Child Exploitation Committee
Child Exploitation (CE) is a threat to children in Northern Ireland and the SBNI has a lead role to play in addressing this issue. This will be done through the mechanism of the CE Committee. This committee is a multi-professional group made up of senior representatives of the SBNI member and partner agencies. It will provide strategic guidance and direction to the SBNI on existing or emerging child protection and safeguarding issues in relation to child exploitation, namely: sexual, criminal and right-wing extremism.
Aim
To work collaboratively with other stakeholders to ensure the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people who are at risk of being exploited.
Tasks
- To seek the involvement and listen to the voices of children, young people, families and carers to influence key decisions.
- To raise awareness of child exploitation in Northern Ireland as experienced by children and young people.
- To develop workforce and community understanding of child exploitation in Northern Ireland.
- To assist the SBNI Policy and Procedure Committee by identifying good practice.
- To report to the SBNI Board on the implementation of the committee’s workplan.
Membership
The group is chaired by a Detective Chief Superintendent, PSNI. Membership comprises representatives from the five Health and Social Care Trusts and;
- Action for Children
- Barnardo's NI
- Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI)
- Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI)
- Probation Board Northern Ireland (PBNI)
- Public Prosecution Service (PPS)
- Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland (SBNI)
- Strategic Planning and Performance Group of the Department of Health (SPPG)
- Youth Justice Agency (YJA)