What makes a child vulnerable to exploitation

A child or young person is in care, or ‘looked after’, if they live with foster parents, in a residential children’s home, or in a residential setting such as a school or secure unit.

They may have been placed in care for many reasons. These can include:

• if there is significant risk of harm in the home
• if their parents are unable to care for them
• if they have complex needs and could benefit from respite care
• if they are an unaccompanied asylum seeker.

Vulnerability to exploitation

Children in care and care leavers are a particularly vulnerable group. They may have experienced abuse, neglect and trauma. This can lead to significant emotional, behavioural and mental health needs, putting them at increased risk of being groomed or exploited by people offering them the attention, affection or support that they have struggled to find elsewhere. Indeed, care homes are often targeted by people seeking to exploit the vulnerabilities of these children.

Moving between care placements, or in and out of care, can further impact a child’s emotional and mental wellbeing, and can prevent them from developing stable and protective relationships with trusted adults.

Socialising with peers from similar backgrounds (who may be experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties), can reduce children’s ability to establish positive, pro-social peer relationships. Their relationships with others may instead become characterised by abuse, violence and exploitation.

Children in care are more likely to go missing. During this time they are at greater risk of experiencing abuse, grooming and exploitation.

The experiences of being in care can continue to impact on children and young people after they have left the care system, especially if the transition into family or adult life is challenging and if the support they receive is unable to meet their needs.

Care leavers are often required to become independent at a younger age than their peers, with many leaving care when they are 16-18 years old. They may be expected to become responsible for finding housing, employment and study opportunities without the support networks available to many other young adults. This transition can be challenging and stressful, difficulties increased by past childhood trauma. Employment, housing and financial difficulties and feelings of isolation and exclusion can make care leavers particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

The Home Office defines child criminal exploitation as ‘where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18’. The term is often used to refer to children and young people involved in gangs, although the actual definition is much broader.

Vulnerable young people, including those experiencing poorer mental health, are more at risk of being a victim of child criminal exploitation. Being a victim of CCE can also have a detrimental impact on a young person’s mental health through being exposed to violence and trauma, among other things.

There are many reasons why a young person might be more likely to be a victim of CCE. It’s important that schools and further education settings understand these risk factors – any young person could be at risk of CCE, but there may be some pupils who schools pay closer attention to, due to these risk factors. A few of these factors may include:

If a child is experiencing this, it does not mean that they will be exploited. However, it is important to stay aware of the possible warning signs, maintain positive communication with your child on how to keep safe and stay curious about what they do and who they spend time with.

Exploitation usually involves the child/young person receiving something in return such as alcohol, cigarettes, gifts, money, drugs an/or affection.

Children and young people can be exploited by adults; but can be exploited by other children/young people too - this is known as Peer on Peer Abuse.

Often when children become exploited they and those around them may not realise it as it happens via a process called ‘grooming’. This is where someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.

Changes in your child’s behaviour can be a normal part of the process of child and adolescent development. However, there are some circumstances where changes in behaviour are an indication that something is wrong. In these situations, you should Trust Your Instinct – if things don’t feel right, they probably are not.

If you think your child is experiencing exploitation do not try to deal with the issue alone. Help and support is available. Find out more on our get help page.

Documents related to child exploitation

• Keeping safe toolkit: responses to exploitation
• Trust your instincts A4 leaflet (PDF)
• Children safe in Newham - Information for parents and carers A5 leaflet - (PDF)

• Next page : Get help if you think your children is experiencing exploitation
• Previous page : Child exploitation

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