Child Criminal Exploitation Awareness Training

As part of community, health, social work, or education it is important to understand the part you play as an influential adult and your role in safeguarding to prevent children and young people from becoming victims of child criminal exploitation and abuse.

This impactful, informative, and interactive training for adults focuses on the process of child criminal exploitation and county lines, signs and indicators of abuse and exploitation, vulnerabilities of children and young people, the internet and social media, contextual safeguarding, the importance of language, awareness of victim blaming, the impact of trauma, barriers to disclosure, effective reporting, positive interventions, and understanding “reachable” and “critical” moments in a child or young person’s life.

One day or two sessions (3 hours x 2)

Minimum 10 – Maximum 25

There are serious and increasing challenges posed by child criminal exploitation and County lines. This training will enable participants to gain knowledge, understanding and insight into the impact and significance of child criminal exploitation and county lines with an awareness of strategies for intervention and disruption.

The “Serious Youth Violence” Feb 2022 identifies the Government’s priority in “rolling up county lines”

The Government’s definition of ‘county lines’ from the Serious Violence Strategy (2018):

“…a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas (within the UK), using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of ‘deal line’. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move (and store) the drugs and money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) or weapons.”

“Gang members can give some young people a false sense of belonging, safety, and security, fulfilling a gap that exists in their lives. We must, with a strong sense of purpose, clearly commit to ensuring young people’s lives are not wasted, provide positive alternatives, and expose the damage that gangs do to gang members and to society”.

– (A Safer City for all Londoners – Police and Crime Plan 2017 – 2121).

The Government Disrupting exploitation document (NWG and Barnardo’s 2019) stresses the importance of professionals and volunteers engaging with children and young people, identifying “reachable moments” or “critical moments” as part of effective early intervention and focusing on promoting positive outcomes.

This training will enable participants to gain knowledge, understanding and insight into the impact and significance of child criminal exploitation and county lines with an increased awareness of strategies for intervention and disruption.

1. To understand the definition of County lines and the process of grooming
2. To recognise indicators of child criminal exploitation and signs of abuse.
3. To gain knowledge of how children and young people can be vulnerable with regards to exploitation and criminal activities.
4. To understand the importance of language and victim blaming
5. To understand the significance of early intervention and disruption
6. To understand the barriers to disclosure and the impact of trauma
7. To understand the importance of contextual safeguarding
8. To identify strategies for working with children and young people who are experiencing child sexual exploitation
9. To understand the importance of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
10. To understand the importance of “reachable” and “critical” moments
11. To understand the importance of reporting, safeguarding and information sharing
12. To identify resources and contacts to support work with children and young people.

Karen Livesey is a qualified teacher, youth worker and experienced trainer. She began her professional career as a Primary School teacher in London before becoming a Senior Youth Worker and Advanced Practitioner for Lancashire Youth and Community Service. A management post she held for 26 years. With increasing issues identified in child sexual and criminal exploitation Karen pursued specialist training in child sexual exploitation, safeguarding, modern day slavery and sexual health. She completed Advanced training in Sexual health, Advanced Safeguarding, Adverse Childhood Experience training, Advanced Accredited Level 4 training in Child sexual exploitation, and a PGCE at UCLan in “Leadership and Management in Social Work and Social Care”.