This course is designed for professionals working in safeguarding, education, health, social care, youth justice, policing, housing, and community settings who have responsibility for protecting children and young people from exploitation and abuse. Participants will explore the evolving nature of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), including the methods used by perpetrators to groom, manipulate, coerce, and control children both online and offline. The training examines how exploitation can occur within peer groups, families, communities, gangs, county lines networks, and digital environments. The course provides practical guidance on identifying indicators of exploitation, understanding trauma and vulnerability, responding appropriately to disclosures and concerns, and applying safeguarding procedures effectively within multi-agency contexts. Learners will also examine contextual safeguarding approaches, disruption strategies, and the importance of child-centred and trauma-informed practice. The programme strengthens professional confidence in recognising hidden harm, making informed safeguarding decisions, and contributing to prevention, intervention, and long-term support for children and young people affected by exploitation.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• What is child criminal and child sexual exploitation? Demonstrate an understanding of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), including current safeguarding definitions, legislation, and relevant UK safeguarding frameworks such as Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education 
• Understanding County Lines. Understand ‘County lines and the definition of a ‘gang’, including what the minimum characteristic features are that typically tend to make up gang culture in your area 
•  What are the warning signs? Identify and respond to indicators of criminal and sexual exploitation, including grooming, coercion, trafficking, county lines involvement, missing episodes, online exploitation, and peer-on-peer harm 
• Risk indicators and grooming. Recognise how perpetrators exploit vulnerability, power imbalance, trauma, and unmet needs to manipulate and control children and young people 
• Contextual safeguarding and Risk Assessment. Assess contextual and environmental risks associated with exploitation, including the influence of social networks, community settings, online platforms, and organised criminal activity
•  Reporting and escalating. Apply organisational safeguarding procedures effectively, including recording, reporting, information sharing, and escalation pathways in accordance with multi-agency safeguarding arrangements 
• Helping children to understand protective factors. How to help children and young people become more aware of their
  environments and identify risks, including early intervention techniques and increasing awareness.
• Talking to and supporting potential victims. Understand the impact of trauma, fear, shame, loyalty, and coercive control on a child’s behaviour, engagement, and willingness to disclose harm
•  Make informed professional judgements regarding threshold decisions, safeguarding referrals, and appropriate intervention strategies where exploitation is suspected 
•  Contribute to safer environments. Protect your children and young people through prevention-focused safeguarding practice, professional curiosity, and early intervention approaches

Additional Learning Outcomes:

• Apply trauma-informed and child-centred approaches when supporting children and young people affected by exploitation
•  Recognise barriers to disclosure and understand why exploited children may not perceive themselves as victims
•  Evaluate the role of technology, social media, gaming platforms, and digital communication in facilitating exploitation and recruitment ·
•  Support effective multi-agency collaboration by accurately communicating concerns and contributing to coordinated safeguarding responses ·
• Demonstrate awareness of legal and ethical considerations relating to consent, confidentiality, information sharing, and child protection responsibilities ·
• Recognise when specialist intervention, disruption activity, or emergency safeguarding action may be required to reduce immediate risk 
• Apply professional curiosity and critical thinking when assessing patterns of behaviour, relationships, unexplained possessions, or changes in presentation that may indicate exploitation
• Reflect on professional responsibility in maintaining up-to-date knowledge of emerging exploitation trends, safeguarding risks, and best practice guidance within child protection and contextual safeguarding frameworks