Care Leavers Independence · Workbook chapter 15 of 21

Sexual Grooming & Exploitation

Recognise manipulation and identify trusted safeguarding support.

Watch: Sexual Grooming & Exploitation

A practical independent living skills lesson. Use the activities below to discuss and practise afterwards.

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Sometimes someone may build trust and then ask you to do things that don't feel safe. Learn to notice pressure and manipulation. Practise asking a trusted person for help with a fictional example.

Start here: three practical activities

These examples come from the Nexsteps Independent Living Skills Workbook. Choose an appropriate activity rather than treating this as a test.

  1. ACTIVITY 1Discuss a fictional grooming scenario

    Notice trust-building and later pressure in a fictional story.

  2. ACTIVITY 2Practise asking for help

    Practise a safe message or sentence asking for help.

  3. ACTIVITY 3Find two routes to safety

    Identify safeguarding and independent support contacts.

TRY SOMETHING INTERACTIVE

Make a choice. See what happens.

This is a fictional situation. Choose the response that feels most helpful and explore the feedback. It is not a test, and your choices are not recorded.

MORE WAYS TO LEARN

Three more real-life challenges

Choose the challenges that matter to you. Try them in a safe, supported way where needed. Ticking a box is only for your own use and is not stored.

EXTRA ACTIVITY 4

Spot a pressure tactic

Discuss a fictional situation involving secrecy, gifts or pressure, without sharing personal experiences.

EXTRA ACTIVITY 5

Practise a safe response

Choose words or another communication method for asking a trusted adult for help.

EXTRA ACTIVITY 6

My help options

Identify suitable local safeguarding contacts and another independent route to support.

For practitioners · optional demonstration

Talk through this activity with Dawn

Try an AI voice demonstration about this skill using made-up examples. This is a restricted adult or staff-supervised pilot, not an unsupervised service for young people. You do not need AI to complete the activities.

Learn about the Dawn AI pilot →

Review and save my own goal in My Nexsteps →

The voice guide does not save or mark this activity as completed. Do not enter personal case details.

My progress, my choices

Choose an activity and work at your own pace. When you try it, tick the box and reflect on what went well. There is no test to pass, and using support is an achievement too.

This activity is private to this browser page. Your answers are not sent to Nexsteps or saved. Do not include private personal details.

Create a Life Map mission

Make this part of your own journey

Choose an activity linked to a goal that matters to you. Try it with the support you prefer, reflect on what worked and add your achievement to your personal progress record.

Plan a goal and review progress → Explore My Life. My Future. My Way. →

Who is this for?

Young people aged 16–18 preparing for adulthood, including young people looked after or in supported accommodation. Key workers, personal advisers and other trusted adults can support each activity. Some activities also suit care-experienced young adults.

Learn · Try · Practise · Evidence · Review · Progress

Agree the young person’s goal, the support and any safety arrangements. Use fictional examples for sensitive topics and follow safeguarding procedures. Record only necessary evidence; never put private disclosures or identifying details into public website forms.

Want the full workbook?

The complete Nexsteps workbook includes guided worksheets, fictional scenarios and progress reviews for practitioners and young people.

Enquire about the workbook