Keeping safe

As a young person gets older, new opportunities will open up for them to become more independent. They might have online friendship groups, be out and about in the community more, or mix with new people from school or college. Making sure they're safe is just as important when they're preparing for adulthood as it is throughout their childhood. 

If you have any concerns about the wellbeing and safety of any child or young person, it’s important that the right services know so that they can help. Find out more about the support available to families through our Early Help and Safeguarding teams.

We’ve also put together some tips on keeping safe when home alone, online and when out and about.

It’s likely they’ll want a bit more independence away from you. Staying home without you is one way to be more independent, but this big step needs to be right, for you and them. If and when you make this decision, remember, it's never acceptable for children and young people to be left home alone if it puts them at risk of harm.

Things for you to consider

Before leaving your young person home alone for the first time, you might want to consider some of the following:

  1. Small steps: you might agree for your young person to be home alone for a short time, just to see how they cope. If all goes well then you might feel ok to leave them home alone for a bit longer next time, and increase it as time goes by.
  2. Clear rules and boundaries: you might put some clear guidelines for what is and isn't allowed if your young person is home alone, such as not answering the door, or not using the cooker. There might also be rules about technology – what they can and can’t do, and how long they can use technology for. 
  3. Plan what to do in an emergency: they'll need to know what to do if there's an emergency and who they can get help from, such as a neighbour or, if it’s a serious emergency, the police, fire service or ambulance service. 
  4. Keeping in touch: phone your young person to check in with them, especially if you're going to be back later than you said.

Tips to help your young person to stay safe when out and about

  1. Plan ahead: before leaving home, help them plan their route and destination, and make sure they've shared their plans with you.
  2. Carry ID: make sure they carry ID with them at all times, something which includes their name, address, and emergency contact information.
  3. Use technology: if they use technology or assistive devices to help them, make sure that the tech's in good working condition, fully charged and that they carry any necessary accessories.
  4. Avoid dangerous areas: support them in recognising any dangerous areas, such as busy roads or places they're not very familiar with.
  5. Stay alert: encourage them to be aware of their surroundings and avoid distractions, such as texting or listening to music.
  6. Use public transport safely: if they're using public transport such as trains or the bus, support them to plan their route in advance, know the timetable, and be aware of any safety hazards. Let them know there are usually trusted members of staff to ask for assistance if they need it.
  7. Know who to contact in an emergency: make sure they have your contact information. 
  8. Trust your instincts: if something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and seek help if needed.

The People First Info easy-read leaflet gives more tips and advice on keeping safe when you are out and about, and may be helpful to share with your young person.

There are also things young people can do to help keep themselves safe online. Here are some of our tips:

  1. Protect personal information: talk to them about not sharing too much personal information online. They should know the dangers of sharing too much information with strangers, especially information like their full name, address, phone number, or school/college name.
  2. Use strong passwords: talk to them about having strong passwords for all online accounts, ones that others can’t guess. 
  3. Be careful with social media: young people need to be mindful of what they share on social media, and be aware of who they interact with online. Encourage them not to share too much personal information and to be wary of strangers wanting to be their friend.
  4. Think before you click: remind them to be careful when clicking on links or downloading files from unknown sources, as they may contain computer viruses that can affect their PC or laptop.
  5. Report shady behaviour: if they find any wrong behaviour online, encourage them to let you know what they've seen so that you can block or report the site. If someone or something has upset them online, or they've seen something which makes you feel scared or worried, let them know that they should always talk to someone who can help. 
  6. Practise safe gaming: if they play online games, be mindful of the personal information they share, and avoid sharing personal information with strangers.
  7. Watch out for scams: tell them to be cautious of online scams that ask for personal information or promise too-good-to-be-true rewards or prizes.
  8. Use privacy settings: use privacy settings on social media and other online accounts to control who can see their profile or personal information.

You can find out more about keeping safe online from the folowing: