Purpose of the guidance

This guidance aims to be an accessible, user-friendly resource for practitioners across sectors, bringing together the core elements of existing frameworks, legislation, policy, and guidance relevant to children and young people who are exploited in Northern Ireland.

Agencies have consistently identified that where fragmentation of information across statutory duties, safeguarding protocols, and criminal justice responses exist they create barriers to effectively identifying and responding to CCE. This guidance seeks to bridge that gap.

It will provide a clear and accurate interpretation of key elements from:

  • The definition of Child Criminal Exploitation as a form of child abuse, underpinned by trauma-informed principles
  • The Child Criminal Exploitation Action Plan (developed by the Departments of Health, Justice and Education)
  • Existing safeguarding and child protection pathways, including referral mechanisms and multi-agency responsibilities. Where indicators of trafficking are present, referrals should also be made through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
  • Relevant legislation and statutory duties, including safeguarding obligations and criminal justice powers.

By consolidating this information into a digestible format, the guidance will support:

  • Early identification of children at risk of or experiencing exploitation
  • Consistent responses across agencies and sectors
  • Improved outcomes for children and families through coordinated safeguarding and disruption of exploitation networks.

This guidance will also reflect the Northern Ireland-specific challenges, including links to paramilitary harm and the need for trauma-informed, child-centred practice.

It will outline what is known about CCE in Northern Ireland to enable practitioners to recognise its signs and respond appropriately, so that victims and potential victims get the protection and support they need. It is primarily aimed at frontline staff in Northern Ireland who work with children and young people up to 18 years old. It aims to equip practitioners with the knowledge, tools, and shared language required to identify, prevent, and respond to CCE in a way that prioritises the safety, rights, and wellbeing of children and young people. The guidance is intended for all practitioners working in:

  • Health
  • Children’s Social Care and Early Help/Family Support
  • Education and Youth Services
  • Justice
  • The Benefit System
  • Policing
  • Prisons, Probation and Youth Justice
  • Community and Voluntary Organisations
  • Housing
  • Mental Health
  • Substance Use Services
  • Multi-Agency Partnerships.
  • Councils/leisure facilities e.g. parks etc

It may also be helpful for carers, parents and others, although they are not the primary audience.

The guidance has been produced by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) in co-operation with government departments, statutory agencies, and community and voluntary sector partners. It has been shaped by a series of co-designed workshops involving frontline staff, managers, senior managers and stakeholders. These collaborative sessions provided valuable insights and practical inputs that have helped inform and strengthen the content.

The guidance also reflects the perspectives of children and young people, shared through feedback facilitated by service providers, Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) who work directly with them. A child-and young person friendly version of this guidance will be available in the near future.