Risks Outside The Home

(Contextual Safeguarding)

Contextual safeguarding, which has been developed by Dr. Carlene Firmin at the University of Bedfordshire's Contextual Safeguarding Network, recognises that as young people grow and develop they are influenced by a whole range of environments and people outside of their family, for example in school, in the local community, in their peer groups or online. Children and young people may encounter risk in any of these environments. Sometimes the different contexts are inter-related and can mean that children and young people may encounter multiple risks. Contextual safeguarding looks at how we can best understand these risks, engage with children and young people and help to keep them safe. 

Our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy sets out our commitment to protecting children, how we will keep them safe and how to respond to concerns.

Risks outside the home can take a variety of different forms and children can be vulnerable to multiple harms including (but not limited to) sexual abuse (including harassment and exploitation), criminal exploitation, county lines, and radicalisation.

At Oaklands, we are also particularly concerned about children's vulnerability to online harms (see our online safety section for further advice and support)

Are You Listening?

Funded by Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland's Violence Reduction Network, the film entitled 'Are you listening' aims to raise awareness of the issue of CCE, some of the signs that could indicate a child is in danger and where you can go for help and support. It is important we all play an active role in tackling this issue.

A subtitled version of the video can be viewed on YouTube.

Kayleigh's Love Story

Visit the Leicestershire Police's website to access the police news item on the film 'Kayleigh's Love Story' made to warn children of online grooming.

By working together with our children, parents/carers & wider family members, and our local community, we aim to keep children safe at all times, and to teach them ways in which they can keep themselves safe.

For further information see:

https://www.contextualsafeguarding.org.uk/

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/news/2019/october/what-is-contextual-safeguarding