Love Island's 'Duty of Care' protocols for 2022 series

The eighth series of Love Island has officially ended, with the final taking place with host Laura Whitmore on Monday 1st August.

This year's Duty of Care protocols were unveiled ahead of the series, with bosses doing everything they can to ensure the safety and well being of this year's Islanders.

ITV and Lifted Entertainment have published details of their extended duty of care protocols which have been put in place to provide support to the contestants before, during and after filming.

A full overview of the welfare service offered to islanders includes:

Comprehensive psychological support.

Training for all Islanders on the impacts of social media and handling potential negativity.

Training for all Islanders on financial management.

Detailed conversations with Islanders regarding the impact of participation on the show.

A proactive aftercare package which extends support to all Islanders following their participation on the show.

Guidance and advice on taking on management after the show.

Ade Rawcliffe, Group Director of Diversity and Inclusion at ITV, said: “The world we live in is changing every day, and we want all of our Islanders to feel they are part of an inclusive environment in the Villa. As part of our duty of care process, it is also important we play our part in educating our participants to understand and empathise with different perspectives and lived experiences.”

Ahead of the new series, Islanders selected for the show will be offered video training and guidance covering inclusive language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, behaviours and microaggressions.

The full duty of care process is outlined below:

Pre Filming and Filming

Registered mental health professional engaged throughout the whole series - from pre-filming to aftercare.

Thorough pre-filming psychological and medical assessments including assessments by an independent doctor, psychological consultant and reports from each Islander’s own GP to check medical history.

Potential Islanders are required to fully disclose in confidence any medical history that would be relevant to their inclusion in the Villa and the production’s ability to provide a suitable environment for them.

Managing cast expectations: detailed explanations both verbally and in writing of the implications, both positive and negative, of taking part in the series are given to potential cast members throughout the casting process and reinforced within the contract so it is clear.

Cast are told they should consider all the potential implications of taking part in the show and work through this decision-making process in consultation with their family and those closest to them, to ensure they feel it is right for them.

Senior Team on the ground have received training in Mental Health First Aid.

A welfare team solely dedicated to the Islanders both during the show and after.

Aftercare

Bespoke training on dealing with social media and advice on finance and adjusting to life back home.

A minimum of eight therapy sessions will be offered to each Islander when they return home.

Proactive contact with Islanders for a period of 14 months after the series in which they have appeared has ended, with additional help provided where applicable.

ITV encourage Islanders to secure management to represent them after the show and manage them should they choose to take part in other TV shows, advertising campaigns or other public appearance opportunities.

Check out all of the Love Island 2022 contestants below:

Dr Paul Litchfield said: “The importance of promoting good mental health and avoiding psychological harm is now well understood and the measures ITV has put in place to safeguard the welfare of participants continue to evolve. Being thrust into the glare of intense public scrutiny can be daunting and providing effective support to people living through that experience is critical.”

Dr Gould added: “Importantly, ITV’s procedures have continued to develop, especially towards formulating an improved evidence base in duty of care, which is important for the industry as a whole. Developing data on the lived experiences of contributors can positively influence welfare services and organisational efficiency. This data-driven approach is essential to provide rigorous science-based procedures to ensure the well-being of participants.”

Love Island will return in 2023.

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