Engaging parents and carers where they are not the perpetrator is a critical component in safeguarding children and young people who may be at risk of CCE. Families often serve as the first line of protection, and often with the right support, they can play a vital role in identifying concerns early and safeguard children and young people from exploitative situations.

Practitioners must recognise that parents and carers may face significant barriers when trying to protect their child or when seeking help.

These barriers can include:

• Fear of being blamed or judged for their child’s involvement in criminal activity or exploitation.
• Concerns that their reports will not be taken seriously by professionals or agencies.
• Worries that their child will be criminalised rather than supported, particularly if the child has been coerced into illegal behaviour.
• Anxiety about school exclusion, which can increase vulnerability by removing the child from a protective environment.
• Fear of retaliation or recriminations from those exploiting their child, which may prevent them from speaking out or engaging with services.
• To address these concerns, services working with children, young people, their families and carers should:
• Adopt a non-judgmental and trauma-informed approach, ensuring that parents and carers feel heard, respected, and supported.
• Provide clear information about the nature of CCE, including how coercion and control are used by perpetrators.
• Offer practical support and guidance, including referrals to specialist services, community organisations, and peer support networks.
• Ensure confidentiality and safety planning, particularly when there is a risk of retaliation from perpetrators.
• Work collaboratively across agencies to provide coordinated and consistent support.

By building trust and offering meaningful support, practitioners can empower parents and carers to take protective action and contribute to safeguarding their child from further harm.

Effective risk assessment is a cornerstone of safeguarding practice when responding to children and young people at risk of or experiencing, exploitation. This form of harm often involves serious organised crime, coercion, and hidden dynamics that require a sensitive and structured response.

The UNOCINI Framework, provides a statutory, multi-agency tool for assessing a child or young person’s needs in context. It supports practitioners in identifying concerns related to exploitation, whether criminal, sexual, or both, and guides appropriate safeguarding action.

UNOCINI should be used:

• When indicators of exploitation are identified (e.g. unexplained injuries, missing episodes, possession of items without means);
• Alongside child protection procedures, including Inter-agency Referral Discussions (IRDs), and consideration of referral to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM);
• When a child or young person is suspected to have been coerced into criminal activity under duress or manipulation;
• When concerns arise about grooming, trafficking, or coercion by other children and/or adults;
• When a child or young person is living under threat. The joint protocol (PSNI and HSCT) in relation to Threats to Life policy should be instigated.