CCE is recognised as a form of modern slavery and human trafficking. A National Referral Mechanism (NRM) should be made for every suspected child victim of exploitation. NRM is the UK framework for identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery, which includes all forms of child exploitation. Details of an NRM referral can be a crucial element in supporting the child or young person’s defence during legal or criminal proceedings.

Please refer to Annex A for the NRM referral process.

At present, there is no dedicated CCE risk assessment tool in use across Northern Ireland. However, practitioners should continue to apply existing safeguarding frameworks and professional judgement to assess risk, including tools such as UNOCINI and multi-agency assessments. The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) is currently in the process of developing a specific CCE screening and risk assessment tool to support consistent and informed decision-making. In the interim, practitioners are encouraged to remain vigilant, share concerns through appropriate safeguarding channels, and adopt a child-centred, contextual approach when identifying and responding to potential exploitation.