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 concerns relating to radicalisation, terrorism and extremist influences as part of its wider safeguarding arrangements.

{{org_field_name}} recognises that protecting people from being drawn into terrorism is an important safeguarding responsibility.

The statutory Prevent duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 applies directly to the specified authorities listed in Schedule 6 to that Act.

An independent domiciliary care provider is not automatically a specified authority solely because it is registered with the Care Quality Commission.

However, {{org_field_name}} may have Prevent-related responsibilities where:

Services are commissioned or contracted by a local authority that is subject to the Prevent duty.
Services are provided on behalf of the NHS and relevant contractual safeguarding requirements apply.
Prevent requirements are included within commissioning or contractual arrangements.
The organisation is asked appropriately to contribute information or support to local Prevent or Channel arrangements.
A concern relating to radicalisation, exploitation or terrorism also engages the organisation’s wider safeguarding duties.

Where applicable, {{org_field_name}} will have regard to the principles and good practice contained within the current Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales, local Prevent arrangements and current Channel duty guidance.

Prevent-related safeguarding activity will be proportionate, evidence-based and focused on the risk of a person being drawn into or supporting terrorism.

{{org_field_name}} will not treat lawful political, religious, ideological or other beliefs as safeguarding concerns merely because those beliefs are unpopular, controversial or different from those of staff.

This policy also supports compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, particularly:

Regulation 13 – Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment.
Regulation 17 – Good governance.

Where a radicalisation concern involves abuse, exploitation, coercion, neglect or another safeguarding risk, {{org_field_name}} will respond through its wider safeguarding procedures as well as considering whether a Prevent referral is appropriate.

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 informed by the following current legislation, statutory guidance and regulatory requirements:

Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, including:
- Section 26 – the Prevent duty applying to specified authorities listed in Schedule 6.
- Section 29 – statutory Prevent duty guidance.
- Sections 36 to 41 – statutory arrangements concerning Channel.
- Applicable requirements concerning cooperation by statutory Channel partners.
Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023) – statutory guidance for specified authorities, in force from 31 December 2023.

Although {{org_field_name}} is not automatically a specified authority solely because it is an independent domiciliary care provider, this guidance may inform good safeguarding practice and may apply indirectly through commissioning, NHS contractual or partnership arrangements.

Channel duty guidance: protecting people susceptible to radicalisation, current version updated October 2025 – governing the multi-agency Channel process, assessment, information sharing, consent and support for people susceptible to radicalisation into terrorism.
CONTEST – the United Kingdom’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy, of which Prevent forms one strand.
Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, particularly:
- Regulation 13 – Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment.
- Regulation 17 – Good governance.
CQC Fundamental Standards and current assessment requirements relating to safeguarding, risk management, staff competence and organisational governance.
Care Act 2014 and Care and Support Statutory Guidance – including adult safeguarding duties where a person with care and support needs is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect and is unable to protect themselves because of those needs.

Where radicalisation involves exploitation, coercion, abuse, neglect or another safeguarding risk, the Care Act safeguarding framework may therefore also be engaged.

Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004, where the organisation’s activities bring staff into contact with children or safeguarding concerns relating to children arise.
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, where applicable – the current statutory multi-agency safeguarding guidance for England.
Equality Act 2010 – requiring Prevent-related practice to be non-discriminatory and proportionate.
Human Rights Act 1998, including protections concerning freedom of thought, conscience, religion, expression and association.
Terrorism Act 2000 – including the statutory definition of terrorism.
UK General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018, as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 – governing the lawful, necessary and proportionate processing and sharing of personal information in connection with safeguarding, Prevent and Channel concerns.
Applicable local Safeguarding Adults Board, Prevent, police and multi-agency referral arrangements.

{{org_field_name}} will ensure that any Prevent-related action is proportionate to the actual concern and is not based on stereotypes concerning race, religion, nationality, disability, political views or other protected or personal characteristics.

4. Definitions of Radicalisation and Extremism

4.1. Radicalisation

For the purposes of Prevent, radicalisation is the process through which a person comes to legitimise support for, or the use of, terrorist violence.

There is no single profile of a person who may become radicalised and there is no single pathway into terrorism.

Concerns must therefore be assessed using the person’s individual circumstances, behaviours, influences and available information rather than stereotypes or assumptions.

4.2. Terrorism

“Terrorism” has the meaning set out in the Terrorism Act 2000.

Broadly, this concerns the use or threat of specified serious action where the relevant statutory conditions are met and where the action is designed to influence government or an international governmental organisation, or intimidate the public or a section of the public, for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.

Where a legal determination concerning terrorism is required, {{org_field_name}} will rely on the statutory definition rather than this summary.

4.3. Extremism

The Government’s 2024 definition describes extremism as the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance which aims to:

Negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
Undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights.
Intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve either of those aims.

The Government definition provides useful context but must not be treated as though every person or expression falling within a broad concept of extremism automatically meets the threshold for a Prevent referral.

Prevent is a counter-terrorism safeguarding programme.

A Prevent concern should therefore have a relevant connection to the risk of the person being drawn into terrorism or supporting terrorism.

4.4. Lawful Beliefs and Expression

Having or expressing political, religious or ideological beliefs is not by itself evidence of radicalisation.

This includes beliefs which are:

Unpopular.
Controversial.
Strongly expressed.
Critical of government.
Associated with lawful campaigning.
Expressed through lawful protest.

Staff must not make a Prevent referral solely because of:

A person’s religion.
Race or ethnicity.
Nationality.
Political beliefs.
Lawful activism.
Cultural background.
Disability or mental health condition.

Concerns must be based on specific information or behaviour indicating a relevant terrorism or radicalisation risk.

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

Where there is an immediate risk to life, an imminent threat of serious violence, a suspected terrorism-related incident or another emergency:

Staff must call 999.
Staff must follow instructions provided by the emergency services.
The Registered Manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead must be informed as soon as it is safe to do so.
Relevant safeguarding and incident procedures must also be followed.

Staff must not attempt to investigate suspected terrorism themselves or place themselves or others at unnecessary risk.

6.2. Raising a Prevent Concern

Where a member of staff has a concern that a service user, colleague, relative or other person connected with the service may be susceptible to radicalisation into terrorism, they must:

Record the specific facts, behaviours or information giving rise to the concern.
Report the concern promptly to the Registered Manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Avoid confronting or interrogating the person.
Continue to provide safe, non-discriminatory and person-centred care unless advised otherwise.

The concern must not be based solely on the person’s religion, ethnicity, nationality, political beliefs, disability, mental health condition or lawful expression.

6.3. Reviewing the Concern

The Registered Manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead will consider:

The specific information available.
The context in which the concern arose.
Whether there appears to be a relevant terrorism or terrorism-linked ideological concern.
Whether abuse, exploitation or another safeguarding issue may also be present.
Whether further advice should be obtained from the local Prevent team, safeguarding authority or police.
Whether a Prevent referral is appropriate.

{{org_field_name}} is not responsible for making the final statutory assessment of whether a person should enter Channel.

That assessment is undertaken through the relevant Prevent, police and multi-agency processes.

6.4. Making a Prevent Referral

Where there is a reasonable Prevent concern, the Registered Manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead will follow the applicable local referral pathway.

This may involve:

The local authority Prevent team.
Counter Terrorism Policing.
A local safeguarding hub.
Another locally designated referral route.

The referral will contain relevant factual information explaining why the concern is considered relevant to Prevent.

A Prevent referral is intended to enable an appropriate assessment and does not mean that the person has committed a criminal offence.

6.5. Channel

Where a referral progresses to Channel, {{org_field_name}} will cooperate appropriately with the relevant local authority, police and other agencies where lawful and relevant.

Channel is a voluntary support programme.

Consent to receive Channel support is distinct from consent to share information during safeguarding and Prevent assessment processes.

Where an adult’s capacity to consent to Channel support is in question, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and current Channel guidance will be followed.

6.6. Information Sharing and Consent

Information relating to Prevent concerns will only be shared where sharing is:

Lawful.
Necessary.
Proportionate.
Relevant to the purpose for which it is being shared.

Consent should be considered where appropriate, but consent is not the only possible lawful basis for information sharing.

Information may be shared without consent where there is an appropriate lawful basis, including where necessary for safeguarding, prevention or investigation of terrorism or serious crime, protection of the person or others, or another applicable statutory or public-interest purpose.

Where information is shared without consent, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis and the rationale will be documented.

Staff must distinguish between:

Consent to share personal information.
Consent to make or progress a safeguarding or Prevent referral.
Consent to receive voluntary Channel support.

These are not the same legal issue and must not be treated as interchangeable.

6.7. Recording

Records must clearly document:

The concern raised.
The factual basis for the concern.
Actions taken.
Advice obtained.
Decisions made.
Whether a referral was made.
Information shared.
The lawful basis and rationale for sharing information.
The outcome where known.

Records will be stored securely and processed in accordance with {{org_field_name}}’s safeguarding, confidentiality and data-protection arrangements.

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 reviewed at least annually, or sooner where necessary, to ensure that it remains accurate, proportionate and consistent with current safeguarding, Prevent, Channel, CQC and data-protection requirements.

An earlier review will be undertaken where:

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 is materially amended.
The list of specified authorities subject to the statutory Prevent duty changes in a way relevant to {{org_field_name}}.
Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales is replaced or materially revised.
Channel Duty Guidance is replaced or materially revised.
CONTEST or national Prevent arrangements materially change.
Local Prevent or referral arrangements change.
Working Together to Safeguard Children is updated where relevant.
Care Act safeguarding guidance materially changes.
CQC safeguarding or governance requirements change.
Data protection legislation affecting Prevent information sharing materially changes.
Commissioning or NHS contractual arrangements introduce or change Prevent requirements applying to {{org_field_name}}.
A Prevent or Channel case identifies weaknesses in organisational arrangements.
A safeguarding incident associated with radicalisation or extremist exploitation occurs.
Audits, complaints, staff feedback or regulatory findings identify required improvements.

The Registered Manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for ensuring that this policy remains current.

The review process will consider:

Prevent concerns raised by staff.
Prevent referrals.
Outcomes or feedback received following referrals.
Channel involvement where applicable.
Safeguarding referrals involving radicalisation or exploitation.
Information-sharing decisions.
Cases where information was shared without consent.
Staff Prevent training.
Staff understanding of local referral routes.
Local terrorism and radicalisation risks where relevant.
Safeguarding audits.
Complaints and incidents.
Equality and discrimination concerns associated with Prevent practice.
CQC inspection or assessment findings.
Changes in legislation, statutory guidance and local arrangements.

The review will specifically ensure that:

{{org_field_name}} does not inaccurately present itself as a statutory specified authority unless this is legally the case.
Prevent referrals remain focused on relevant terrorism and radicalisation concerns rather than protected beliefs or lawful political activity.
Staff understand the distinction between information-sharing consent and consent to receive Channel support.
Information is shared lawfully, necessarily and proportionately.
Local Prevent referral details remain current.
Staff training reflects current national and local arrangements.

Any amendments made to this policy will be:

Recorded with the review date.
Approved by the appropriate responsible person.
Communicated to relevant staff.
Reflected in safeguarding procedures and referral information where necessary.
Incorporated into staff training or supervision where required.

{{org_field_name}} will use learning from Prevent concerns, safeguarding cases, referrals, complaints, audits and regulatory developments to continuously improve its approach to protecting people from radicalisation while respecting equality, human rights and lawful freedom of expression.

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