What do I need to do as a professional?

Any professional working with children has a safeguarding duty. What your duty is depends on your role.

All schools in Shropshire have a duty to report any child exploitation concerns to us as the local authority. The most common method is to use the CE risk assessment tool.

Professionals are expected to keep accurate, up-to-date records regarding concerns, and these may be requested, for example by social workers, to complete assessments. Professionals are expected to ensure that any data transmitted or kept is shared in adherence to data protection and UK GDPR guidelines, and that they also follow their own local safeguarding protocols.

It’s good practice to keep up to date with local themes, trends, hot spots and emerging substances. One of the best ways of doing this is to subscribe to the TREES Newsletter.

Child exploitation occurs nationally and is something that all professionals, parents and carers need to be aware of to safeguard and protect the children we care for. If you work with children, you're expected to complete training in this area. We provide free training through Leap into Learning. You're able to book specialist courses via this too, although many are free. This will depend on your service and area.

We've recently launched specialist exploitation training aimed at experienced practitioners who regularly complete CE risk assessments.

West Mercia Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner also provide free training to professionals in Shropshire. You can email trainersWDBC@westmercia.police.uk for more information.

If you're working with a child in Shropshire who you suspect may be being exploited, the TREES team and partners offer weekly consultations for professionals. Do you have a particular young person who you would like to discuss in more depth? If so, we offer weekly consultations every Tuesday 2pm – 4pm. The following professionals will be on hand to offer advice and support regarding all CCE, CSE and substance misuse queries:

  • Donna Richards, senior social worker, TREES Team
  • George Davies, drug and alcohol advisor, TREES Team
  • Stafford Mason, CE lead for the Early Help team
  • Jo Smith, Education Access Service
  • + other professionals

To book a 30 minute timeslot, please use the self-serve booking system or email the TREES Team at childexploitation@shropshire.gov.uk

We're here to support you.