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Protection from Radicalisation and Extremism (Prevent Duty) Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that {{org_field_name}} takes a proactive, proportionate and safeguarding-led approach to protecting residents, staff, volunteers, visitors and others from the risk of radicalisation, extremism and being drawn into terrorism.

This policy supports the Home’s safeguarding duties under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, as amended, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, the Wales Safeguarding Procedures, and relevant local safeguarding arrangements.

The Home will have regard to the Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales 2023, which came into force on 31 December 2023, as relevant to the Home’s safeguarding practice, partnership working, commissioned services and work with local authorities, health boards, police, safeguarding partners and Channel arrangements.

The Home recognises that Prevent is part of safeguarding. Concerns about radicalisation will be managed in the same person-centred, rights-based and proportionate way as other safeguarding concerns, with appropriate referrals made without delay where there is a risk of abuse, neglect, harm, exploitation or improper treatment.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all staff, residents, visitors, volunteers, and external professionals engaging with {{org_field_name}}. It sets out responsibilities, processes, and procedures to ensure that all individuals within our care setting are protected from radicalisation and extremist ideologies.

For the purposes of this policy, “staff” includes permanent staff, temporary staff, agency workers, bank staff, volunteers, students, contractors and any person working at or on behalf of the Home. The policy also applies to residents’ representatives, visitors and external professionals while they are engaging with the service. All persons covered by this policy are expected to support a safe, inclusive and respectful environment and to report concerns in line with this policy and the Home’s safeguarding procedures.

3. Definitions

Radicalisation: The process by which a person comes to support terrorism or extremist ideologies associated with terrorist activity.

Extremism: The promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance that aims to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, or undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights.

Terrorism: The use or threat of action designed to influence government or an international governmental organisation, or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause, as defined by terrorism legislation.

Prevent: A safeguarding and counter-terrorism approach which aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism by identifying concerns early and ensuring that people who may be susceptible to radicalisation are offered appropriate support.

Channel: A voluntary, confidential, multi-agency safeguarding programme that supports people who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism. Channel is designed to provide early support and is not a criminal investigation.

Susceptibility to radicalisation: A person may be susceptible where their circumstances, experiences, vulnerabilities, unmet needs, isolation, exploitation, coercion, online activity, or contact with extremist narratives increase the risk that they may be drawn into terrorism or support for terrorism.

4. Recognising the Signs of Radicalisation

Possible indicators must always be considered in context. No single sign confirms radicalisation, and staff must avoid stereotyping based on religion, ethnicity, nationality, political opinion, disability, age, gender or any protected characteristic. Concerns may include:

• significant or unexplained changes in behaviour, mood, language, relationships, routines or presentation;
• increasing isolation, withdrawal, grievance, anger, fear, fixation or intolerance towards others;
• expressing support for terrorism, terrorist groups, extremist violence or harmful conspiracy-based narratives;
• justifying violence or harm towards people because of their faith, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, political views, nationality or other identity;
• accessing, sharing or possessing extremist, terrorist or hateful material online or offline;
• being targeted, groomed, pressured, coerced or exploited by another person, group or online contact;
• secretive or concerning online activity, including contact with unknown individuals or groups who promote extremist narratives;
• attempts by visitors, relatives, staff or others to influence, intimidate, groom, isolate or exploit a resident;
• sudden rejection of previously trusted relationships, support, activities or care arrangements linked to extremist influence;
• comments or behaviour that create a risk to the resident, other residents, staff, visitors or the wider public.

Staff must record the factual basis of any concern, including what was seen, heard, disclosed or reported, and must not make assumptions or investigate the matter themselves.

5. Preventing Radicalisation in the Care Setting

To minimise the risk of radicalisation, {{org_field_name}} implements the following safeguarding measures:

• Staff Training:
  • All staff will receive Prevent awareness training appropriate to their role as part of induction and safeguarding training. Refresher training will be completed at intervals set by the Home’s training matrix, local safeguarding requirements, commissioning requirements, or sooner where legislation, guidance, risks or learning indicate this is required.
  • Training will include: recognising possible signs of radicalisation; understanding Prevent as safeguarding; responding to disclosures; professional curiosity; avoiding stereotyping; online risks; visitor or third-party influence; recording concerns; internal reporting; local authority safeguarding referrals; Channel referrals; information sharing; confidentiality; whistleblowing; and escalation where a concern is not acted upon.
  • The Registered Manager will ensure that training completion, refresher dates and competence checks are recorded. Gaps in training or understanding will be addressed through supervision, team meetings, additional training or management action.
• Risk Assessments:
  • The Home will consider radicalisation and extremism as part of its wider safeguarding, environmental, visitor, online safety, equality, staffing and individual risk management arrangements.
  • Where a specific concern relates to a resident, staff member, visitor or external influence, the Home will complete or update a proportionate risk assessment and safeguarding record. This will include the nature of the concern, immediate safety actions, the resident’s views and wishes where appropriate, capacity and consent considerations, risks to others, referrals made, advice received, agreed actions, review dates and the person responsible for follow-up.
  • Risks will be reviewed following any relevant incident, safeguarding concern, complaint, whistleblowing concern, change in resident need, change in local threat information shared by safeguarding partners, or change in legislation or guidance.
• Promoting Rights, Respect, Inclusion and Well-being:
  • The Home promotes a rights-based, person-centred and inclusive culture in which residents are treated with dignity and respect, are supported to express their views safely, and are protected from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abuse, neglect and improper treatment.
  • Residents are supported to maintain positive relationships, participate in meaningful activities, access community life where appropriate, and practise their cultural, religious, spiritual or philosophical beliefs safely and without coercion.
  • The Home promotes mutual respect, equality, tolerance, lawful expression, Welsh language choice where applicable, and positive engagement between residents, staff, families, visitors and the wider community.
• Monitoring Internet and External Influences:
  • The Home will support residents to use the internet safely while respecting privacy, dignity, choice, mental capacity, human rights and confidentiality. Any monitoring, restriction or supervision of internet use must be lawful, proportionate, necessary, risk-assessed, recorded and reflected in the resident’s personal plan where it affects their care and support.
  • Where the Home provides Wi-Fi, shared devices or digital support, reasonable safeguards will be used to reduce the risk of residents being exposed to extremist, terrorist or harmful content. Staff will encourage residents, families and representatives to report concerning online contact, grooming, coercion, threats or extremist content.
  • Visitors, contractors, professionals and others must not use the Home to promote extremist, hateful or terrorist-related views, groom or coerce residents, distribute extremist material, or create a risk to residents, staff or visitors. Concerns about external influence must be reported immediately under this policy and the Safeguarding Adults from Abuse and Improper Treatment Policy.

5.1 Mental Capacity, Consent and Best Interests

Where a resident may be at risk of radicalisation, staff must consider the resident’s mental capacity in relation to the specific decision or issue. Capacity must not be assumed or denied solely because of age, diagnosis, disability, communication needs, beliefs or behaviour.

Where the resident has capacity, staff will seek their involvement and consent to support and information sharing wherever safe and appropriate. Where the resident lacks capacity for a relevant decision, any action taken must be in the resident’s best interests and in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Home’s Mental Capacity policy and safeguarding procedures.

Consent is not required before sharing information where there is a lawful safeguarding basis to do so, including where there is a risk of serious harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation, terrorism-related activity, crime, or risk to other residents, staff or the public. The reason for sharing information without consent must be recorded.

6. Reporting and Responding to Concerns

All concerns about radicalisation, extremism, terrorist-related activity, grooming, coercion, exploitation or extremist influence must be reported without delay. Staff must not investigate concerns themselves, challenge extremist material in a way that increases risk, search personal belongings without lawful authority, delete evidence, promise confidentiality, or delay reporting while seeking proof.

Immediate danger or emergency: If there is an immediate risk to life, serious harm, violence, weapons, a suspected terrorist act, or urgent public safety concern, staff must call 999 immediately and then inform the Registered Manager/Designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as it is safe to do so.

Internal reporting: Staff must report concerns immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Registered Manager or senior person on duty. The concern must be recorded factually, including the date, time, people involved, what was seen or heard, the resident’s own words where relevant, immediate action taken, who was informed, and any advice received.

Safeguarding referral: The Designated Safeguarding Lead/Registered Manager will consider whether the concern requires a safeguarding referral to the local authority under the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and local adult safeguarding arrangements. Where the concern involves a child or young person, the relevant children’s safeguarding procedures must be followed.

Prevent/Channel referral: Where there is a concern that a person may be susceptible to radicalisation or being drawn into terrorism, the Designated Safeguarding Lead/Registered Manager will seek advice from the local authority safeguarding team, local Prevent lead/coordinator, police Prevent team or other agreed local pathway. Where appropriate, a referral will be made to Channel or the relevant Prevent referral route. Channel is a voluntary, multi-agency safeguarding programme which supports children and adults at risk of being drawn into terrorism.

Police involvement: Concerns may be referred to the police where there is suspected criminal activity, terrorist-related material, threats, encouragement of terrorism, risk of violence, or immediate public protection concern.

Escalation: If a staff member believes a concern has not been acted upon appropriately, they must escalate the matter to the Registered Manager, Responsible Individual, local authority safeguarding team, police, CIW where relevant, or use the Home’s Whistleblowing Policy.

Confidentiality and information sharing: Information will be shared lawfully, proportionately and on a need-to-know basis in line with safeguarding duties, UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and the Home’s confidentiality and information governance policies. The safety and well-being of residents and others will take priority where there is a safeguarding or public protection risk.

7. Working with External Agencies

Collaboration with external agencies is essential for effective implementation of the Prevent Duty.

Local authority safeguarding team: The Home will follow the local adult and/or children’s safeguarding referral pathway and cooperate with enquiries, strategy discussions, protection planning and review processes.

Regional Safeguarding Board and Wales Safeguarding Procedures: The Home will ensure its safeguarding practice reflects the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and relevant Regional Safeguarding Board protocols, guidance and learning.

Local Prevent/Channel arrangements: The Home will maintain awareness of the local Prevent referral route and seek advice from the local Prevent lead, police Prevent team, local authority safeguarding team or Channel arrangements where concerns indicate possible susceptibility to radicalisation.

Police and counter-terrorism partners: The Home will cooperate with the police and relevant counter-terrorism partners where there is a suspected crime, terrorist-related concern, immediate risk, or public protection issue.

Commissioners and health/social care partners: Where appropriate and lawful, the Home will liaise with commissioners, local health boards, GPs, mental health teams, social workers, advocates and other professionals involved in the resident’s care and support.

8. Support for Residents at Risk of Radicalisation

Where a resident is identified as being at risk of radicalisation or extremist influence, the Home will respond in a safeguarding-led, person-centred and proportionate way. The resident will be supported to express their views, wishes and feelings, unless doing so would increase risk to them or others.

A safeguarding plan, risk assessment and/or personal plan update will be developed where required, with input from the resident, their representative or advocate where appropriate, the local authority, health and social care professionals, police/Prevent partners, commissioners and other relevant agencies.

Support may include increased emotional support, advocacy, mental health referral, social work involvement, review of visiting arrangements, review of online safety arrangements, positive activity planning, support to reduce isolation, family engagement where safe, and referral to Channel or other specialist support where appropriate.

Any restrictions on contact, visitors, internet access, activities or movement must be lawful, necessary, proportionate, risk-assessed, time-limited, recorded and reviewed. Restrictions must not be used as a punishment or because of assumptions about a resident’s beliefs, identity or background.

9. Responsibilities

The Service Provider is responsible for ensuring that this policy is in place, kept under review, aligned with current legislation and national guidance, and implemented in practice.

The Responsible Individual is responsible for maintaining oversight of the service’s safeguarding arrangements, ensuring that policies and procedures are kept up to date, and ensuring that learning from incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints, whistleblowing and audits informs service improvement.

The Registered Manager/Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for implementing this policy, ensuring staff understand it, maintaining Prevent and safeguarding training records, ensuring concerns are recorded and referred appropriately, liaising with safeguarding and Prevent partners, and monitoring the effectiveness of the Home’s arrangements.

All staff, volunteers, agency workers and contractors are responsible for completing required training, being alert to safeguarding concerns, reporting concerns without delay, recording factual information, maintaining confidentiality, avoiding stereotyping, supporting an inclusive environment, and cooperating with safeguarding enquiries.

Staff must not investigate concerns themselves, attempt to provide specialist counter-terrorism advice, promise confidentiality, ignore low-level concerns, delay reporting, or discuss concerns with people who do not need to know.

10. Compliance, Records and Monitoring

The Home will maintain evidence that this policy is implemented effectively. This will include:

• staff induction, safeguarding and Prevent awareness training records;
• records of staff supervision, team discussions and learning relating to safeguarding and Prevent;
• risk assessments and personal plan updates where relevant;
• records of concerns, decisions, referrals, advice received and outcomes;
• safeguarding referral records and outcomes;
• records of liaison with local authority safeguarding, Prevent/Channel, police, commissioners or health and social care professionals;
• audits of safeguarding records, incidents, complaints, whistleblowing concerns and training compliance;
• evidence that learning is shared and used to improve practice.

The Registered Manager will review any Prevent-related concern as part of safeguarding governance. The Responsible Individual will ensure that relevant themes, incidents, safeguarding matters, complaints, whistleblowing concerns, audits and learning are considered through the Home’s quality assurance and quality-of-care review arrangements.

CIW may consider the Home’s arrangements for safeguarding, staff training, governance, records, risk management, notifications, leadership and quality assurance when assessing whether the service is compliant with the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, the Regulated Services Regulations and associated statutory guidance.

10.1 Notifications to CIW and Other Bodies

The Registered Manager and Responsible Individual will consider whether any concern relating to radicalisation, extremism, terrorist-related activity, abuse, neglect, improper treatment, staff misconduct, police involvement or risk to safe service provision requires notification to CIW under the Regulated Services Regulations.

CIW notifications will be made without delay and in the manner required by CIW where the matter meets the notification threshold, including where there is an allegation of abuse involving the service provider, staff member or volunteer; an allegation of staff misconduct; an incident reported to the police; a serious accident or injury; or any event that prevents or could prevent the provider from continuing to provide the service safely.

The Home will also consider whether referrals are required to the Disclosure and Barring Service, Social Care Wales, professional regulators, commissioners, local authority safeguarding teams, police or other agencies, depending on the nature of the concern.

11. Related Policies

This policy should be read in conjunction with:

• CHW13 – Safeguarding Adults from Abuse and Improper Treatment Policy
• CHW29 – Whistleblowing (Speaking Up) Policy
• CHW36 – Managing Service User Finances Policy
• CHW42 – Communication and Engagement with Service Users and Families Policy

This policy should also be read in conjunction with:

• Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Policy
• Data Protection and Confidentiality Policy
• Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Policy
• Staff Recruitment and Selection Policy
• Staff Disciplinary Policy
• Staff Supervision, Training and Development Policy
• Visitors Policy
• Internet, Email, Social Media and Digital Safety Policy
• Complaints Policy
• Duty of Candour Policy
• Incident Reporting and Notifications Policy
• Record Keeping Policy
• Mental Health and Well-being Policy, where applicable

12. Equality, Human Rights and Avoiding Discrimination

The Home will apply this policy in a way that respects human rights, equality, dignity, privacy, choice, Welsh language needs, religious and cultural identity, and the individual’s right to lawful belief and expression.

Staff must not make assumptions about radicalisation or extremism based on a person’s religion, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, language, disability, mental health, age, gender, sexuality, political views, appearance or cultural background.

Concerns must be based on observed behaviour, disclosures, credible information, risk indicators or safeguarding concerns. Any action taken must be lawful, necessary, proportionate, non-discriminatory, recorded and reviewed.

13. Record Keeping

All concerns, decisions, actions, referrals, advice received, risk assessments, safeguarding plans, personal plan updates and outcomes relating to this policy must be recorded accurately, factually and without delay.

Records must distinguish between fact, professional judgement, third-party information and the resident’s own words. Records must be stored securely and shared only with those who need the information for safeguarding, care, regulatory, legal or public protection purposes.

Where records are electronic, staff must use their own login details and must not share passwords. Amendments must be traceable through the system audit trail.

14. Staff Conduct and Whistleblowing

Staff must not promote, share, display or encourage extremist, hateful, terrorist-related or discriminatory material at work, online in connection with work, or in any way that affects the safety, dignity or well-being of residents, colleagues or the service.

A failure to report a concern about radicalisation, extremism, abuse, neglect, improper treatment, staff misconduct or risk to residents may be treated as a disciplinary matter.

Staff who raise concerns in good faith will be supported and protected in line with the Home’s Whistleblowing Policy. Concerns about poor practice, failure to safeguard, failure to refer, or attempts to suppress concerns must be escalated to the Registered Manager, Responsible Individual, local authority safeguarding team, CIW, police or other appropriate body.

15. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner where there are changes in legislation, Prevent guidance, Wales Safeguarding Procedures, CIW requirements, local safeguarding arrangements, commissioning requirements, organisational needs, or learning from incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints, whistleblowing, audits, inspections or quality assurance activity.

The Responsible Individual will ensure suitable arrangements are in place to keep this policy up to date. The Registered Manager will ensure that staff are informed of changes and that any required training, briefing or supervision takes place. A record will be kept of policy updates and staff acknowledgement.

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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}}
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