How children are groomed into criminal activity — the county lines model, debt bondage and cuckooing, who gets targeted, the signs that show up in care settings including supported living, victim-first responses, National Referral Mechanism referrals, and the intelligence that disrupts exploiters.
What this course covers
- Explain what child criminal exploitation is and why the child is a victim first
- Describe how county lines and cuckooing work, at the level staff need
- Recognise the signs of criminal exploitation across care settings
- Respond without judgement and report through safeguarding and the National Referral Mechanism
- Record and share the intelligence that lets agencies disrupt exploiters
How much does Child Criminal Exploitation & County Lines training cost?
£4 per person on Care2Learn, with no minimum order and no subscription. If your team needs a full training matrix rather than one course, a subscription at £2 per learner per month covers every course in the catalogue — see the 2026 price comparison.
Who needs it
Staff in children's homes, supported accommodation and supported living, where exploiters actively target young people — plus domiciliary and residential teams who may spot the signs, and the managers who escalate them. Completion is recorded with the date taken and the date it is next due, so it appears correctly on your training matrix and can be evidenced at inspection.
What the learner receives
A certificate in their own name carrying the CPD Aligned seal, showing the completion date and the renewal date a year later, downloadable at any time. The record belongs to the learner, not just the employer — it travels with them rather than sitting in one provider's system.
Related courses
Providers usually assign these alongside Child Criminal Exploitation & County Lines.
- Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) — 45 min online, £4 per person
- Missing from Care & Home — 40 min online, £4 per person
- Contextual Safeguarding — 40 min online, £4 per person
- Substance Misuse, Smoking & Vaping — 40 min online, £4 per person
You can also browse the full catalogue, or read about the Care Certificate for staff new to care.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Child Criminal Exploitation & County Lines training take?
About 45 min of e‑learning, across 12 sections with 14 assessment questions. Learners can stop and resume at any point, and it works on a phone.
What does Child Criminal Exploitation & County Lines training cover?
By the end of the course a learner should be able to explain what child criminal exploitation is and why the child is a victim first; describe how county lines and cuckooing work, at the level staff need; recognise the signs of criminal exploitation across care settings. The full list of learning outcomes is set out above.
Is Child Criminal Exploitation & County Lines CPD Aligned, and how is it assessed?
Yes — the certificate carries the CPD Aligned seal. The assessment is multiple choice with a pass mark of 70%; attempts are recorded and learners can retake it. Renewal is set at 12 months from the completion date, so the course reappears on your training matrix when it is due.
Does it cover county lines, debt bondage and cuckooing?
Yes — the county lines model, how debt bondage keeps young people trapped, and cuckooing of supported accommodation flats are all covered, along with victim-first responses, National Referral Mechanism referrals and the legal defence for victims compelled to offend.
Does this count towards the Care Certificate?
No — this is a standalone course rather than one of the Care Certificate standards. The Care Certificate is available as its own guided course for staff who are new to care.
Add Child Criminal Exploitation & County Lines to your team
£4 per person, or included on a £2 per learner subscription.
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