Risk in the Community is the Essex partnership approach to tackling exploitation of young people.
Traditionally, safeguarding young people focused on risks within the home, but it is more apparent today that young people experience risks in various contexts outside their family unit, such as parks, high streets, leisure venues, hotels, public transport, schools, neighbourhoods, sports clubs and digital.
Young people can become victims of Sexual or Criminal Exploitation, sometimes they might be moved around the county or outside Essex, known as Trafficking and Modern Slavery.
Some young people might be exploited digitally and may not meet their abuser, or online exploitation may form part of the grooming process and occur before they meet.
Increasing safety for young people in these contexts requires a broad group of professionals to focus on community safety, whilst also supporting the young person and their family. Traditional safeguarding professionals need to team up with other partners, including the private sector in order to create safety in our community. We need to create safety in these vulnerable areas to prevent young people becoming victims, focusing on the place and exploiter is key. This can only be achieved if partners work closely together by identifying and responding to exploited children as well as prevention and disruption activities in communities vulnerable to exploitation.
Risk in the Community is the Essex partnership approach which weaves through and across the workforce.
The approach also includes:
High Risk – Known "It is known that exploitation is taking place”
The professional group is confident that it is highly probable that the child is a victim of exploitation. There will be information from a number of sources indicating signs of exploitation, this may also include the parent’s view.
Medium Risk - Suspected “It is suspected that exploitation is taking place”
The professional group is uncertain that the child is currently a victim of exploitation and consider further enquiries required to help determine this. There will be emerging concerns and grey areas that require further exploration, including seeking information from a wider range of sources.
Low Risk - Vulnerable “Vulnerable child but no exploitation taking place”
The child has multiple factors that could mean they are vulnerable to being exploited, but there is no current indicators that exploitation is taking place.
Signs and Indicators: A template for identifying and recording concerns of child sexual abuse
The exploitation of children is seen in varied forms, these are often described using models of exploitation. These models are devised through research and can therefore expand and contract. Find out more.
The SET Procedures outline the identification, impact and professional responses to Child Exploitation in Essex. These should always be read in conjunction with the latest ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ guidance.