Welcome

Prevent sits within safeguarding. In general practice, receptionists, care navigators, call handlers and admin staff may notice small factual details that suggest someone could be vulnerable to radicalisation, exploitation or other serious harm.

Frontline staff are not expected to investigate beliefs, judge ideology, search for evidence or label someone as an extremist. Safe practice is about noting factual concern, avoiding stereotypes, recording accurately and passing information on through the correct safeguarding route.

Prevent concerns can arise in phone calls, online requests, front-desk conversations, contacts made by others, family reports, missed appointments or behaviour in the waiting area. The aim is proportionate safeguarding: neither ignoring possible risk nor overreacting to identity, culture, faith or lawful opinion.

Core safeguarding focus

• Prevent as safeguarding: recognising vulnerability and the potential for harm.
• Radicalisation and proportionate concern: how behaviour, context and vulnerability may indicate risk.
• Avoiding assumptions: challenging stereotypes and remaining fair.
• First-contact signs: concerning comments, online wording, family reports and immediate threats.
• Safe response: listen, record and escalate without investigating beliefs.
• Confidentiality and records: share information only on a need-to-know basis.

A simple practice spine

• Notice factual concern
• Avoid stereotypes
• Record exact words and context
• Check immediate safety
• Escalate through safeguarding routes
• Confirm ownership

Role boundaries

Prevent awareness helps staff spot possible safeguarding concerns, respond fairly, avoid discriminatory assumptions, record factual information, use local escalation routes and recognise when urgent safety actions are needed.