A new model to tackle child exploitation in Dorset

Leaders from public agencies across are Dorset are committed to protecting children who are, or are at risk of, being criminally exploited. To help us all identify, respond to and prevent this from happening, we’re introducing a new model to ensure the needs of children at risk of, or linked to, exploitation are met through effective, protective, multi-agency working.

Pan Dorset Safeguarding Children’s Partnership is committed to culturally competent and trauma-informed practice in all aspects of its work. 

Dorset Police have a Partner Information Sharing and Intelligence form that you can use as a professional who has non-urgent (i.e. where there is not an immediate threat to life) information to report regarding concerns that a child or young person is being exploited or is subject to extra-familial harm (harm experienced outside of the home environment).

CAROLE

You may or may not have heard people talking about CAROLE.  CAROLE stands for Children At Risk Of or Linked to Exploitation and the CAROLE model is the way all partners across Dorset areas are working together to improve the effectiveness of our multi-agency response to child exploitation.  Practitioners and young people have helped us develop this to make sure our vision and values are the same and that we all understand what to do when working with young people who may be vulnerable to exploitation.

We all have a role in making this work.  Leaders will provide oversight, focus and resource across the partnership and a tactical group will use data, intelligence and knowledge to make sure we provide effective responses.  Most importantly, professionals who work directly with children that are experiencing or at risk of exploitation will be provided with the tools to make sure that multi-agency plans are in place, regularly updated and effective.

Know the signs and use the Dorset Child Exploitation Toolkit

Even something that seems like normal teenage behaviour could be a sign that a child is being sexually or criminally exploited. Some of the visible signs that family members or people who know young people might identify are:

1. Persistently going missing from school or home and / or being found out-of-area;
2. Change in behaviour – becoming aggressive and disruptive or quiet and withdrawn.
3. Unexplained acquisition of money, clothes, or mobile phones;
4. Excessive receipt of texts / phone calls;
5. Appearing to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
6. Being picked up or dropped off in cars by unknown adults
7. A significantly older ‘boyfriend’ or relationships with controlling / older individuals or groups;
8. Spending excessive amount of time online and becoming increasingly secretive about time spent online
9. Sudden involvement in criminal behaviour or increased offending
10. Sexual health problems
11. being out late with older adults who do not seem to be family members
12. indications of sexual activity with one or more adult who is significantly older than the young person
13. Suspicion of physical assault / unexplained injuries;
14. Carrying weapons;
15. Significant decline in school results / performance;
16. Gang association or isolation from peers or social networks;
17. Self-harm or significant changes in emotional well-being.

Dorset Child Exploitation Toolkit

The Child Exploitation toolkit should be used in any instance where you are concerned that a child is being exploited, through sexual or criminal means. The Screening Tool and Risk Assessment will help you to identify and evaluate the cause of your concerns and reflect on whether further safeguarding investigations are needed.    The tool should also be used to evidence improvement when professionals are working with a child and risk is assessed to be reduced.     The toolkit replaces the previous CSE Tools.

• A. Child Exploitation – Screening Tool
• B. Child Exploitation – Screening Tool Guidance
• C. Child Exploitation – Risk Assessment
• D. Child Exploitation – Guide for Volunteers
• E. Child Exploitation – MACE Meeting Template
• F. Child Exploitation – Dorset Child Exploitation Operating Protocol
• G. Child Exploitation – CAROLE Tactical Group Terms of Reference
• H. Child Exploitation – CE Strategic Group Terms of Reference
• I. Child Exploitation – Guidance App Language Toolkit
• J. Child Exploitation – Flowchart
• K. Child Exploitation – Practitioners Guidance
• L. Child Exploitation – MACE Meeting Invite List
• M. Child Exploitation – MACE Chairs Toolkit
• N. Child Exploitation – Contextual Safeguarding Toolkit

Children and young people who are trafficked into Dorset for the purposes of moving/dealing drugs usually initially come to the attention of Dorset Police. This is often outside of usual working hours.   The Dorset Protocol for Managing CE Risk for Non-Dorset Children is intended to ensure there is a shared understanding of the individual agency responsibilities, provide a process for information sharing and recording to ensure that risks are known and managed whilst the young person is in Dorset and that the responsible Local Authority is aware of the potential risks to the young person following the Police actions when the young person is returned home.  The safe and timely return of the young person to their home is primarily the responsibility of the parents or if a child is looked after then home Local Authority. However, all agencies are required to work together to arrange the safe repatriation and escalate any concerns when repatriation is delayed.

Supporting children at risk of, or experiencing child exploitation

It is imperative that children considered to be at risk of exploitation always receive support that is commensurate with the risks they face. This can range from prevention work for those children considered low risk; raising awareness and educating them about the risks of exploitation through to direct intervention with the child with the aim to reduce their current risk or provide support and interventions if they have been exploited.  It is also important to consider the role of parents and the support that they may require to enable them to better inform, support or protect their child.

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What to do:

In an emergency or if a crime is ongoing always dial 999.

If you have any concerns that a child you know may be a victim of Child Exploitation report it to the local authorities.