Safeguarding Young People beyond the Family Home: Responding to Extra-Familial Risks and Harms, Carlene Firmin, Michelle Lefevre, Nathalie Huegler and Delphine Peace

Abstract

This is a long overdue and welcome text, in a social work research and practice context which is focused on and dominated by responses to and understanding inter-familial risk and harm. In recent years, there has been an increased awareness and understanding of extra-familial risks and harms (EFRHs) as safeguarding issues, such as harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and county lines. However, responses to these issues tend to have been shoehorned into existing safeguarding processes, which have been designed to respond to inter-familial risks and harms. This book, however, addresses the policy and practice gap that exists for responding effectively and holistically to EFRH and presents a clear and robust conceptual framework which recognises EFRH as a distinct and complex area of safeguarding practice. In the book, the authors identify characteristics associated with effective service responses to EFRH and principles of social care systems necessary for service responses to be effective.