In this section of the toolkit, we look at working with peer relationships and peer groups.
Understanding peer relationships should be at the heart of all safeguarding activity with young people experiencing extra-familial harm. We need to learn how to see the unique strengths and potential that there is in each peer group, and working with - not against - these.
Adolescents (and adults too) are influenced by the people around them. As with most things in life, this is not straightforward. For example, the same peer relationships can be harmful and supportive - sometimes called 'peers paradox'. This makes young people's experiences of safety and harm particularly complex. Contextual Safeguarding encourages us to start responses with peers by building on the many strengths that already exist in peer relationships. Growing the positive aspects of friendships can have the effect of reducing those things that are more harmful. Once we have begun building on strengths, it might be possible to also directly address concerns and risks. But this should always be part of a wider supportive approach of building on the positive.
What is a peer group? How do young people feel about talking to workers about their peers? What does it mean to build on the strength and protection in young people's friendships? These resources support practitioners to use peer assessment with examples and case studies
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Case study: working with friendsThis case study shows how supporting friendships between young people, alongside making where they live safer, is an effective approach. -
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Guidance: Laying the foundationA good place to start if you're starting peer work. This document gives an overview of safeguarding practice with peer relationships and groups, including the role of assessment and mapping. -
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Guidance: Peer group assessmentsThis outlines the principles and practical guidance on peer group assessment. -
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Guidance: Peer group mappingThis document provides guidance on how to carry out peer group mapping -
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Webinar: Peer mapping and peer relationshipsThis webinar provides perspectives on Scale-Up sites' experiences of peer mapping and assessment -
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Tool: Peer group assessment formThis form can be used as a template when completing a peer group assessment
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Example: Peer mappingPeer mapping case studies and examples from Hackney -
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Example: Peer group information sharing protocolThis document outlines Hackney's peer group mapping information sharing protocol -
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Spotlight: Practitioner perspectives - level one workIn this Spotlight feature, a Senior Social Worker shares his reflections on using the peer assessment tool to support child and family assessments, corresponding to ‘Level 1’ of Contextual Safeguarding -
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Spotlight: Learning from a peer group assessmentIn this Spotlight feature a Contextual Safeguarding Advisor shares her experience of developing a peer group assessment, at ‘Level 2’ of Contextual Safeguarding -
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Video: Recording peers in a front door serviceThis video highlights some of the learning from Hackney's safeguarding team about recording peers at the front door
