Child Exploitation

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Child Exploitation Risk Assessment Framework [CERAF]

IOW Quick Guide to the CERAF

HIPS Guidance to the CERAF

Exploitation Toolkit for Practitioners

What is Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)?

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity:

(a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or

(b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator.

Sexual exploitation can happen to boys and girls and can be linked to criminal exploitation.

What is Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)?

Child Criminal Exploitation occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into any criminal activity

(a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or

(b) for the financial or other advantage of the perpetrator or facilitator and/or

Victims of child sexual or criminal exploitation may have been so even if the activity appears consensual. Neither have to involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

It is important to recognise that ALL children may be at risk of child exploitation. This includes children in strong and loving family units. There are however some children who have greater vulnerability, and these include:

Children who are looked after, especially those living in residential care
Children who have a history of physical, sexual, emotional abuse and/or neglect
Children who have a disability, mental health problem or sensory impairment
Children who are young carers
Children who use drugs and alcohol
Children who go missing from home or care
Children involved in crime
Children who live in households where there is domestic abuse

What are County Lines?

“County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of “deal line”. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons.”

Criminal exploitation of children is broader than just county lines, and includes for instance children forced to work on cannabis farms or to commit theft.

Find out more on Safe4Me.co.uk

What is Contextual Safeguarding?

Contextual safeguarding is an approach to protecting children and young people that recognises that risks and harm can occur outside the home, including in schools, online, in neighbourhoods, and within peer groups. It focuses on understanding and responding to the environments where harm may occur, working with families, communities, and partner agencies to create safer spaces and reduce the risk of exploitation, abuse, violence, and other harmful behaviours.

What to look out for: Signs and Indicators

There are a number of indicators which can alert you to the possibility that a child is being abused through or at risk of exploitation:

Going missing for periods of time or regularly coming home late.
Coming home with expensive clothes or clothes that are inappropriate, mobile phones (or multiple mobile phones) or other gifts and possessions.
Considerable change in performance at school or missing school.
Mood swings or changes in emotional wellbeing.
Having older boyfriends/girlfriends.
Suffering from sexually transmitted infections.
Drug and alcohol misuse.
Inappropriate sexualised behaviour.

In addition, where a child is at risk of criminal exploitation/county lines, you might see the following:

Increased social media and phone/text use, almost always secretly.
Older males in particular seen to be hanging around and driving.
Having injuries that are unexplained and unwilling to be looked at.
Increase in aggression, violence and fighting.
Carrying weapons - knives, baseball bats, hammers, acid.
Travel receipts that are unexplained.
Significant missing from education episodes and disengaging from previous positive peer groups.
Significant changes in behaviour that affect emotional wellbeing.

Spotting the Signs of Child Exploitation poster for parents and carers (PDF)

Child Exploitation Risk Assessment Framework (CERAF)

The CERAF is a tool designed to aid practitioners in assessing harm outside the home for children and young people. It supports identification of risk areas to be addressed and outlines next steps.

A CERAF should be completed as soon as potential concerns regarding any form of child exploitation are identified. This may include child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation, county lines, modern day slavery or child trafficking concerns.
Concerns may arise from information following a missing episode, increased instances of a child missing from school, staying out late, or associating with new peers/associates where there may be concerns or known intelligence of risk.

A CERAF should be completed when a school is considering exclusion.

Where possible a CERAF should accompany the referral to Children Services/Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub [MASH] to enable information to be assessed against information held by partner agencies.

The CSERQ4 (Child Sexual Exploitation Risk Questionnaire) is intended to help health practitioners who have ‘time limited’ contact with children in assessing a child’s risk and to support their professional judgement on deciding when to make a child protection referral.

The full CERAF (doc) CSERQ4 for health practitioners (hipsprocedures.org.uk) HIPS Guidelines for the full CERAF (hipsprocedures.org.uk) Isle of Wight quick guide to the full CERAF (PDF)

METRAC

(Missing, Exploited and Trafficked Risk Assessment Conference)

The Isle of Wight Missing, Exploited and Trafficked Risk Assessment Conference is a multi-agency operational group that is chaired by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. It meets monthly to look at completed CERAFs and agree what action can be taken to protect the welfare of these highly vulnerable children. The aim is to manage and increase the safety of high-risk victims of child sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation and reduce risks and prevent further harm so that children are safeguarded.

Multi-Agency Forensic CAMHS and Harmful Sexual Behaviours Forum

The Multi-Agency Forensic CAMHS and Harmful Sexual Behaviours Forum is a monthly, confidential forum for professionals working with children and young people who may be at risk of harmful behaviour towards others. Coordinated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Forensic CAMHS (FCAMHS) and the Isle of Wight Youth Justice Service, the forum provides a supportive space to discuss concerns about serious, antisocial or harmful behaviours. Attended by a FCAMHS clinician, participants can think collaboratively about a child’s needs and risks, and explore appropriate support and intervention options. The forum is designed for professionals seeking guidance with complex and concerning situations, looking to build confidence in forensic and risk-informed practice, or wishing to bring a child or young person for discussion. Through child-focused learning and multi-agency discussion, the forum helps professionals identify next steps to promote safety, wellbeing, and positive outcomes for children, young people, and those around them.

To attend or receive further information, contact ruth.hayles@iow.gov.uk

Emerging MET Forum

The Emerging MET [Missing, Exploited Trafficked] Forum is an informal multi-agency drop-in session for professionals who would like advice, guidance, or discussion around children, locations, spaces, or emerging concerns relating to exploitation, trafficking, or missing episodes. The forum provides a safe and collaborative space for partners to share information, explore risks, and seek support from exploitation leads at an early stage, helping to identify concerns before they escalate. Working within a contextual safeguarding approach, the forum promotes timely information sharing, strengthens protective interventions, and supports coordinated action to reduce risk and prevent harm to children and young people across the Isle of Wight. Where appropriate, issues discussed at the forum can be escalated to METRAC for formal multi-agency oversight and planning.

Contact the Contextual Safeguarding Social Worker for further information, louise.almond@iow.gov.uk

Further resources, information and advice

Child Exploitation

The Child Exploitation Toolkit has been developed by the Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton (HIPS) Safeguarding Children Partnerships to support professionals working with children who may be at risk of exploitation. It provides practical guidance and resources to help practitioners recognise the signs of child sexual and criminal exploitation, understand extra-familial harm, assess risk, and take effective safeguarding action.

Child Exploitation Toolkit (hampshirescp.org.uk)

Preventing Online Harm Toolkit

Developed for professionals working with children and families, this toolkit aims to increase awareness of online harms and strengthen safeguarding practice. It includes information on online risks, vulnerability factors, engaging with children and parents, and practical tools to support effective responses to concerns.

Preventing Online Harm Toolkit (hampshirescp.org.uk)

Safeguarding Adolescents Toolkit

Adolescence can be a challenging and vulnerable time, with increased risks that can affect a young person's safety and wellbeing. The Safeguarding Adolescents Toolkit has been developed to help professionals recognise these risks early and provide effective support and intervention. Aligned with the Safeguarding Adolescents Strategy, it offers practical guidance and resources to strengthen safeguarding practice and improve outcomes for young people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Safeguarding Adolescents Toolkit (hampshirescp.org.uk)

Child Exploitation

Quick Links

What is Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)?

What is Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)?

What are County Lines?

What is Contextual Safeguarding?

What to look out for: Signs and Indicators

There are a number of indicators which can alert you to the possibility that a child is being abused through or at risk of exploitation:

In addition, where a child is at risk of criminal exploitation/county lines, you might see the following:

Child Exploitation Risk Assessment Framework (CERAF)

METRAC

(Missing, Exploited and Trafficked Risk Assessment Conference)

Multi-Agency Forensic CAMHS and Harmful Sexual Behaviours Forum

Emerging MET Forum

Further resources, information and advice

Child Exploitation

Preventing Online Harm Toolkit

Safeguarding Adolescents Toolkit

HIPS Procedures

Organisations that can help

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