As part of Children’s Services ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people, we are pleased to share an important development within Somerset’s safeguarding arrangements. The Preventing Exploitation Team (PEXT) has been renamed WAVE – Working Against Violence and Exploitation.
This new identity better reflects the team’s broad and evolving remit, supporting our shared mission to tackle all forms of violence and exploitation affecting children and young people across Somerset.
Bringing Services Together
The WAVE team are also delighted to welcome our Missing Workers and team leader to the team. Bringing these services into one unified team will strengthen coordination, streamline practice, and improve the support offered to children who are at risk of – or experiencing – violence, exploitation, or going missing.
By aligning our expertise and resources, Somerset can deliver a more consistent, effective, and trauma‑informed response for some of our most vulnerable children.
At a Glance: What’s Changing?
WAVE’s Remit
WAVE provides a targeted response to risks outside the home, including:
- Early identification of extra‑familial harm
- Trauma‑informed interventions
- Coordinated multi‑agency disruption planning
As one county‑wide service, the team responds to both acute and complex levels of need, ensuring every child receives the right support at the right time.
Most children requiring WAVE involvement will be supported by Intervention Workers at a complex level of need. Where a statutory social work response is required, cases will be allocated to one of the team’s Advanced Practitioners.
Advanced Practitioner Allocations
With the introduction of two new Advanced Practitioner roles now in place:
- All children requiring a Risk Outside the Home (ROTH) plan at Child in Need level will be supported by an Advanced Practitioner.
- It is important to note this does not apply if there are concerns within the home or there is a need for a Child Protection, or Child looked after plan.
How to Refer to WAVE
For Agencies Outside of Children’s Services:
- All referrals are triaged at the front door – contact Family Front Door and submit an Early Help Assessment.
- Children are either placed on the WAVE pending list for complex support or allocated to an Advanced Practitioner for acute support.
For Transfers from Children’s Services (CSC or FIS):
- Submit a transfer request to the WAVE mailbox. A Child Exploitation consultation may be arranged.
- All transfers must be recorded through TAM meetings for tracking purposes.
- If complex support is agreed, the transferring team manager moves the child to the WAVE pending tray.
- For Child in Need allocations, a transfer date must be agreed to ensure AP capacity.
- Please ensure the screening tool and C&F Assessment are completed before transfer.
Contacting WAVE – new mailbox
The WAVE team manager and Advanced Practitioners continue to offer support, guidance and consultation as usual.
For Child Exploitation consultations, strategy meetings or general enquiries, please contact:
Prevention-WAVE@somerset.gov.uk
This mailbox is monitored daily.
