Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership

Contextual safeguarding

An introduction to contextual safeguarding and useful links 

Contextual Safeguarding is an approach to understanding, and responding to, young people’s experiences of significant harm beyond their families. It recognises that the different relationships that young people form in their neighbourhoods, schools and online can feature violence and abuse.  

Parents and carers have little influence over these contexts, and young people’s experiences of extra-familial abuse can undermine parent-child relationships. Therefore,  practitioners need to engage with individuals and sectors who do have influence over/within extra- familial contexts, and recognise that assessment of, and intervention with, these spaces are a critical part of safeguarding practices.  

Contextual Safeguarding expands the objectives of child protection systems in recognition that young people are vulnerable to abuse in a range of social contexts. 

Watch a video explaining the definition of contextual safeguarding (YouTube)

The University of Bedfordshire's Contextual Safeguarding Programme has information about ongoing projects exploring systems change in children’s services, the nature of and responses to extra familial harm, contextual interventions in peers, schools and communities, and sector engagement.

Durham University's Global Centre for Contextual Safeguarding also has a number of useful videos and resources relating to the topic. 

Understanding contextual safeguarding

Contextual Safeguarding is an approach to keeping children and young people safe by recognising that the risks they face often come from outside the home in places including; schools, friendship groups, neighbourhoods, and online environments like social media. 

Safeguarding isn't just the job of families. It’s the responsibility of everyone including schools, professionals, communities, peers, and digital platforms.

Safeguarding the whole context — from the inside out.

Circular diagram, showing the layers of people and factors that make safeguarding everyone's responsibility. The child is the centre. The surrounding layers are online social media, neighbourhood, school, peer group and home.

The diagram illustrates how a child’s world is made up of overlapping contexts that influence their development and wellbeing.  

The summaries below explain how each context contributes to safeguarding for children and young people.

Child (core circle)

At the heart of contextual safeguarding is the individual child — their behaviour, relationships, and experiences. Some young people may take risks or find themselves in vulnerable situations through no fault of their own. Understanding the child’s perspective is crucial to offering the right support. 

Online context: Children may encounter online threats such as cyberbullying, grooming, or pressure to engage in unsafe behaviours, often without adult knowledge. 

Home and family

Parents and carers are expected to provide the primary source of love, protection, and support. However, even in stable, loving homes, children can still face risks from external environments. 

Online context: Families may not always be aware of what their children are experiencing online. 

Peer group

Friendships are a huge part of a young person’s life. But peer influence can also lead to unsafe behaviours such as; violence, sexual pressure, or criminal exploitation. 

Online context: Harmful peer dynamics often continue or start online for example; through group chats, social media challenges, or exclusion from specific social media platforms.  

School or college

Schools are key safeguarding partners. They can be places of safety and learning, but also places where issues between peers may arise. 

Online context: Conflict or exclusion that starts in school can spill into digital platforms, where issues may escalate without adults seeing them. 

Neighbourhood and community 

The physical environment matters. Parks, streets, local businesses, and transport routes all shape a young person’s experiences. Gangs, drug networks, or unsafe adults can pose serious risks. 

Online context: Exploitation and recruitment can begin online but impact young people in their real-world communities. 

Social media and online environments

Social media cuts across all contexts. It’s where children connect with peers, express themselves, and form identities. But it also exposes them to risks from people they know and those they don’t. 

Key concerns: 

  • grooming and child sexual exploitation (CSE)
  • exposure to harmful content (e.g., self-harm, hate speech)
  • sharing of explicit images (sexting)
  • peer-on-peer abuse in group chats
  • constant pressure to conform or gain approval 

Online safety and contextual safeguarding

Young people's online experiences are closely connected to their offline lives. Concerns such as bullying, exploitation, grooming, coercion and harmful peer influences can take place through social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps as well as in physical settings.

For practical advice, guidance and resources for children, young people, parents, carers and professionals, visit our dedicated Online Safety page.

Visit our Online Safety Page

Exploitation and missing

Child exploitation (CE)

Child exploitation is when someone takes advantage of a young person for their own gain—this could be for criminal activity, sexual purposes, or financial control. It can happen in person, in groups, or online. Many children don’t recognise they’re being exploited until harm has occurred. Child Exploitation is often broken down into two types; Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation, which are defined below:

Types of child exploitation

Child sexual exploitation

  • The current DfE definition for CSE is: "Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. 
  • It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. 
  • The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology."

Child criminal exploitation

  • The current Home Office Definition of CCE is:
  • "This occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into any criminal activity:
  • in exchange for something the victim needs or wants; and/or
  • for the financial or other advantage of the perpetrator or facilitator; and/or
  • through violence or the threat of violence. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child Criminal Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology."

Exploitation thrives on

  • power imbalance (age, gender, status)
  • emotional manipulation and coercion
  • isolation from support networks
  • control that feels like friendship or love

Spotting the signs

  • Children may not always disclose what’s happening. Adults should look for warning signs, such as:
  • going missing or unexplained absences
  • changes in behaviour, dress or new possessions
  • increased secrecy, particularly around phone/social media use
  • being found in areas they don’t normally visit
  • withdrawn, anxious, or aggressive behaviour
  • involvement with older individuals or new peer groups

What to do if you’re worried

 

Westmorland and Furness Contacts

Complex Safeguarding Team, Westmorland and Furness

  • These professionals support young people assessed as at low, medium or high risk of exploitation. They coordinate risk planning, offer direct intervention, and engage with education, health, and community partners.
  • Email: CERAR.WAF@cumbria.gov.uk.
  • Use this email address to contact the Complex Safeguarding Team for advice and guidance if required. All referrals using the CE Vulnerability Checklist need to be sent to the Multi-Agency Children's Hub with a completed Single Contact Form for any Children and Young People not already open to Children's Services. 

Contextual Safeguarding Networks

  • Contextual Safeguarding Networks provide an opportunity for professionals who have knowledge and understanding of contextual safeguarding concerns to access additional training, share learning and good practice, and network with professionals from other agencies. If you require further information or would like to attend these networks, please contact: WFSCPTraining@Cumbria.gov.uk 

Resources for professionals

These tools support early identification, prevention, and intervention.

Tackling child exploitation - multi-agency practice principles

Guidance documents

Forms and processes

Philomena Protocol – for children who frequently go missing:

Training and awareness

Sexual abuse resources

Additional support