Adult safeguarding referrals in 2025
Case reference FOI2026/01680
Received 16 July 2026
Published 10 August 2026
Request
I would be grateful if you would provide answers to the following questions under the Freedom of Information Act.
In 2025, how many adult safeguarding concerns did you receive where the subject was considered to be experiencing or at risk of experiencing sexual exploitation?
Of those referrals, how many resulted in (1) a Section 42 enquiry, and (2) other safeguarding enquiries?
Is there a multi-agency forum in this local authority area which discusses individual cases of children who have been subject to sexual exploitation (e.g. Slavery Exploitation Risk Assessment Conference)?
If yes:
Please provide the name(s) of the group(s)
Does it focus specifically on sexual exploitation or on exploitation or other forms of harm more broadly?
What happens when a child subject to multi-agency case management in relation to sexual exploitation turns 18?
Is there a multi-agency forum in this local authority area which discusses individual cases of adults who have been subject to sexual exploitation (e.g. Slavery Exploitation Risk Assessment Conference)?
Where safeguarding criteria are met, concerns may be managed through a Section 42 enquiry and associated multi-agency safeguarding processes, supported by the Adult Exploitation Pathway and Toolkit.
If yes:
Please provide the name(s) of the group(s)
Does it focus specifically on sexual exploitation or on exploitation or other forms of harm more broadly?
Which agencies are involved?
What housing pathways are available for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness due to fleeing sexual exploitation?3
Do you commission a service to support women who have experienced sexual exploitation and/or who are involved in the sex industry?
If yes:
How much funding is provided?
Is this funded via a particular funding stream?
Is the funding specifically for support for those who have experienced sexual exploitation and/or who are involved in the sex industry, or is this part of a wider service (e.g. a sexual assault service that also supports those who have experienced sexual exploitation)?
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Explanatory note 1: Multi-agency forum could refer to a panel, hub, co-located teams etc. that brings together partner agencies to share information and coordinate responses to children or adults at risk. The equivalent in domestic abuse would be MARAC. We are interested in panels, hubs etc. that discuss a wider range of cases than just sexual exploitation, provided it would be a suitable forum for sexual exploitation to be discussed.
Explanatory note 2: Examples of measures might include, but are not limited to, keeping young adults on the caseload up to a certain age; referring cases to an adult panel; referring to specialist adult services.
Explanatory note 3: This could be a formalised housing pathway, similar to what is often used in domestic abuse cases, or commissioning of specialist services for people experiencing homelessness as a result of sexual exploitation.
Alternatively, people may only be able to access the mainstream housing pathway.
Please advise if this request is likely to take longer than 18 hours in which case we can adapt the questions accordingly.
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Response
I would be grateful if you would provide answers to the following questions under the Freedom of Information Act.
In 2025, how many adult safeguarding concerns did you receive where the subject was considered to be experiencing or at risk of experiencing sexual exploitation?
Answer: 18
Of those referrals, how many resulted in (1) a Section 42 enquiry, and (2) other safeguarding enquiries?
Answer: (1) 8
(2) 0
Is there a multi-agency forum in this local authority area which discusses individual cases of children who have been subject to sexual exploitation (e.g. Slavery Exploitation Risk Assessment Conference)?
Answer: Yes.
If yes:
Please provide the name(s) of the group(s)
Does it focus specifically on sexual exploitation or on exploitation or other forms of harm more broadly?
Answer: For the 2 questions above, the Service Area have advised children and young people who are at risk of, or have been subject to, sexual exploitation can be discussed at the multi-agency Get SAFE meeting. This is a weekly forum attended by professionals from a range of agencies, including Health, Police, Youth Justice, Sexual Health, and Turning Point. Cases can only be presented to the meeting where a completed Get SAFE Risk Assessment has been received. While sexual exploitation may be a presenting concern, the meeting is not solely focused on child sexual exploitation and considers a wider range of contextual safeguarding risks and concerns.
What happens when a child subject to multi-agency case management in relation to sexual exploitation turns 18?
Answer: The Service Area have provided the attached Herefordshire-Child-to-Adult-Exploitation-Transitions-Pathway-v1 document and have advised when a young person reaches the age of eighteen, a referral to the Breaking the Cycle service may be explored. With the young person's consent, the Multi-Agency Child Exploitation (MACE) process is replaced by Complex Adults Risk Management (CARM) meetings, which provide a coordinated multi-agency response to ongoing risks. However, care leavers remain eligible to access support from the SAFE Team until the age of twenty-five.
Is there a multi-agency forum in this local authority area which discusses individual cases of adults who have been subject to sexual exploitation (e.g. Slavery Exploitation Risk Assessment Conference)?
Answer: The Service Area have advised no dedicated multi-agency forum exists specifically for adults who have been subject to sexual exploitation. Adult sexual exploitation concerns are managed through existing safeguarding and multi-agency risk management arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
Where safeguarding criteria are met, concerns may be managed through a Section 42 enquiry and associated multi-agency safeguarding processes, supported by the Adult Exploitation Pathway and Toolkit.
If yes:
Please provide the name(s) of the group(s)
Answer: N/A
Does it focus specifically on sexual exploitation or on exploitation or other forms of harm more broadly?
Answer: The Service Area have advised existing arrangements such as Complex Adult Risk Management (CARM) or Breaking the Cycle (BTC) are not specific to sexual exploitation and consider a broader range of exploitation, vulnerability and safeguarding risks. The Adult Exploitation Pathway and Toolkit similarly addresses exploitation more broadly, including but not limited to sexual exploitation.
Which agencies are involved?
Answer: The Service Area have advised these are case-specific arrangements rather than standing forums. Agency involvement is determined by the circumstances of the individual case and may include Adult Social Care, Health, Housing, Police and other relevant partner agencies as appropriate.
What housing pathways are available for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness due to fleeing sexual exploitation?3
Answer: The Service Area have advised the current pathways are through homelessness assistance (Part VII of the Housing Act 1996) and the housing register (Part VI of the Housing Act 1996), in Herefordshire this is called Home Point.
Where an applicant makes an application for homelessness assistance and a Prevention Duty is accepted (the applicant is found to be threatened with homelessness), or a Relief Duty (the applicant is found to be homeless) a Personal Housing Plan is devised with the applicant. This sets out the applicant’s housing options and the reasonable steps the council will take to help the applicant secure accommodation. The council can assist an applicant apply to the housing register; provide financial payments to help applicants secure accommodation in the private rental sector; make referrals to Women’s Aid and the Refuge network as well as make referrals to specialist supported accommodation and floating support providers. Where an applicant is found to be eligible for public funds, homeless and vulnerable (within the context of S189 of the Housing Act 1996) the council can offer temporary accommodation pending a decision on the application.
Do you commission a service to support women who have experienced sexual exploitation and/or who are involved in the sex industry?
Answer: No – not specifically for this group.
If yes:
Answer: N/A
How much funding is provided?
Answer: N/A
Is this funded via a particular funding stream?
Answer: N/A
Is the funding specifically for support for those who have experienced sexual exploitation and/or who are involved in the sex industry, or is this part of a wider service (e.g. a sexual assault service that also supports those who have experienced sexual exploitation)?
Answer: N/A
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Explanatory note 1: Multi-agency forum could refer to a panel, hub, co-located teams etc. that brings together partner agencies to share information and coordinate responses to children or adults at risk. The equivalent in domestic abuse would be MARAC. We are interested in panels, hubs etc. that discuss a wider range of cases than just sexual exploitation, provided it would be a suitable forum for sexual exploitation to be discussed.
Explanatory note 2: Examples of measures might include, but are not limited to, keeping young adults on the caseload up to a certain age; referring cases to an adult panel; referring to specialist adult services.
Explanatory note 3: This could be a formalised housing pathway, similar to what is often used in domestic abuse cases, or commissioning of specialist services for people experiencing homelessness as a result of sexual exploitation.
Alternatively, people may only be able to access the mainstream housing pathway.
Please advise if this request is likely to take longer than 18 hours in which case we can adapt the questions accordingly.
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Documents
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