Safeguarding Glossary of Key Terms

Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

When a child or young person is manipulated, coerced, or forced into criminal activity, such as drug running (County Lines), theft, or violence. Exploiters often use threats, grooming, or debt bondage.

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

A form of sexual abuse where a child is manipulated or coerced into sexual activity in exchange for something (money, gifts, status, affection). It often involves grooming, control, and exploitation by individuals or groups.

County Lines

A form of CCE where organised criminal groups use children or vulnerable adults to transport drugs across regions. Victims may be trafficked, threatened, or forced into criminal activity.

Domestic Abuse

Any incident or pattern of controlling, coercive, threatening, violent, or abusive behaviour between intimate partners or family members. Includes emotional, physical, sexual, financial, and psychological abuse.

Early Help

Support provided to children, young people, and families at the earliest point of emerging need, to prevent issues from escalating.

Extra-Familial Harm

Harm that occurs outside the family environment, such as peer-on-peer abuse, exploitation, gang involvement, or online harm.

Intra-Familial Harm

Harm that occurs within the family environment, including abuse or neglect by parents, carers, siblings, or close relatives.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

A form of child abuse involving the partial or total removal of female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is illegal in the UK and carries mandatory reporting duties for professionals.

Forced Marriage

When someone is pressured, threatened, or coerced into marriage without their free and full consent. This is illegal in the UK and considered a safeguarding concern.

Grooming

A process where an individual builds trust with a child or vulnerable person to manipulate, exploit, or abuse them. Grooming can occur online or in person.

Honour-Based Abuse (HBA)

Violence or abuse committed to protect or defend perceived family or community “honour”. Includes forced marriage, threats, physical harm, and coercion.

Incel (Involuntary Celibate)

An online subculture of men who express hostility, resentment, or hatred towards women due to perceived rejection. Some incel communities promote misogyny, violence, and extremist ideologies.

Manosphere / Misogyny

Online spaces promoting anti-women beliefs, including incel groups, “men’s rights” extremism, and influencers who encourage dominance, control, or violence. These spaces can radicalise young men.

LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer)

The LADO oversees allegations made against adults who work with children. They manage investigations, ensure appropriate actions are taken, and coordinate with police, employers, and safeguarding partners.

Neglect

The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical or emotional needs, such as food, supervision, medical care, or emotional support.

Online Harm

Risks children face online, including grooming, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, radicalisation, and exploitation.

Peer-on-Peer Abuse/ Child on Child Violence

Abuse between children or young people, including bullying, sexual harassment, violence, coercion, and exploitation.

Prevent Duty

A statutory duty requiring organisations to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism or extremist ideologies. Includes identifying risks, reporting concerns, and promoting British Values.

Radicalisation

The process by which an individual is influenced to adopt extremist beliefs or support terrorism. Can occur online, through peers, or via extremist groups.

Safer Recruitment

Processes designed to prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children or vulnerable adults, including DBS checks, references, and robust interview practices.

Safeguarding Partnerships

Local multi-agency arrangements that bring together the local authority, police, and health services to coordinate safeguarding practice. These partnerships replaced Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) and are responsible for setting local priorities, reviewing serious incidents, and ensuring agencies work together effectively to protect children.

Toxic Trio

A term used to describe three parental risk factors strongly linked to poor outcomes for children:

• Domestic abuse
• Substance misuse
• Parental mental ill-health When these factors coexist, the risk of harm to children increases significantly.

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