NRM, legal context and four-nations signposting

Child criminal exploitation can overlap with modern slavery or human trafficking. Residential staff do not need to determine legal outcomes, but they must recognise signs that a child may have been recruited, moved, harboured, threatened, controlled or used for criminal activity and escalate concerns so statutory processes can be considered.

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the UK framework for identifying and supporting potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. For children, consent is not required for an NRM referral. Registered first responders, such as local authorities and police, make referrals, so staff should ensure concerns are shared promptly with the safeguarding lead and the child's social worker.

Some children may be eligible for an Independent Child Trafficking Guardian where that service exists. If a child is arrested or becomes involved with youth justice, staff should share exploitation concerns through safeguarding and legal routes because exploited children may need protection in addition to any criminal justice response.

Four-nations context

• England: follow Working Together, children's homes regulations, local safeguarding procedures, Ofsted notification expectations and local missing protocols.
• Wales: follow Wales Safeguarding Procedures and the All Wales practice guide on safeguarding children from child criminal exploitation.
• Scotland: follow Scotland's national child protection guidance, local child protection procedures and Scotland-specific trafficking and guardianship arrangements.
• Northern Ireland: follow Co-operating to Safeguard Children and Young People in Northern Ireland, local trust procedures and relevant trafficking arrangements.

Manager focus: NRM and legal updates

Staff do not need to decide the legal label, but they do need to pass on enough information for safeguarding, NRM and criminal justice decisions to be made safely.