Safeguarding Young People

An indispensable guide to theory and practice for all those committed to improving adolescent safeguarding, whatever their role

This essential guide brings a much-needed focus on the area of safeguarding young people in a way which is holistic, person-centred and evidence-informed. It sets out key challenges and potential solutions in this area of work, explores key research and practice knowledge, and invites whole-system innovation in how young people are supported to be - and feel - safe.

Focusing on young people and adolescence, this book explores the complexity of contemporary adolescent safeguarding. It highlights evidence-informed practice and innovation in this area at the work, serving as an accessible and invaluable resource for all working with and supporting young people facing risk and harm.

Core themes covered by the book are the nature of harms facing some young people, the potential pitfalls of some professional responses, and the current legal framework for safeguarding young people where harm occurs outside the family home. It includes an overview of adolescent development, and argues for a holistic, systemic response that addresses the structural disadvantage facing many young people at risk and incorporates participatory and trauma-informed practice designed to promote resilience. It draws on innovative approaches in local areas, such as Transitional Safeguarding, to make the case for a person-centred, evidence-informed and rights-based approach to safeguarding young people.
As well as being invaluable to practitioners, managers and strategic leaders working in this field, this is also ideally suited to be a text for any social work course or professional development programme on adolescent safeguarding practice.