Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

Protection from Radicalisation and Extremism (Prevent Duty) Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to set out how {{org_field_name}} identifies, prevents and responds to radicalisation, extremism and terrorism as part of our wider safeguarding arrangements. We recognise that protecting people from the risk of being drawn into terrorism is a core element of safeguarding and of our duty of care to service users, staff and others who may be affected by our services.

This policy explains how we meet our responsibilities under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (the “Prevent duty”) and have regard to the Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023), the Channel duty guidance: protecting people susceptible to radicalisation, and relevant local multi-agency procedures. It also demonstrates how we meet the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Fundamental Standards, in particular Regulation 13 (safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment) and relevant ‘Safe’ quality statements, by ensuring that risks of radicalisation and extremism are identified, managed and monitored in a structured way.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

All employees, including care workers, administrative staff, and management.
Service users and their families, ensuring they are safeguarded from extremist influences.
Contractors and external service providers working with or on behalf of {{org_field_name}}.
Regulatory bodies and local authorities, ensuring compliance with statutory duties.

It covers:

Definitions of radicalisation and extremism.
Legal responsibilities under the Prevent Duty.
Identifying signs of radicalisation.
Reporting and referral procedures.
Staff training and awareness.
Partnership working and information sharing.

3. Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy is underpinned by the following legislation and guidance (as amended):

Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 – placing a duty on specified authorities, and on partners of Channel panels, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.
Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023) – statutory guidance issued under section 29 CTSA 2015, which replaces the 2015 guidance and sets out how specified authorities should discharge the Prevent duty and work in partnership with others. GOV.UK
Channel duty guidance: protecting people susceptible to radicalisation (current edition) – statutory guidance for Channel panel members and partners on arrangements to assess and support people at risk of being drawn into terrorism.
UK Counter-Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST) and the Prevent strategy – setting out the national framework for tackling terrorism, including the Prevent objective to tackle the ideological causes of terrorism, intervene early and support rehabilitation. democracy.thurrock.gov.uk
Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, including:
- Regulation 13 – safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment;
- Regulation 17 – good governance;
  as monitored by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
CQC Fundamental Standards and Single Assessment Framework, in particular the ‘Safeguarding’ and ‘Involving people to manage risks’ quality statements and associated guidance on protecting people from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Care Quality Commission
Care Act 2014 – duties to protect adults with care and support needs from abuse and neglect, including grooming, exploitation, radicalisation and extremist abuse.
Children Act 1989 and 2004 and “Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023” – the statutory framework and multi-agency guidance for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, which replaces the 2018 edition.
Equality Act 2010 and Human Rights Act 1998 – ensuring that our Prevent-related activity does not unlawfully discriminate and that we respect people’s rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and expression while protecting others from harm.
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR – governing the lawful, fair and proportionate sharing and handling of personal data, including in relation to Prevent and Channel referrals.
Domestic Abuse Act 2021 – recognising the links between exploitation, abuse and vulnerability to radicalisation.

4. Definitions of Radicalisation and Extremism

Radicalisation – the process through which a person comes to support terrorism or extremist ideologies that can lead to terrorism, and may be prepared to act, or to support others to act, on those beliefs. Legislation.gov.uk
Extremism – the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance that aims to undermine or overturn the rights or freedoms of others, or that seeks to justify criminal acts, including terrorism. This includes, but is not limited to, violent or non-violent Islamist extremism and extreme right-wing extremism.
Terrorism – the use or threat of action designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public, and made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause, as defined in the Terrorism Act 2000.

Having or expressing political, religious or ideological views – including views that may be unpopular or controversial – is not in itself extremism or a Prevent concern. Concerns arise where there is a combination of harmful ideology, a person’s susceptibility and a risk that they may cause harm to themselves or others.

5. Identifying Signs of Radicalisation

Our care staff are trained to recognise early indicators of radicalisation, which may include:

Changes in behaviour or language, including increased aggression or secrecy.
Expressing extremist views or justifying violence.
Withdrawal from social interactions or excessive internet use on radical sites.
Associating with extremist individuals or groups.
Unexplained travel plans to high-risk areas.

Concerns about radicalisation should always be considered alongside the person’s wider needs, mental and physical health, and social circumstances. Staff must not make referrals solely on the basis of a person’s background, faith, ethnicity, political opinions or participation in lawful protest or activism. Any Prevent concern must be based on specific behaviours or information that indicate a real risk of the person being drawn into terrorism or supporting terrorism.

6. Reporting and Referral Procedures

6.1 Immediate risk

If there is an immediate risk of harm, serious violence or a potential terrorism-related incident, staff must contact the emergency services (999) and then inform the Registered Manager / Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) as soon as it is safe to do so.

6.2 Raising a Prevent concern

Any member of staff who is worried that a service user, colleague, family member or other person linked to our service may be at risk of radicalisation must report their concern to the Registered Manager / DSL without delay and record the concern in line with our safeguarding procedures.

The DSL will gather further information, consider the concern alongside other safeguarding information and assess the level of risk in line with local safeguarding and Prevent procedures.

6.3 Making a Prevent / Channel referral

Where the threshold is met, the DSL will make a Prevent referral using the local authority or police Prevent referral pathway (for example via the local Prevent team, safeguarding hub or online referral form) and will cooperate with any subsequent assessment by the police or Channel panel, in line with the Channel duty guidance.

We will work with the Channel panel and other partners to contribute to any multi-agency support plan that is agreed, while continuing to support the person through our own services.

All referrals and decisions will be recorded clearly, stored securely and reviewed as part of our safeguarding governance processes.

6.4 Information sharing

Information will be shared on a “need to know” basis and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR and relevant safeguarding legislation. Where possible and safe, we will seek the person’s consent, but lack of consent will not prevent information being shared where there is a risk of serious harm or a safeguarding duty to do so.

7. Staff Training and Awareness

All staff (including temporary, agency and volunteer staff) receive Prevent awareness training as part of their induction so that they can recognise signs of radicalisation, understand this policy and know how to raise concerns.
Prevent training is refreshed at least every 3 years, or sooner if there are significant changes to national guidance, local risk or CQC requirements, in line with national safeguarding and Prevent training expectations for health and social care staff. medscape.co.uk
Role-specific training is provided for managers, the DSL and others who may need to respond to Prevent concerns or attend multi-agency meetings such as Channel panels.
Training covers: current terrorism and extremist threats (including online risks); factors that may increase a person’s susceptibility to radicalisation; how Prevent fits within wider safeguarding duties; proportionality, equality and human rights; and local Prevent and Channel referral pathways.
Attendance at training is recorded and monitored as part of our mandatory training matrix. Where staff do not complete the required training, this is escalated and addressed through supervision and performance management.

8. Partnership Working and Information Sharing

Effective multi-agency collaboration is essential in preventing radicalisation. {{org_field_name}}:

Works closely with local authorities, safeguarding boards, and law enforcement agencies.
Shares information with relevant partners in accordance with GDPR and data protection laws.
Engages with community leaders and local organisations to promote awareness and prevent isolation.
Where proportionate and appropriate, {{org_field_name}} will participate in local Prevent and Channel arrangements (for example, by providing information or attending multi-agency meetings) as a partner agency, to support people who may be at risk of radicalisation.

9. Preventing Online Radicalisation

We take measures to safeguard service users from extremist content online:

Educating staff and families on safe internet practices.
Encouraging open conversations about online influences.
Monitoring and reporting any concerns regarding radicalisation through digital platforms.

10. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

To ensure continued compliance and effectiveness:

This policy is reviewed annually or sooner if required by new legislation.
Regular audits and case reviews help improve reporting and intervention processes.
Staff feedback and service user engagement inform improvements in safeguarding practices.
Lessons from Prevent-related incidents are incorporated into future training and risk assessments.
We periodically self-assess our arrangements against the Prevent duty guidance and Channel duty guidance (where applicable), and against CQC’s safeguarding expectations, and use the findings to update our risk assessments, training and procedures.

11. Policy Review and Updates

This policy will be updated when:

Legislative or regulatory changes require modifications.
Significant Prevent-related incidents necessitate policy enhancements.
New guidance from the Home Office, CQC, or local authorities is issued.

Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
Copyright © {{current_year}} – {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved.

DC46-Protection from Radicalisation and Extremism (Prevent Duty) Policy