Safeguarding Children and Young People from Radicalisation and Extremism

Radicalisation is defined as the process by which people come to support terrorism and violent extremism and, in some cases, go on to participate in terrorist groups.

Extremism is the vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. The government definition of extremism also includes the call for the death of members of the armed forces, whether in the UK or overseas.

There is no obvious profile of a person likely to become involved in extremism, or a single indicator of when a person might move to adopt violence in support of extremist ideas. Children and young people can be drawn into violence or they can be exposed to the messages of extremist groups by many means. These can include through the influence of family members or friends and/or direct contact with extremist groups and organisations or, increasingly, through the internet via Social media or other websites. The process of radicalisation is different for every individual and can take place over an extended period or occur within a very short time frame.

In order to be able to recognise and respond to concerns that children/young people are being radicalised, staff working in residential units should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of radicalisation and the various forms it might take, thereby enhancing their ability to recognise signs and indicators amongst the children and young people in our care;
• Identify a range of interventions - universal, targeted and specialist - and have the expertise to apply these proportionately and appropriately;
• Take appropriate measures to safeguard the wellbeing of children living with or in direct contact with known extremists.

All terrorist groups seek to radicalise and recruit people to their cause, including children and young people. The Government Prevent Strategy focuses on three key objectives to reduce the likelihood of terrorist incidents.
These are:

• Challenging the spread of terrorist ideology;
• Identifying and supporting vulnerable individuals; and
• Working with key sectors and institutions.

Early intervention work is at the heart of the Prevent Strategy and aims to protect and divert people away from being drawn into terrorist activity. Channel is also a key element of the Prevent strategy. It is a multi-agency approach to protect people at risk from radicalisation and uses existing collaboration between local authorities and statutory agencies as well as the Police and local community.

Homes2inspire is fully committed to providing an environment for young people, where young people feel safe and are kept safe. All the staff at the home recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility irrespective of the role they undertake or whether their role has direct contact or responsibility for children or not.

This Preventing Extremism and Radicalisation Policy is one element within our overall arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in line with our statutory duties set out at S157 of the Education Act 2002. We have a duty to prepare our Young people for life in multi-cultural modern Britain and to keep them safe. Everyone in our home has the right to learn and work in safety. We will not tolerate bullying of any kind and will challenge derogatory language and behaviour towards others.

Homes2inspire Preventing Extremism and Radicalisation Policy is intended to provide a framework for dealing with issues relating to vulnerability, radicalisation and exposure to extreme views. We recognise that we are well placed to be able to identify safeguarding issues and this policy sets out how the home will deal with such incidents and identifies how the curriculum and ethos underpins our actions.

The objectives are that:

‘The 2011 Prevent strategy has three specific strategic objectives:

• Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it;
• Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support; and
• Work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address.’

All staff and volunteers of the home will have an understanding of what radicalisation is and why we need to be vigilant in the home.

All staff and volunteers of the home will know what the homes policy is on tackling extremism and radicalisation and will follow policy guidance swiftly when issues arise.

All young people will understand the dangers of radicalisation and exposure to extremist views at an age appropriate level; building resilience against these and knowing what to do if they experience them.

All parents/carers and young people will know that the home has policies in place to keep Young people safe from harm and that the home regularly reviews its systems to ensure they are appropriate and effective.

The main aims of this policy are to ensure that staff are fully engaged in being vigilant about radicalisation; that they overcome professional disbelief that such issues will not happen here and ensure that we work alongside other professional bodies and agencies to ensure that our Young people are safe from harm.

When operating this Policy, the home uses the following accepted Governmental definition of extremism which is:

‘Vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs; and/or calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas’.

Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.

There is no place for extremist views of any kind in our homes, whether from internal sources – Young people, staff or visitors of the home – or external sources – home community, external agencies or individuals. Our young people see our home as a safe place where they can explore controversial issues safely and where our teachers encourage and facilitate this – we have a duty to ensure this happens.

As a home we recognise that extremism and exposure to extremist materials and influences can lead to poor outcomes for children and so should be addressed as a safeguarding concern as set out in this Policy. We also recognise that if we fail to challenge extremist views we are failing to protect our young people.

Extremists of all persuasions aim to develop destructive relationships between different communities by promoting division, fear and mistrust of others based on ignorance or prejudice and thereby limiting the life chances of young people. Education is a powerful weapon against this; equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and critical thinking, to challenge and debate in an informed way.

Therefore, the home will provide a broad and balanced understanding, delivered by skilled professionals, so that our Young people are enriched, understand and become tolerant of difference and diversity and also to ensure that they thrive, feel valued and not marginalized.

It is the role of responsible person to:

• Ensure that the home meets its statutory duties with regard to preventing radicalisation;
• Ensure that there is a link responsible person who will liaise with the Home manager and other staff about issues to do with protecting young people from radicalisation;
• Review this policy annually, However the Home Manager may, amend and adopt any amendments outside of this timeframe in accordance with any new legislation or guidance.

Staff will undertake regular training led by the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Prevent lead to ensure that they are clear about their role and the parameters of their responsibilities including their statutory safeguarding duties.

It is the role of the Manager / Deputy Manager to:

• Ensure that the home and the staff team respond to preventing radicalisation on a day-to -day basis;
• Ensure that staff conduct is consistent with preventing radicalisation;
• Ensure that staff understand the issues of radicalisation, that they are able to recognise the signs of vulnerability or radicalisation and know how to refer their concerns;
• Receive safeguarding concerns about Young people who may be vulnerable to the risk of radicalisation or are showing signs of radicalisation;
• Make referrals to appropriate agencies with regard to concerns about radicalisation;
• Liaise with partners, including the Local Authority and police;
• Where there are early indicators follow the homes PREVENT flow chart, and use key session material, as well as Government resources such as ‘Let’s talk about it tool kit’ and resources on www.counterterrorism.police.uk/east-midlands.

It is the role of staff to understand the issues of radicalisation, that they are able to recognise the signs of vulnerability or radicalisation and know how to refer their concerns.

The home will ensure that all of our staff are equipped to recognise extremism and are skilled and confident enough to challenge it. All staff receive safeguarding training and have regular updates. Staff will be given regular training to help them understand the issues of radicalisation, so that they are able to recognise the signs of vulnerability or radicalisation and know how to refer their concerns. This information will form part of annual safeguarding updates.

 Course: Home Office Prevent (clcmoodle.org)

This e-learning course offers an introduction to the Prevent duty, and explains how it aims to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised to supporting terrorism or becoming terrorists themselves. The course has been developed by HM Government.

Since the publication of the Prevent Strategy, there has been an increased awareness of the specific need to safeguard children and young people from violent extremism. Keeping children safe from these risks is a safeguarding matter and should, in the first instance, be approached in the same way as any other safeguarding concern.

Children and young people can be drawn into violence or they can be exposed to the messages of extremist groups by many means. This can include through the influence of family members or friends and/or direct contact with extremist groups and organisations or, increasingly, through the internet via Social media or other websites.

Often this exposure takes the form of a "grooming" process where the vulnerabilities of a young person are exploited to form an exclusive friendship which draws the young person away from other influences that might challenge the radical ideology.

The Government Channel Guidance assesses vulnerability using a framework built around three dimensions:

• Engagement with a group, cause or ideology;
• Intent to cause harm; and
• Capability to cause harm.

The risk of radicalisation is the product of a number of factors and identifying this risk requires that staff exercise their professional judgement, seeking further advice as necessary. Radicalisation may be combined with other vulnerabilities or may be the only risk identified. Potential indicators of the risk of radicalisation include:

• Use of inappropriate language;
• Possession of violent extremist literature;
• Behavioural changes; increasingly centred around an extremist ideology;
• The expression of extremist views;
• Advocating violent actions and means;
• Association with known extremists;
• Seeking to recruit others to an extremist ideology;
• A change of style of dress or personal appearance to accord with the group;
• Loss of interest in other friends and activities not associated with the extremist ideology.

The above list is not exhaustive and there may be other indicators that the child or young person is at risk of violent extremism and radicalisation.

There a clear difference between espousing radical and extreme views and acting on them, and staff should ensure that any assessments of risk place behaviour in the family and social context of the young person and include information about the young person's peer group and conduct and behaviour at school. Holding radical or extreme views is not illegal, but inciting a person to commit an act in the name of any belief is in itself an offence.

The home is required to identify a Prevent Single Point of Contact (SPOC) who will be the lead within the organisation for safeguarding in relation to protecting individuals from radicalisation and involvement in terrorism.

The SPOC for Home is “The home Manager and Deputy Manager”

Staff and visitors to the home must refer all concerns about young people or staff who show signs of vulnerability, radicalisation or at risk from extremism to the SPOC. The home management using the usual methods for reporting other safeguarding concerns, and following the PREVENT flow chart

The Home will help support young who may be vulnerable to such influences as part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities and where there are significant concerns the SPOC/Designated Safeguarding Lead will make a referral to the appropriate body.

The home’s ethos supports the development of the whole child as a reflective learner within a safe, respectful safe and learning environment. Teaching the Homes’ core values alongside the fundamental British values supports quality teaching and learning, whilst making a positive contribution to the development of a just, fair and civil society.

The Home will also work with local partners, families and communities in our efforts to challenge extremist views and to assist in the broadening of our young people’s experiences and horizons.

If staff have any concerns, for example as a result of observed behaviour, incidents or reports of conversations to suggest the child supports terrorism and/or violent extremism, they must report these concerns to the registered manager immediately. The social worker for the child must also be informed of the concern as soon as possible. It will be their responsibility to respond to the concerns, including by referral to the local Channel Panel if appropriate.

Consideration should also be given to the need for an emergency response - however this will be extremely rare but could include where there is information that a violent act is imminent or where weapons or other materials may be in the possession of a young person or member of his or her family. In this situation a 999 call must be made. In addition to contacting the Emergency Services, the placing authority for the child must be advised of the concern immediately.

Social media can be used to promote extremist ideas and radicalise young people. Often social media glorifies violence. Staff should be vigilant and seek advice from a manager if they are concerned about material a young person has accessed online. Click here to report suspected online terrorist content.

You can also refer content of concern directly to social media platforms – see UK Safer Internet Centre.

The Home/ Deputy Manager is responsible for governing how this policy is implemented into their homes and be able to evidence compliance for any internal or external audits.

Staff have free access to all policies, they are held on Charms.

Policies should be read in conjunction with the homes risk register and any COVID-19 requirements that are in place due to the pandemic.