This resource is from the Scale-Up toolkit and should be used in conjunction with the other resources. You can access the Scale-Up toolkit here.
Understanding the dynamics of peer groups is essential to developing safeguarding approaches that recognise and understand the contexts in which young people experience harm beyond the home.
Peer group assessments provide opportunities for practitioners to consider the dynamics of peer groups, the nature of relationships within groups, the role of the peer group in influencing different types of behaviour displayed by individuals within the group, and the relationship between the group and the various contexts in which they spend their time.
This peer group assessment guidance includes two documents:
- The principles of peer group assessments
- Peer group assessment practice guidance and case study (practice
guidance)
This guidance has been developed by Hackney Children and Families Services and the Contextual Safeguarding Research programme to support practitioners to consider and develop responses to assessing and working with peer relationships and peer groups.
Peer group assessment guidance. February 2019. Jenny Lloyd, Merve Balci, Carlene Firmin, Rachael Owens & the Hackney Contextual Safeguarding team.