Information for Professionals

Street Teams is the commissioned service for Walsall Local Authority to deliver specialist support for children and young people at medium risk of exploitation.

Our work focuses on children and young people who have been identified as being targeted for the purposes of exploitation, including both child sexual exploitation (CSE) and child criminal exploitation (CCE). We provide early, contextual, and consistent intervention to reduce risks, strengthen protective factors, and promote safety and wellbeing.

Our Role

• We deliver targeted 1:1 and group support for children and young people identified as being at medium risk of exploitation.

• We continue to support the child or young person even when their level of risk fluctuates, ensuring consistency and trusted relationships throughout their journey.

• Our approach is contextual and preventative, focusing not only on the individual but also on the environments and relationships that may be increasing risk.

• We work closely with parents, schools, and professionals to ensure coordinated, whole-system support.

Referral Process

If you are a professional working with a child or young person in Walsall and believe they may be at risk of exploitation, please follow the local process below:

1. Complete the Walsall Exploitation Tool, available through through the link on our website under the ‘info for professionals tab’ and on Walsall Safeguarding Partnership website or your agency’s safeguarding lead.

2. Send the completed tool to:
   missingexploitedchildren@walsall.gov.uk

3. The referral will be reviewed through the Multi-Agency Exploitation Triage, where partners will consider the information provided and decide the most appropriate support and interventions.

If Street Teams’ support is identified as the right response, we will contact you to begin the referral and engagement process.

If you need any advice or would like to discuss a concern before completing the tool, you can contact Street Teams directly for guidance and professional advice.

Working Together

Street Teams works in partnership with schools, social care, early help, police, health and voluntary sector agencies to:

• Identify and reduce risks outside of the home

• Share insight and intelligence to disrupt exploitation

• Strengthen protective networks around children and families

• Promote community safety and resilience

Together, we can reduce exploitation, improve outcomes, and create safer environments for children and young people across Walsall.