Child Criminal Exploitation and Serious Youth Violence Training

This course has been updated to comply with and include changes from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026 and Working Together to Safeguard Children (WTSC) 2026 legislation. This legislation came into force on 1st September 2026 and was published by the Department for Education.

This course gives learners a deeper understanding of child criminal exploitation, gang-related issues and serious youth violence, defining what these terms mean in practice. It helps learners identify the signs and symptoms of a child or young person becoming involved in gang activity, and what to do if they suspect it.

The course covers county lines in detail, including its links to organised criminal networks, human trafficking and modern slavery, and how it differs from other gang-related activity. It also covers knife crime and serious youth violence, including why children carry weapons, what the law says, and the links between knife crime, gangs and exploitation.

Throughout, the course uses real case studies and video content to bring the information to life, including a first-hand account of how a child can be groomed into a gang, alongside interactive checks to test knowledge as the course progresses. It closes with clear guidance on best practice for engaging with a young person affected by CCE, and how to report concerns, including through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

Who should take this course?

This course is for anyone who works with children and young people who may be at risk of, or involved in, gang activity, county lines or serious youth violence. This includes:

• Social workers
• Care workers
• Pastoral care staff
• Teachers and teaching assistants
• Healthcare professionals

What does this training cover?

• Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), its definition and how to recognise it
• Gang terminology, structure, and the signs a child may be involved with gangs
• Risk factors and push/pull factors that can make a child more vulnerable to exploitation
• Knife crime and serious youth violence, including why children carry weapons and what the law says
• County lines, its connection to human trafficking and modern slavery, and how to recognise the signs of activity
• Best practice for engaging with a young person affected by CCE
• What to do if you suspect gang involvement, including referral through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM)

Child Criminal Exploitation and Serious Youth Violence Course Certificate and Assessment

After completing all the course materials and passing the online assessment, learners will be able to download and print a Virtual College certificate, which they can keep for their records.

At the end of this course, you will need to complete a test that consists of 15 multiple choice questions. Learners are required to achieve a 75% pass mark, and - if necessary - may attempt the test six times at no extra cost. If learners do not achieve the 75% pass mark, further attempts may be given by contacting our support team.

Duration

This course takes around 1-2 hours to complete. As it's all online, you can complete it at your own pace, in stages, with your progress recorded throughout and as long as you like spent on each section.

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this online course.