Practitioners should work alongside parents and carers to help keep children and young people safe from HOTH. Parents may feel like they have little influence over the people and places where their child is at risk, and this can create challenges for their relationship with each other. Sometimes, parents will need help to recognise that their child is being exploited, as it may not always look like this or be obvious. Parents/carers may need to learn more about HOTH, or they may already be worried and not know where else to turn to for support.
Resources to signpost parents/carers to
The following resources can be shared directly with parents/carers to help increase their understanding of HOTH and how to respond. Many of these are written with parents/carers in mind using straightforward language that is easy to understand.
Our information about HOTH for parents and carers.
| Link | Information |
|---|---|
| Barnardo’s: what is exploitation definition on Vimeo | Video including British Sign Language. |
| Barnardo’s: child sexual abuse and exploitation – support for parents and carers | Information and resources to educate on child sexual abuse and exploitation. |
| Barnardo’s: child trafficking | Information and resources to educate on child trafficking. |
| FRANK: concerned about a child? | Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law – facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol. |
| Parents and carers: Harm Outside the Home | Our information for parents and carers about Harm Outside the Home |
| Harm Outside the Home | Our information about HOTH for parents and carers. |
| Durham County Council: help for families – your virtual Family Hub | Free information and support for parents and carers, including information on teenage behaviour. |
| Durham County Council: courses and groups to support you with understanding your child or teenager’s behaviour | Free information and support for parents and carers, including information on teenage behaviour. |
| Parents and carers: online safety | Our information about what your children might be doing online, and simple, practical and easy advice on the steps you can take as a parent to keep them as safe as possible. |
| Fearless | A dedicated youth service of the independent charity Crimestoppers gives people the power to report crime 100% anonymously. |
| CrimeStoppers: County Lines | County lines is the police term used for the criminal exploitation of children and young people involving the movement of drugs. It comes with the associated harms to the young person such as sexual exploitation, violence and human trafficking. |
| NSPCC: healthy relationships | Advice for parents and carers on how to talk to your child about relationships, sex and consent. |
| Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP): get advice | Planning to talk to your child about sex, relationships and their lives online can be tricky. Find lots of advice about these complex areas here. |