Child exploitation and children in care: how children’s homes help keep young people safe

Child exploitation happens when someone uses their power over a child to make them take part in sexual or criminal activity, often in exchange for something the child wants or needs. Children in care can be at greater risk, which is why recognising the signs, building trusting relationships and working closely with other agencies are at the heart of safeguarding in a children’s home.

I’m Rhys Herbert, Managing Director of Silver Lining Care. Many of the young people we care for have experienced trauma, including exploitation, so this is work our teams think about every day. This post explains the basics for anyone who cares for or works with young people.

What is child exploitation?

There are two main forms that people working with children in Wales need to understand:

• Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of child sexual abuse, where a child is manipulated, coerced or deceived into sexual activity, often in exchange for something such as attention, gifts, money, drugs or a sense of belonging.
• Child criminal exploitation (CCE) is when a person or group uses a power imbalance to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child into criminal activity. “County lines” drug running is the best-known form, but children are also exploited into theft, carrying weapons and moving money.

The two often overlap. In both, the child is a victim, even when they seem to be taking part willingly, and even if they have committed offences as a result.

Why are children in care at greater risk?

Exploiters look for young people they can draw in with what seems like care, belonging or reward. Children who have experienced trauma, loss or rejection, who have had many moves, or who are missing education can be particularly vulnerable to that kind of attention. Recruitment increasingly starts online, through social media and gaming platforms.

None of this is the young person’s fault. It’s why consistent, trusting relationships with the adults around them matter so much: a young person who feels genuinely cared for at home has less reason to look for it elsewhere, and more chance of telling someone when something is wrong.

What are the warning signs of exploitation?

No single sign proves a child is being exploited. What should prompt action is a pattern, or a clear change from how the young person usually is. Signs can include:

• going missing, or coming back at unusual times;
• unexplained money, phones, clothes or other items;
• new, older friends or associates, or being picked up by unknown adults;
• secretive phone or social media use;
• changes in mood or behaviour, or withdrawing from people they trust;
• disengaging from school or activities;
• signs of drug or alcohol use, or unexplained injuries.

Some of these can have innocent explanations. The point is to notice, record accurately and share concerns, not to reach conclusions alone.

How do children’s homes help keep young people safe from exploitation?

Protecting young people from exploitation isn’t one action; it’s many, every day, by people who know them well.

Relationships first

Trusting relationships are the strongest protection there is. Staff who know a young person well notice small changes early, and a young person who trusts staff is more likely to talk. That’s why we use relationship-based approaches like PACE and the Trauma Recovery Model.

Planning around known risks

Each young person’s risk assessment and plan sets out known risks, warning signs and protective factors, so staff respond consistently and early.

Working with other agencies

Safeguarding is a shared responsibility. We work alongside social workers, the police, schools, CAMHS and families, and share concerns through the Wales Safeguarding Procedures. In Wales, the Complex Safeguarding Wales practitioner toolkit, hosted by Cardiff University, also supports professionals working with exploitation.

Recording and reporting

Clear, accurate, factual records help everyone involved see patterns over time. Concerns are reported promptly, and young people are always described as victims, not as offenders or as “choosing” what is happening to them.

What does the law say about child criminal exploitation?

The Crime and Policing Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, creates a specific offence for adults who exploit children into crime, alongside new measures on “cuckooing” and on making children hide items inside their bodies. The law targets the adults who exploit; it doesn’t change what staff need to do, which is to notice, record and report.

Our training company, SLC Training, has written a detailed guide to child criminal exploitation, county lines and what the new law means for staff in Wales, including when the new offence comes into force.

How are staff trained to recognise exploitation?

Our staff receive safeguarding training up to Level 3 from our own training company, SLC Training, which also runs a dedicated course on Child Criminal and Sexual Exploitation (CCE and CSE) for children’s homes, foster carers and schools. Alongside training, our Behaviour Management Team supports staff with planning for known risks, and with structured debriefs after significant incidents.

If your organisation needs exploitation awareness training, you can find it on the SLC Training courses page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CSE and CCE?

Child sexual exploitation involves a child being coerced or manipulated into sexual activity. Child criminal exploitation involves a child being coerced or manipulated into criminal activity. They often overlap, and both are forms of abuse.

Is a child who has been criminally exploited a criminal?

A child who is exploited is a victim, even if they have committed offences as a result. Records, referrals and conversations should reflect that.

What should I do if I’m worried about a child?

If they’re in immediate danger, call 999. Otherwise, follow your organisation’s safeguarding procedures, speak to your designated safeguarding person, or contact your local authority’s children’s services.