Supporting Young People impacted by violence

Children and young people may experience violence, exploitation or coercion within peer groups, neighbourhoods, education settings, public spaces and online. Harm may involve criminal networks or groups, but it can also arise through individual relationships, peer conflict and wider community circumstances.

This evidence-informed course develops practitioners’ understanding of serious youth violence, child criminal exploitation and risk outside the home. It explores how children may be groomed, coerced or controlled through relationships, status, belonging, threats, violence, debt, social media and perceived protection.

The course promotes a child-centred safeguarding response that avoids criminalising, blaming or labelling young people and recognises the influence of trauma, fear, developmental needs and exploitation. Exploring practical approaches to early identification, trusted relationships, safety planning and contextual assessment. Participants will consider how to work alongside young people, parents, family networks and multi-agency partners to reduce risk, disrupt exploitation and support recovery.

The course reflects current expectations within Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 and the development of multi-agency child protection arrangements through Families First.

_{Learning outcomes}

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand serious youth violence and its relationship to exploitation and risk outside the home.
• Explore how criminal groups and individuals recruit, groom, coerce and control young people.
• Understand the influence of belonging, status, peer relationships, social media, debt and threats.
• Recognise indicators that a young person may be experiencing exploitation or violence.
• Avoid victim-blaming, adultification and the unnecessary criminalisation of young people.
• Use professional curiosity to understand the young person’s relationships, routines, locations and online experiences.
• Recognise opportunities for prevention, early intervention and relationship-based support.
• Develop practical and collaborative safety plans with young people and families.
• Work with parents and family networks as safeguarding partners.
• Contribute to contextual, whole-family and multi-agency assessment and planning.
• Identify opportunities to protect young people, disrupt exploitation and reduce environmental risk.

_{Who is the course for?}

This course is suitable for practitioners and managers across Family Help, Early Help, children’s social care, education, youth services, health, housing, community safety, policing and voluntary or community organisations.