed by the Single Point of Access Team; the single assessment, which provides space for the practitioner to critically reflect and analyse the impact of a location and/or peers on a child’s safety; and within the strategy meeting form, to consider if appropriate thresholds have been considered when a child is reported missing and/or is requiring a referral to the MARVE panel.
What were the challenges?
The CS lead role is a newly developed role within children’s services, which can raise the expectation among
partners that the lead holds responsibility for anything relating to CS. Partner agencies are encouraged to identify their own safeguarding leads and other links within AfC to foster shared responsibility and learnings.
What were the key mechanisms of change?
There has been a high degree of buy-in to CS from KRSCP and senior leadership teams across the boroughs. The teams within AfC benefit from having a CS lead in place who has raised awareness and increased knowledge of the CS framework and newly implemented processes. The CS lead also offers consultation to practitioners, which has been valuable to developing CS responses as practitioners are able to reflect on practice and gain advice on complex cases. Staff can also consult with CS&E champions across the teams, extending CS practice beyond the Adolescent Safeguarding team and upskilling all team managers and practitioners within AfC.