Adult Sexual Exploitation (ASE) Referral Pathway

Introduction

This document focuses on adults at risk of or subject to Adult Sexual Exploitation (ASE). Adults at risk of sexual exploitation can be of any gender, age, culture, ethnicity, or social circumstance. Sexual exploitation can and does happen in all parts of the country, whether in large towns/cities or rural areas.

  • Isolation/lack of strong social network
  • Breakdown of family relationships
  • Lack of or inconsistent engagement with support
  • Friend/peers are subject to exploitation
  • History of Local Authority care
  • History of child abuse
  • Low self-esteem
  • Bereavement or loss
  • Dependence on alleged perpetrators
  • Substance/alcohol use
  • Learning difficulty/disability
  • Health needs, mental/physical
  • Unstable housing situation
  • No recourse to public funds
  • Forced or coerced into making decisions (scared to make on own)
  • Missing from home/accommodation episodes
  • Unexplained increase in goods or money
  • Reduced contact with family/friends/support networks (e.g. increase in missed appointments)
  • Increased use of internet/social media/mobile phone
  • Sudden significant increase in sex work
  • Increase in substance use/dependency
  • Increased access of sexual health services
  • Self harming/suicidal ideation
  • Adverse change in physical presentation or emotional wellbeing
  • Fear of returning to own accommodation due to cuckooing
  • Increased involvement in criminal activity
  • Association with known perpetrators of ASE.
  • Groomed/abused/controlled via mobile phone or other internet enabled devices.
  • Physical injuries without plausible explanation.
  • Controlling partner, evidence or disclosure of Domestic Abuse (DA) or Honour Based Abuse (HBA)
  • Forced to exchange sexual activity for basic needs e.g. food/accommodation/drugs. 
  • Forced to take part in dangerous/risky sex work/practices whether in person or via a digital platform
  • Moved around or in and out of the UK for sexual purposes.  Disclosure of sexual abuse/offences, or withdrawal of such disclosures
  • Abduction and forced imprisonment. 
  • Multiple pregnancies.
  • Coercing/encouraging others into sexual activity.

Encouraging people to seek help and support

There are many reasons why adults at risk will not, or feel they cannot, speak about their experiences or seek help and support so it is important to build trust to enable this to happen.

  • Always be alert to the possibility that an individual could be experiencing sexual exploitation, regardless of their age or gender, and be prepared to offer support.
  • When an adult at risk is hard to engage with, the person with the best relationship with them should lead discussions.
  • Ensure professional interpreters are used, never use family members, children or friends where sexual exploitation is known or suspected.
  • Only ask questions about sexual exploitation when the adult at risk is on their own and in a private place.
  • Consider cultural challenges that may be barriers to seeking support.

Deal promptly with any immediate threat to life / risk of injury, address safeguarding and consider risks to others, yourself and other professionals. Check records for known risk information or warnings. Contact emergency services if required. (Use 999 for an emergency).

Use the TSAB’s ASE Risk Screening Tool to support you.

Any crimes disclosed, identified or suspected should be reported to the police, if a decision is taken not to report, ensure you identify and address any risks to the victim, the source of the information and record your rationale for not reporting.

Never assume that someone else will take care of the sexual exploitation issues. You should seek confirmation that other professionals/agencies have acted in a way which you would expect. You may be the adult at risk’s first and only contact. Remember that adults at risk can deny sexual exploitation is happening and minimise the risk and/or harm. Discuss with your line manager, assess the risk level and act accordingly.

The following section considers the next steps when:

Adult Sexual Exploitation is covered by multi-agency safeguarding processes and procedures.

Where an adult meets the following criterial as defined by the Care Act 2014:

  • aged 18 or over; and
  • has needs for care and support (whether or not those needs are being met); and
  • as a result of those needs is unable to protect themselves against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.

A referral for support must be made. For guidance on deciding whether a referral to adult services is appropriate, you can access the TSAB Decision Support Guidance here.

If you decide a referral is required you must complete a Safeguarding Concern Form and forward to the relevant local authority adult services.

Adult services will then assess whether a Safeguarding Adults Enquiry needs to progress and a Protection Plan developed.

For further advice you can contact Adult Services on the following numbers/emails: 

If there is an urgent enquiry which needs to be progressed outside of normal business hours (evenings and weekends) you can contact the Emergency Duty team (EDT) on 01642 524552. Colleagues should also be aware of the need for continuing support for children and young people who are transitioning into adults, if they are in receipt of support as a child, their needs will still continue when they turn 18. In such circumstances, ensure the case has continued support, remember a “Looked After Child” (LAC) remains so until they reach 25 years of age

  1. Be clear with the adult about confidentiality and explain what a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is, seek their consent where possible but advise that a referral may still be made without it.
  2. If your organisation has an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA)/ Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) or Domestic Abuse support staff, direct the adult to them.
  3. Complete the Domestic Abuse Stalking and Harassment (DASH) risk assessment with the adult at risk present wherever possible, this forms part of the Cleveland standard MARAC referral form (see ASE Toolkit Appendix 8)
  4. Where the DASH score is 14 or over or your professional judgement deems the case is high risk, you must refer the case to MARAC for consideration.
  5. Email the completed referral form to [email protected]
  6. If you identify safety planning and safeguarding issues that need to be addressed, you must take action to mitigate those risks.
  7. Keep in mind the referral may not be accepted into MARAC and if it is accepted there will be a delay between referral and the relevant MARAC meeting.
  8. Consider whether a referral to the Multi-Agency Tasking and Coordinating (MATAC) process is appropriate.  This is a multi-agency Domestic Abuse related process which focuses on disrupting the activity serial perpetrators of Domestic Abuse (see ASE Toolkit Appendix 7).Email to[email protected]. Please note if a case is active to MARAC it would not be appropriate to refer to MATAC.

You still need to take action:

  • Consider and address immediate safeguarding and longer-term risks.
  • Signpost / refer the adult at risk to relevant support / specialist services (see below).
  • Share information with other relevant agencies.
  • Consider convening a professionals meeting to share information and agree tactics to manage risk
  • Regularly revisit level of risk in terms of MARAC and safeguarding action.
  • Pull together a Multi-Disciplinary Team Meeting (see ASE Toolkit Appendix 9)

If no specific adult at risk is identified but you have information th

  • If a perpetrator of ASE has been identified and they have a relevant qualifying offence, consider a referral in to the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) (check eligibility to refer)
  • Consider the National Referral mechanism (NRM) if you suspect Modern Slavery.
  • Consider whether a referral to the HRAP process is appropriate/proportionate (see ASE Toolkit Appendix 5).
  • In addition, see ASE Toolkit Appendix 3 linked to disruption tactics which contains a link to a detailed toolkit that will help both staff and organisations identify preventative/protective measures relevant to their service.
  • See below contact details for a range of partners who can offer support.

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS

  • Document decision-making, actions taken to manage risk and rationale for sharing or not sharing information.
  • Be aware of your professional role and consult with other partners to clarify their roles and responsibilities, share information, and seek advice.
  • Consider advocacy services and/or whether a key worker should be appointed.
  • Follow up all referrals.
  • When signposting to other agencies always consider risks associated with the perpetrator finding leaflets/letters etc.

Partner agencies’ contact information by Local Authority area

Version 2

Refreshed: October 2025