PREVENT

At Royal Devon, we are committed to keeping everyone safe and supporting our communities.  Part of this is the PREVENT strategy, a national programme that aims to stop people from getting involved in extremism or terrorism.

PREVENT is part of the UK Government’s counter-terrorism strategy called CONTEST.  Its goal is to prevent radicalisation before any harm happens.  PREVENT is not about punishing people - it’s about giving early support, education, and protection.

We all have a part to play in safeguarding.  PREVENT helps us:

• Spot people who might be at risk of being drawn into extremist ideas
• Make sure they get the right support at the right time

PREVENT applies to all staff, patients, and visitors at Royal Devon:

• Staff are trained to recognise signs of vulnerability and know how to raise concerns
• Patients and families can trust that concerns will be handled carefully and confidentially
• Community members are encouraged to ask questions and share concerns—we’re here to listen

If someone is identified as at risk, they may be referred to the PREVENT team.  This is not a criminal investigation - it’s a safeguarding process.  People may be offered help through the Channel programme, which provides tailored support like mentoring, mental health help, or education.  Consent is asked for whenever possible, and all referrals are handled with care and confidentiality.

All Royal Devon staff complete mandatory PREVENT training.  You can learn more here:

• Prevent Duty Guidance
• NHS England - Prevent Training

If you have questions or want to speak to someone confidentially, you can contact our Safeguarding Team at rduh.safeguarding@nhs.net

PREVENT is one of the ways we keep people safe, and we do it with care, fairness, and compassion.