Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Practitioner

Homeless Link; England; Hybrid; GBP 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A youth support organization is seeking a Child Sexual Exploitation Practitioner to work closely with vulnerable young people aged 10-25. This role involves managing a caseload, providing client-centered care, and liaising with agencies to ensure safety from exploitation. Ideal candidates will have qualifications in Youth Work or Social Work, along with experience in safeguarding and outreach. The position offers a challenging yet rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of young people at risk.

Qualifications

• Proven experience working with vulnerable young people.
• Experience in safeguarding young children.
• Delivering and risk assessing outreach work with young people.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of vulnerable young people to help them stay safe.
• Collaborate with professionals to provide tailored care packages.
• Maintain accurate case records and contribute to reports.
• Liaise with other agencies to disrupt abuse and support prosecutions.
• Deliver training workshops for professionals.

Skills

Safeguarding young children

Casework support for young people

Group work experience

Delivering outreach work

Knowledge of risks from sexual exploitation

Education

Qualification in Youth Work/Social Work or equivalent

Job description

37 hours per week / £32,565 per annum, pro rata / fixed-term Maternity cover (12 Months)/ working Monday - Thursday 9.00-1700, Friday 9.00-16.30.

Application closing date: 8 February 2026

At YMCA DownsLink Group,our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be.We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values -we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections- guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

YMCA What is Sexual Exploitation (WiSE) is our child sexual exploitation project which works with children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. Our primary focus of work is supporting young people affected by exploitation through raising awareness, education and empowerment.

We have an exciting opportunity to join the WiSE team as a Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Practitioner. You will work alongside the Service Manager, Early Intervention Worker and two other practitioners, co‑located at Staines Police Station with the Exploitation Team. The role involves a significant amount of lone working with frequent travel across Surrey to see clients and attend meetings, with occasional travel further afield.

In delivering the role, you will involve carrying a caseload of young people aged 10‑25 who are vulnerable to sexual or criminal exploitation, providing intensive, client‑centred care and working closely with professionals across agencies.

Key responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of vulnerable young people and supporting them to stay safe and leave the influence of perpetrators
• Work with other professionals to deliver tailored care packages and provide consultation
• Maintain accurate case records and contributing to timely reports
• Liaise with Children’s Services, Surrey Police and other agencies to disrupt abuse and support prosecutions
• Deliver training and awareness‑raising workshops to professionals and foster carers
• Contribute to strategic development and deputising at relevant meetings

This is a challenging role where children and young people do not always identify the level of risk they are exposed to or the abusive nature of the relationships they are in. The support of victims can be distressing and emotionally demanding for the workers, consequently 1-to-1 clinical supervision, weekly team meetings and regular line management supervision of cases and wellbeing.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we’re looking for.

Qualifications, experience and knowledge

• Qualification in Youth Work/Social Work or equivalent, or comparable experience working with vulnerable young people
• Proven experience in safeguarding young children
• Experience providing casework supportyoung people aged 10 to 25 years old
• Group work experience with young people
• Safeguarding children and young people at risk of serious harm
• Delivering and risk assessing outreach work with young people
• Knowledge of risks posed to vulnerable young people through sexual exploitation and harmful sexual behaviour