Getting help
If you have immediate worries about a child/young person’s safety, contact:
- the Police – 999
- Children’s Social Care (First Contact) – 03000 267 979 (choose ‘Safeguarding’ option)
If you or your child are struggling and need help from services, contact Early Help Triage on 03000 267 979.
If you would like to find out more about services for children (up to 19 years old) and families in your local area, contact Family Hub Offer on 03000 261 111, or find out what’s on at your nearest Durham County Council: Family Hubs. They bring the different services working with you and your child together to create a plan to support your child.
As parents and carers, we want our children and young people to grow up safe and well and for them to feel happy and supported. We often pay attention to making sure that children are safe at home, however it’s just as important to be able to spot and act on the risks that children and young people face when they are away from home. This is known as Harm Outside the Home (HOTH) or child exploitation.
Barnardo’s: What is Exploitation on YouTube explains more about child exploitation.
HOTH/exploitation can include things like:
- ‘peer on peer’ abuse – where children and young people harm other children and young people
- children and young people being take advantage of (exploited) by others – including sexual exploitation and criminal exploitation
- online harm and grooming
- bullying (in person or online)
- involvement in gangs or violence towards other young people
- radicalisation – where children or young people are exposed to extreme views.
This harm can happen online, in schools, in parks and other public spaces, or with groups of friends.
Spotting the signs of harm and knowing how to respond can make a huge difference to keeping your child safe. Every child is different, however, changes to your child’s behaviour could be a sign that something is happening to them.
Possible signs that a child may be coming to Harm Outside the Home include:
- increased secrecy or avoiding discussions about friends or where your child is spending time
- spending time with older people or unfamiliar friends
- distancing themselves from family and long-standing friends
- going missing from home or school
- using drugs or alcohol – Talk to Frank has more information about signs of drug use in young people
- receiving money or gifts and you don’t know where these have come from
- getting involved in crime or drug use
- being secretive about online activity
More information about different types of HOTH/exploitation and signs to look out for can be found at ivision trust.