Transitional Safeguarding

It is essential to emphasise the importance of safeguarding continuity as young people move from children’s services into adult services. A joined-up approach that integrates adult safeguarding procedures with children’s safeguarding will help maintain consistency in risk management, safety planning, and prevention.

Collaborative working between both service areas is critical to avoid gaps in support that perpetrators could exploit when statutory children’s services end and adult services have not yet begun. Early identification of risk and joint planning will enable holistic, long-term support that addresses ongoing vulnerabilities and recognises that harm can continue beyond the age of 18.

This approach ensures safeguarding does not stop at the point of transition but flows seamlessly, promoting resilience and sustained protection. Developing shared information-sharing tools beyond existing processes (such as Looked After Children, Child Protection, UNOCINI, and NRM) will further support frontline practitioners and enable effective day-to-day collaboration.

Key Takeaways for Practitioners supporting children and young people at risk of or experiencing CCE.

• Understand your role within the system-wide pathway.
• Use the UNOCINI assessment to identify and document CCE concerns.
• Refer confidently using clear thresholds and triggers.
• Collaborate across agencies to ensure consistent and effective responses, including an NRM referral by a first responder.
• Apply the public health model to prevent, intervene, and support recovery

"Invest in building relationships of trust: Relationships of trust are fundamental to being able to identify young people's needs and vulnerabilities. This requires time (long term engagement/interventions), safe spaces and structured processes for young people to engage and develop the confidence to share their feelings and concerns or for these vulnerabilities to become visible to practitioners, enabling targeted support." Why Riot