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Child sexual exploitation: definition and guide for practitioners

‘Child sexual exploitation: definition and guide for practitioners (February 2017)’ is a non-statutory guidance paper produced by the Home Office.

It has been produced to help practitioners, local leaders and decision makers who work with children and families to identify child sexual exploitation and take appropriate action in response. This includes the management, disruption and prosecution of perpetrators.

This advice replaces the 2009 guidance Safeguarding children and young people from sexual exploitation. It should be read alongside Working Together to Safeguard Children which continues to provide statutory guidance covering the legislative requirements on services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, including in relation to child sexual exploitation.

The guidance is separated into sections:

Section AAdvice for all practitioners who work with children

  • Who is vulnerable to child sexual exploitation?
  • Prevalence
  • Potential indicators of child sexual exploitation

Section B- Advice for managers and strategic leaders

  • The child sexual exploitation context
  • Prevention
  • Education practitioners

Read the full Home Office guidance here.