Exploitation

The following links will be useful to those working/ volunteering with Children, Young People, Families and/ or Vulnerable Adults across Bedfordshire.

• Pan Bedfordshire Procedures online- click here and scroll down to section 3.8 to find a range of Exploitation themed resources, practitioner guidance and briefings.
• Bedfordshire Against Violence & Exploitation (BAVEX)- please visit BAVEX to view a wide range of exploitation toolkits, resources and local support services.
• Bedfordshire Child Exploitation Tool: This indicator tool aims to help practitioners focus on specific exploitation indicators and determine whether further investigations are needed by Children’s Social Care (CSC) and Bedfordshire Police. This tool therefore informs both assessment of need, planning and referrals to Children’s Social Care. This tool should be attached to your Children’s Social Care referral regarding a potential child exploitation (CE) case. Watch the video guide to learn more.
• Home Office Child Exploitation Disruption Toolkit
• Fearless is the dedicated youth service from independent charity Crimestoppers, it provides young people with the opportunity to give information about crime 100% anonymously.
• NWG disseminate information to professionals working on the issue of child exploitation (CE) and trafficking. The NWG network covers voluntary and statutory services and private companies working in this field and offers support, guidance and raises the profile, provide updates, training, share national developments, influence the development of national and local policy informed by practice.
• The Children’s Society: Get to know the signs of child exploitation by visiting the #LookCloser campaign website.
• NSPCC ‘Why Language Matters’ blog: The NSPCC have produced a range of briefings encouraging us to replace unhelpful terminology including ‘older boyfriend’, ‘attention seeking’, ‘hard to reach’ and ‘child pornography’. They also provide an overview of Child Sexual & Criminal Exploitation.

If you have concerns that a child is being exploited, please contact:

• Bedford Borough Integrated Front Door (IFD) 01234 718700 or visit our concerned about a child web page.
• Central Bedfordshire Access and Referral Hub 0300 300 8585 AccessReferral@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
• Luton Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) 01582 547653 mash@luton.gov.uk.

Exploitation Training

Safeguarding Bedfordshire offers a wide range of Exploitation themed training, including class based/ virtual classroom (costs apply) and eLearning (free).