The eight Practice Principles (see infographic below)  set out an approach for responding to child exploitation and extra-familial harm, aiming to support and align multi-agency responses. Developed by the Tackling Child Exploitation (TCE) Support Programme^[1] the Principles are evidence-informed^[2], offering a way to navigate a complex landscape, focusing on behaviours and cultures at all levels. Interrelated and interdependent, they are designed to complement and support existing guidance and local working arrangements.

 

Multi-agency Practice Principles for responding to child exploitation and extra-familial harm

Following the publication of the Practice Principles in March 2023, the Safer Young Lives Research Centre at the University of Bedfordshire conducted a survey and case studies (March to September 2024) to look at how they were being used and any impact.

Key findings included:

• 71% of survey respondents had heard of the Practice Principles and 64% said they were very helpful.
• Nearly half of survey respondents said that the Practice Principles had made some positive difference to their workplace and partnership working (49% and 47% respectively).

The Practice Principles were being used in a range of ways:

1. To support strategic vision, commissioning and funding

•  multi-agency partners planning strategies aligned with the Practice Principles
•  including the Principles in commissioning processes as desired ways of working

2. Delivered in training

• Especially helpful in multi-agency training

3. To underpin new ways of working

• Incorporated into the design of new approaches

4. As a framework for practice review

• Embedding into the peer audit process
• Cross-referencing with current ways of working

5. Advocating for practice in line with the Practice Principles (and challenging where necessary)

• Being non-statutory guidance endorsed cross-government lent weight to the Principles, e.g. for challenging practice
• Supporting families ahead of multi-agency meetings, reassuring them of expected practice

6. As a reflective tool

• Supporting professionals to reflect on ways of working, e.g. using as a structure for clinical supervision

This research shows that the Practice Principles chime with professionals. They draw attention to and reinforce important, evidence-informed principles for practice amongst individuals, organisations and partnerships. This can arguably support the direction of travel towards these ways of working across multi-agency partnerships responding to child exploitation and extra-familial harm.

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^[1] A consortium led by Research in Practice with the University of Bedfordshire’s Safer Young Lives Research Centre and The Children’s Society; commissioned by the Department for Education

^[2] Their development drew on the research evidence base; learning from the first three years of the programme and the expertise of young people, parents, carers and professionals.