Contextual safeguarding against extra-familial harm

What contextual safeguarding is and how it helps children and young people.

About contextual safeguarding

Contextual safeguarding aims to protect young people who experience significant harm that happens outside of the family.

Violence and abuse can occur in different relationships that young people have.

This can happen:

  • in their neighbourhoods
  • in their school
  • online

It can affect their behaviour in other areas of their lives. Parents and carers usually can't help. Extra-familial abuse can undermine parent-child relationships.

How childcare professionals can help

Professionals work with the local community. They engage with people who have influence within extra-familial situations.

Child protection services already work to protect young people from violence or abuse experienced in their home. However, they know that young people are vulnerable to abuse outside of their homes. Contextual safeguarding covers harmful situations experienced outside the home environment.

How to protect a child by contextual safeguarding

If you're concerned about a child's safegarding:

If you're concerned about an adult's safeguarding, send an email to HASCSafeguardingHub@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

Report a crime to Sussex Police

Report a crime:

Phone 999 in an emergency.