Contextual Safeguarding involves keeping children safe outside of their homes. It can include child exploitation and other forms of harm. 

Champions

The purpose of the Contextual Safeguarding Champion role is to:

• Be a key contact for staff within an organisation/department to go to for support and advice in relation to contextual safeguarding and extra familial harm.

• Be a key contact to share updates, resources and examples of good practice.

• To raise awareness, disseminate resources and information in relation to contextual safeguarding and extra familial harm within their organisation.

• To be curious about missing episodes where these are identified alongside other contextual safeguarding and extra familial harm indicators.

Champions will receive free training opportunities, networking, and access to resources. The aim is that each organisation (service area within larger organisations) to have a Contextual Safeguarding Champion.

To become a Contextual Safeguarding Champion, please complete the referral form below: 

Contextual Safeguarding Champions Referral Form

For further information regarding the Contextual Safeguarding Champions Network, please see the leaflet in the link below.

Contextual Safeguarding Champions Network

Meetings

Warwickshire Safeguarding, through the development work of the Exploitation Subgroup, are launching Local Contextual Safeguarding Meetings.

The purpose of Local Contextual Safeguarding Meetings (LCSM) will be a forum to discuss young people or groups of young people where the current interventions and risk management processes are not reducing harm and risk. This will also be an opportunity for emerging concerns around contexts to be brought to this meeting, and multi-agency plans to reduce harm developed.

Further to this, a Contextual Safeguarding Operational Group (CSOG) has been launched.  These meeting will be the arena to escalate any young people/groups of young people or contexts that need further discussion following initial discussion at the Local Contextual Safeguarding Meeting.

The CSOG will play a key role in having an oversight of extra-familial harm (EFH). The group will also maintain its function of building county wide intelligence to inform local contextual safeguarding interventions.

The CSOG exists to provide strategic and operational oversight of multi-agency responses to ensure cohesive county-wide focus for those children and young people affected by extra-familial harm.

Any queries regarding this process can be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Referrals to LCSM

Note: This form should NOT to be used as an alternative referral pathway for a child concern. Agencies should refer to the Warwickshire Safeguarding Partnership Procedures and make a referral to the Children & Families Front Door in appropriate circumstances.

Young people who are aged 11-18 where there are concerns of extra-familial harm, who are generally open to children’s services (including Youth Justice) and receiving an intervention that is not reducing the harm and risk they are exposed to. Children and young people who are not open to children’s services will also be considered, however note this is not an alternative referral pathway to the Front Door.

Professionals can also refer groups of young people, places and spaces of concern via the referral form. These may not be open children to children’s services.

The link to the Contextual Safeguarding Meeting Referral Form is below:

Local Contextual Safeguarding Meeting Referral Form

Further Information:

Regional Procedures - Exploitation Tools and Pathways

Child Exploitation

All age informtation on exploitation

Child Exploitation Awareness Day 2024