Exam Pass Notes

Use these notes as a concise review before the assessment. They highlight practical points for practice and do not replace local safeguarding procedures, missing-from-care protocols, police advice, social work decisions or specialist exploitation training.

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Core ideas

• Child criminal exploitation occurs when a child is used for criminal activity through a power imbalance, coercion, control, manipulation or deception.
• County lines is a frequent form of exploitation involving the use of deal lines to supply drugs, though exploitation can also be local and not involve county lines.
• Children cannot legally or ethically consent to being exploited, even if they appear to cooperate or gain material benefit.
• Girls, young women, younger children and those without obvious prior risk factors are often under-identified.
• Treat criminal behaviour linked to exploitation as a safeguarding concern rather than simply offending behaviour.

Indicators and response

• Watch for patterns: repeated missing episodes, late returns, secretive phone use or online activity, sudden new possessions, unexplained injuries, debt, fear, school absence, unfamiliar visitors and car pick-ups.
• Do not confront suspected exploiters or carry out investigations alone.
• When a child discloses, listen calmly, avoid promising confidentiality, record their exact words and escalate without delay.
• Preserve evidence that may be useful under local policy - messages, images, vehicle details, locations and names.
• Use emergency routes if there is immediate danger, credible threats, serious injury, weapons, sexual assault or if a child is being held against their will.

Legal and partnership points

• Child criminal exploitation may overlap with modern slavery or human trafficking.
• Consent is not required from a child for an NRM referral.
• First responder organisations, including local authorities and the police, make NRM referrals.
• Working Together, children's homes guidance and Ofsted expectations apply in England. Separate procedures operate in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Residential staff help protect children by recognising patterns, recording facts, sharing information and supporting changes to care plans.

For the exam, remember the practical approach: notice the pattern, treat it as a safeguarding issue, record facts, avoid unsafe investigation and escalate via the correct route.