Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS)

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Key Focus: Specialised support, advocacy, and community engagement

The CVS plays a significant role in identifying, accessing, and engaging children and young people. They raise awareness and provide education, often reaching areas that others might not.

The CVS work within the safeguarding and child protection systems, working collaboratively with statutory agencies and safeguarding structures to support those at risk and who have been victims of CCE.

The CVS use its position within communities to overcome barriers to children and young people and families getting appropriate support. The CVS should share information appropriately and use the correct referral and escalation routes with their partners in the statutory sector.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Provide specialised support services for CCE victims and those at risk
  • Offer counselling and therapeutic interventions
  • Run helplines and online support services
  • Deliver awareness-raising campaigns on CCE
  • Provide training to practitioners and community members
  • Operate diversionary activities and youth clubs
  • Support families affected by CCE
  • Advocate for policy changes and improved services
  • Provide independent support to children and young people through legal processes

Lead or primary role

Early Preventative Work
  • The CVS engages in early preventative work by raising awareness and educating children and young people about CCE. They build trust and provide support to the families and the young person to prevent issues from escalating and have clear pathways for making referrals and delivering appropriate interventions to reduce risk. They ensure the voice of the child is central to all interventions and maintain clear pathways for referrals and appropriate support.

Significant input or role

Early Identification and Assessment
  • The CVS plays a significant role in the early identification and assessment of children and young people at risk of CCE. They engage with children and young people and assess their needs to provide appropriate support. Identify signs of exploitation through community engagement and direct work with children and young people. May initiate or contribute to the completion of a UNOCINI. For example, through direct engagement and trusted relationships with children and young people, the CVS may identify early signs of exploitation or vulnerability and share concerns with safeguarding partners.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
  • The CVS collaborates with statutory services and other organisations to provide comprehensive support. They share information appropriately and use the correct escalation routes. They work with PSNI, social workers and other agencies to ensure that the needs of the child and young person and their family are addressed. The Independent Guardian works alongside statutory agencies to share information, attend strategy meetings, and support coordinated responses, contributing to care planning, and safeguarding reviews, ensuring the child’s voice is central.

Supporting role

Safeguarding Structures and Thresholds
  • The CVS works within safeguarding structures to address CCE. They follow clear guidelines, policies, and procedures for intervention and ensure that their efforts are aligned with statutory services. They contribute to safeguarding discussions and support children through advocacy and practical assistance. Whilst the role of the Independent Guardian is mandated in statute under Section 21 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, it is currently being undertaken by a CVS agency. The Independent Guardian plays a key role in representing children who have been victims of human trafficking and ensuring that their best interests are promoted. The CVS also ensures that children and young people’s voices are heard in safeguarding processes, advocating for trauma-informed responses and contributing to threshold discussions.
Disruption of Exploitation
  • The CVS plays a role in disrupting exploitation by identifying and supporting children and young people at risk. They work with social workers and the police to address the issues related to CCE. For example, the role of the Independent Guardian is to support children and young people who have been or have potentially been victims of human trafficking and/or exploitation. This is achieved through relationship-based work, practical support and an advocacy role as a bridge between the young person and statutory agencies, with support offered until the age of 21.
Coordination of Information and Response
  • The CVS collects and shares information related to CCE with statutory services. They ensure that responses are well-coordinated and that the needs of children and young people are addressed