Online Exploitation, Grooming and Coercion Risk in Adult Social Care
Online exploitation, grooming and coercion present growing safeguarding risks for adults with care and support needs. Digital platforms can be used to build trust, exert control and exploit vulnerability, often without obvious warning signs. Providers must be able to identify emerging risk, intervene proportionately and evidence that protections support safety without unnecessarily limiting autonomy. This requires integration between digital safeguarding and risk frameworks and robust recording within digital care planning systems.
Recognising Online Exploitation and Coercion
Online exploitation may involve financial abuse, sexual exploitation, emotional manipulation or criminal coercion. Indicators often emerge gradually and may be mistaken for lifestyle choice unless staff understand digital risk patterns.
Operational Example 1: Financial Grooming via Social Media
Context: A person with learning disabilities forms an online relationship leading to repeated financial requests.
Support approach: Staff explore consent, understanding and risk without immediate restriction.
Day-to-day delivery: Financial monitoring and education are introduced alongside safeguarding discussion.
Evidence of effectiveness: Records show increased understanding and reduced exposure to exploitation.
Operational Example 2: Coercive Relationships and Digital Control
Context: A supported living resident is pressured to share passwords and location data.
Support approach: Safeguarding planning focuses on empowerment and safety.
Day-to-day delivery: Staff support account changes, privacy settings and safe communication.
Evidence of effectiveness: Updated risk assessments and safeguarding plans show reduced coercion.
Operational Example 3: Criminal Exploitation and Online Contact
Context: A person is targeted online and encouraged to facilitate illegal activity.
Support approach: Immediate safeguarding response and multi-agency involvement.
Day-to-day delivery: Digital contact is limited temporarily while risks are addressed.
Evidence of effectiveness: Safeguarding outcomes demonstrate protection without prolonged restriction.
Commissioner Expectation
Commissioners expect providers to identify online exploitation early, intervene proportionately and work effectively with safeguarding partners.
Regulator / Inspector Expectation
The CQC expects providers to protect people from abuse and exploitation in all forms, including digital, and to evidence learning and prevention.
Governance, Learning and Prevention
Effective services review exploitation cases through safeguarding reviews, staff supervision and training to strengthen early identification.
Conclusion
Online exploitation is a real and evolving risk in adult social care. Providers that combine awareness, proportionate safeguards and clear evidence are best placed to protect people and demonstrate compliant practice.