This guide for trainers has been written as a response to the many requests received at ECPAT International for advice and assistance in training carers to look after children who have been commercially sexually exploited. Often carers find themselves in the position of having to fulfil many of the child’s needs, and take on many roles, sometimes with few resources and little formal training.

We hope then, that this resource will be useful when putting together training programmes for carers. Our idea is that it is not followed slavishly, but used as a basis when developing training to meet the needs of organisations and which fits particular circumstances. We are not suggesting that this course will train carers to be ‘experts’ in the subjects covered in the sessions, but we are hopeful that it will give them an overall appreciation and understanding, and help identify future training needs.