How do we respond to harm faced by young people beyond their front doors? Can practitioners keep young people safe at school, in their neighbourhoods or with their friends when social care systems are designed to work with families?


The Contextual Safeguarding approach has transformed how policy makers, social care leaders, practitioners and researchers understand harm that happens to young people in their communities and what is required to respond. Since 2015 it has been tested across the UK and internationally. This book shares stories from child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation and peer violence about what has been learnt on this journey.


For anyone interested in how we safeguard young people beyond their front doors, this book shows how much we have achieved and raises big questions about what more we need to do to ensure young people are safe – whatever the context.

Contributions by: Molly Manister, Hannah Millar, Elsie Whittington, Michelle Lefevre, Lisa Bostock, Vanessa Bradbury-Leather, Lauren Wroe, Rachael Owens, Paula Skidmore, Delphine Peace, Carly Adams Elias, Lisa Thornhill, Joanne Walker, Susan Rayment-McHugh