Child Sexual Exploitation Practitioner Guidance
Contents
Section Chapter Page No
1 Definition of Child Sexual Exploitation 2
2 Models of Child Sexual Exploitation 2 - 4
3 The Grooming Process 4 - 7
4 Principles 7 - 8
5 Vulnerability factors 8
6 Risk Indicators 9 - 10
7 Assessing CSE 11
7 Intervention Strategies 11 - 15
8 Useful contacts & resources 15 - 19
1 Updated December 2015 1. Definition of Child Sexual Exploitation
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of sexual abuse that involves the manipulation and/or coercion of young people under the age of 18 into sexual activity.
National Definition (NWG 2008, and cited in DCSF, 2009):
Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where children (or a third person or persons) receive ‘something’ (for example, food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of performing sexual activities and/or another performing sexual activities on them.
Child sexual exploitation can occur through the use of technology without the child’s immediate recognition, for example persuasion to post sexual images on the internet/mobile phone with no immediate payment or gain.
In all cases those exploiting the child/young person have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common, involvement in exploitative relationships being characterised in the main by the child or young person’s limited availability of choice resulting from their social/economic and/or emotional vulnerability.
2. Models of Child Sexual Exploitation
Barnardo’s research ‘Puppet On A String: The Urgent Need to Cut Children Free From Child Sexual Exploitation’ (2011) has assisted in informing understanding of different models of CSE. It remains an emerging picture. These models are not exhaustive, but show a spectrum of exploitation: Befriender/Inappropriate relationships Usually involves one abuser who has inappropriate power – physical, emotional or financial – or control over a young person. The young person may believe they have a genuine friendship or loving relationship with their abuser. The abuser befriends and grooms the child by striking up a normal relationship with them maybe giving the child gifts and meeting in cafes/ fast food outlets or shopping centres. A seemingly consensual sexual relationship develops but later turns abusive with the abuser coercing or forcing the child to have sex with friends or associates. This model of one- on-one abuse can exist in isolation.
Peer on peer: Children are forced or coerced into sexual activity by peers or associates of the same or similar age, known to them through a mutual setting such as at school, groups in the neighbourhood or through friends. Sometimes this can be associated with gang activity but not always. The young person may sexually exploit peers directly by sexually abusing victims themselves, or indirectly by introducing children and young people to
2 Updated December 2015 abusers. Perpetrators can use one victim to gain access to others, asking victims to bring their friends along to pre-arranged meetings or 'parties'. In some cases, if victims try to break free, the perpetrator will use their peers to draw them back in (CEOP, 2011).
There has been a reported rise in peer exploitation where young people are forced or coerced into sexual activity by peers and associates of a similar age (Barnardo’s, 2012).
Gangs: Types of sexual exploitation within gangs may include using sex as a weapon between rival gangs, as a form of punishment to fellow gang members and/or a means of gaining status within the hierarchy of the gang. It is often used to exert power and control over members.
Girls and young women are frequently forced into sexual activity by gang members. Research by Beckett (2012) found girls considered to be engaging in casual sex were seen as forfeiting their right to refuse sex. A victim may have engaged in a sexual act with one gang member (possibly as part of gang initiation) and is then viewed as having lost their right to consent and is “fair game” to all others.
The gangs sometimes use younger men or boys to make the initial approach, reinforcing the misapprehension that the children are involved in consensual relationships with partners of a similar age.
Organised/networked sexual exploitation: Young people (often connected) are passed through networks, possibly over geographical distances, between towns and cities or even just between houses or hotels, where they may be forced/coerced into sexual activity with multiple men. Often occurs at ‘parties’, and young people may also be used to recruit other young people into the network. Some of this is described as serious organised crime and can involve commercial child sexual exploitation: the ‘buying and selling’ of young people by perpetrators. This model usually involves numerous victims and perpetrators and is the most widely reported in the media. This is the most sophisticated and complex form of child sexual exploitation and young people within this would be considered at very high risk.
Internal Trafficking: Internal trafficking occurs when a person is recruited in one area of a country or city and moved from area to area or city to city within the same country for the purposes of exploitation. The internal trafficking of British children within the country often involves a number of perpetrators and is more sophisticated in the way that it is organised. Some of this activity is described as serious organised crime and can involve the organised ‘buying and selling’ of young people by perpetrators. It a criminal offence even without actual sexual activity taking place.
Online exploitation: Sexual exploitation can happen without physical contact. When sexual exploitation happens online, young people may be persuaded, or forced, to: Send or post sexually explicit images of themselves, Take part in sexual activities via a webcam or smartphone, Have sexual conversations by text or online.
3 Updated December 2015 Abusers may threaten to send images, video or copies of conversations to the young person’s friends and family unless they take part in other sexual activities. Images or videos may continue to be shared long after the sexual abuse has stopped.
Young people from any model of child sexual exploitation can be victim of extreme levels of intimidation and physical and sexual violence.
Awareness of these different models continues to develop and they are not pure e.g. a child may begin in the “befriender model” which may become a route into “organised exploitation or trafficking”.
3. The Grooming Process
Familiarise yourself with how the grooming process functions in order that you can be more effective in recognising this and promoting the understanding of others where this is occurring. Two models of the grooming process (‘the grooming line’, and ‘the 7 stages of grooming’) are given below.
Professionals should be mindful that the timescale of the grooming process can vary significantly; for some young people this may occur over a number of months whilst for another it may occur within the space of an hour.
Barnardo’s – The Grooming Line:
The grooming line is based on Barnardo’s experience from work with children and young people who have been victims of sexual exploitation.
Grooming is an action deliberately undertaken with the aim of befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child, to lower inhibitions with the intention to sexually abuse them. It can be a carefully planned process with the aim of controlling a young person, to ensure that they do exactly what the perpetrator wants.
4 Updated December 2015 Perpetrators can be male or female from any background, any age group and any ethnicity. Often, perpetrators are well liked, articulate and plausible. Perpetrators of child sexual exploitation often have power – real or perceived – over the young people they abuse. It is not the young person’s fault.
The 7 Stages of Grooming
Stage 1: Targeting A perpetrator will think about where they can find young people to abuse and exploit.
Think: Internet (chat rooms, online games, social networking, dating apps etc); “Safe” Places (School, Parks, Home, Bus stops, City Centre during day, Youth Clubs, Takeaways, Residential Units); “Risky” Places (Bars, Night Clubs, City Centre at night, The streets at night).
Stage 2: Contacting A perpetrator will think of way to make contact with the child or young person:
Online - sending a friend request, emails/messages, video camera chat, fake profiles, lying about who they are).
In the community – a perpetrator may offer the young person something as a way of making contact e.g. money, sex, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, a lift, protection, show interest, friendship, conversation, advice/support, or something else.
Stage 3: Keeping Contact A perpetrator will think of how they can maintain contact with the child/young person.
Encourage further contact – swap email address, phone numbers, BBM pins, offer them a mobile phone, suggest meeting up, arranging another time to meet.
Offer more of what they want/need – love, affection, friendship, alcohol, drugs, support, money, games, cigarettes or something else.
Stage 4: Perceived Positive Behaviour A perpetrator will think of how they can make the child/young person want to spend more time with them and convince them he/she’s a safe and cool person to be around.
Impress them – the perpetrator may seek to impress the young person with their car, jewellery, flashy gadgets, cash, cool job, cool mates, jokes etc.
Suggest/take part in appropriate activities – going to the gym, doing sports, going to the cinema, days out, meals, swimming, sleeping over, clothes shopping, gaming, other activities.
Giving attention – texting, chatting online, phone calls, show affection, encourage trust, compliments, or other attention.
Give gifts – Mobile phone, phone credit, underwear, romantic gifts, clothing, cash, DVD/games, or other gifts.
5 Updated December 2015 Do favours – Offer advice and support, give lifts, provide a place to stay, keep secrets, do other favours.
Stage 5: Negative Behaviour A perpetrator will then think about how he can sexualise the young person and get stuff to use against them later on to exert control. They may use the following strategies:
Activities – truth or dare, drinking games, strip games, clubbing, moving in, taking drugs, adult chat rooms, cruising sites, secret meetings, nights in hotels, watching porn etc.
Do favours – encourage truancy, cover when truanting, lie to family/school, keep secrets.
Give attention – isolate from friends, family and school, sexualised chat, sexual attention, tell lies, flirting and sexting, suggesting age doesn’t matter.
Test touch – Kissing, hugging, tickling, bravado, sex (if in a relationship), play fighting/wrestling, massage/back rubs, dares (involving touch).
Give gifts – drugs, porn, alcohol, stolen goods, sexualised clothes, sex related goods, gadgets/technology, weapons.
Stage 6: Control and Reinforcement The perpetrator will think about how they can stay in control of the young person and may use the following strategies to do so:
Highlighting current positives – being loved/cared for, treating them like an adult, having fun, being supported, treating with equality (letting them make choices/perceived choices), having more freedom and independence, getting free stuff.
Highlight/exaggerate previous negatives – no love, respect, or support, inequality, life was boring, lovely and isolated, treated like a child, everyone nagging/having a go, no free stuff.
Control – Be demanding, give orders, isolate from friends, family and school, threatening behaviour, encouraging secrecy, create dependence, create fear.
Stage 7: Sexual Exploitation A perpetrator will think of ways to get the young person involved in sexual activity that he/she can benefit from. They may use the following strategies:
Types of sex/sexual activity – sex involving lies and secrecy, watching, touching, stripping, sex in exchange for something else, sex involving others, selling the young person to others, sexual images.
Persuade – beg, offer incentive, explain benefits, say it’s a favour, create fear of consequences, play on feelings of love, make the young person feel guilty, explain he/she will enjoy it.
6 Updated December 2015 Force – tell the young person they owe you, threaten to remove needs and wants, threaten violence, use drugs/alcohol.
Blackmail and mind games – Blame and make threats, tell the young person they wont be believed, use previous information against them, use previous gifts against them (you don’t get something for nothing), tell the young person they should have known what to expect.
Justify and normalise – Use appropriate sexual behaviour to justify, explain lots of young people do these things and that it’s a laugh, explain everyone has to do things they don’t like, use previous activity involving nudity to normalise the situations.
4. Principles
Some principles which should underpin practitioners approach to child sexual exploitation:
Sexual exploitation includes sexual, physical and emotional abuse, and, in some cases, neglect. It is a safeguarding issue and you must follow safeguarding procedures in response to concerns.
Children and young people do not make informed choices to enter or remain in sexual exploitation, but do so due to coercion, enticement, manipulation or desperation. Children are not responsible for their abuse.
A common feature of CSE is that the child or young person does not recognise the coercive nature of the relationship and does not see themselves as a victim of exploitation. This means that they are unlikely to report the abuse so police and partners must be alert to the signs of CSE and actively look for victims.
There is not one type of victim or offender of CSE. CSE can take many forms in many settings. If we look at just one model, such as organised or gang CSE, we risk missing other victims who do not fall into that category. There is also a risk that victims don’t recognise their abuse as CSE because it doesn’t fit a particular model.
Professionals should make judgements based on risk indicators NOT gender. CSE affects both boys and young men, and girls and young women. Professionals should be mindful that boys and young men are often less likely to make disclosures of sexual exploitation. In addition both males and females can be perpetrators of child sexual exploitation.
Be mindful of your use of language. Children do not ‘put themselves at risk’ of harm and are not responsible for their abuse. Victim-blaming language is not acceptable. Try to think about how you would feel if you were writing about yourself as the child, or how they would feel if they read what you were writing about them – what messages is it giving them?
Young people under 16 cannot consent to sexual activity, and sexual intercourse with children under the age of 13 is statutory rape (Sexual Offences Act 2003).
Sexually exploited children and young people should be treated as victims of abuse, not as offenders.
7 Updated December 2015 Many sexually exploited young people have difficulty distinguishing between their own choices about sex and sexuality, and the sexual activities they are coerced into. This potential confusion should be handled with care and sensitivity by professionals.
Just because the abuse/exploitation may be happening away from the home does NOT mean it should be seen as less serious.
Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it is safe (e.g. don’t assume consent is present just because a child is 16 or over).
The primary law enforcement effort must be made against the coercers and adults who sexually exploit young people. In some cases young people themselves may exploit other young people, and in these cases law enforcement action may also be necessary.
5. Vulnerability factors
Children are more vulnerable to abuse through sexual exploitation if they have experience of one or more of the following (this is not an exhaustive list):
Emotional Neglect by parent/carer/family member Physical abuse by parent/carer/family member Sexual abuse Breakdown of family relationships/family conflict Family history of domestic abuse Witnessing/experiencing domestic abuse Family history of substance misuse Family history of mental health difficulties Low self esteem Unsuitable/inappropriate accommodation Homelessness/sofa surfing Isolated from peers/social networks Lack of positive relationship with protective/nurturing adult – lack of love/security Children with Young Carer responsibilities Children/Young People Looked After (particularly within residential care) Learning disability Death, loss or illness of significant person in the child’s life Financially unsupported Adult involved in sex working Migrant/refugee/asylum seeker Bullying in/out of school Child has drug/alcohol or mental health needs Frequently going missing Being out of education
8 Updated December 2015 6. Risk Indicators
Multi agency information sharing is essential to revealing an accurate picture of the risk a child/young person is at.
What are risk indicators?
Risk indicators are signs that a child may be being sexually exploited, however professionals need to be mindful that even when a young person presents with numerous indicators, it does not always mean they are being exploited. Within your professional roles you need to assist in unpicking the presenting information and alert to the potential of CSE to be occurring.
Think about (again not exhaustive):
Physical health: Physical symptoms suggestive of physical or sexual assault Evidence of drug or alcohol use (ranging from experimentation to dependency) Disclosure of physical/sexual assault which is then withdrawn Poor eating patterns Returning from missing episodes with unexplained bruising or other injuries
Sexual Health: Recurring or multiple sexually transmitted infections Sexually risk behaviour Clipping i.e. offering to have sex for money or other payment and then running before sex takes place Repeat requests for emergency contraception Unplanned pregnancies, use of terminations Child under 13 engaging in sexual activity
Emotional Health: Low self esteem, self harm, eating disorders, low confidence, suicide attempts Volatile, violent or aggressive behaviour Secretive behaviour Poor self image
Education: Non attendance/disengagement with education/exclusion/truancy
Missing: Staying out overnight, returning late with no plausible explanation and/or going missing
Social Presentation: Change in appearance Notable changes in behaviours or loss of interest in previous interests Looking well cared for despite having no known base Overt sexualised dress inappropriate for age Offending behaviour
9 Updated December 2015 Immediate response to text or phone calls and increased secretiveness and isolation from family
Housing: Breakdown of residential placements due to behaviour Pattern of street homelessness and staying with an adult believed to be sexually exploiting them
Income: Unaccounted for monies or goods including mobile phones, drugs and alcohol In possession of multiple mobile phones and SIM cards
Places: Being involved in CSE through being seen in hotspots i.e. known houses or recruiting grounds Being taken to clubs and hotels by adults and engaging in sexual activity
Relationships: Associating with unknown adults Association with other young people at risk of sexually exploitation or who are being sexually exploited Reduced contact with family and friends and other support networks Getting into cars with unknown adults Associating with known CSE adults Being groomed on the internet Association with gangs or gang-related activity. Having an older boyfriend/girlfriend Befriending adults that have no natural link to them Presenting as Sexual Health clinics, A&E departments or out of hours medical centres in the company of unrelated adults. Child under 16 meeting different adults and exchanging or selling sexual activity
Other: Isolation of child due to being an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker or being in a migrant family or having experienced frequent moves Abduction and forced imprisonment Being moved around for sexual activity Disappearing from the ‘system’ with no contact or support
10 Updated December 2015 7. Assessing CSE:
The Sexual Exploitation Risk Assessment Form (SERAF) is the Southampton tool to assist in identifying the level of CSE risk the child / young person appears to be at, at that time. It the same tool used in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Please refer to the separate SERAF guidance document for further direction on completing a SERAF.
If at any point you consider that a child or young person is at risk of or has suffered significant harm then child protection procedures should be initiated. A strategy meeting with all relevant professionals should be convened as soon as possible in order that all relevant information relating to risk indicators can be discussed and consideration can be given as to whether a Section 47 child protection enquiry is required and form a strategy for undertaking this.
8. Intervention Strategies
Interventions should relate to the level of CSE risk, and the specific areas of risk, vulnerability and need identified, which the completed SERAF for the child will have assisted you in identifying.
Consider what is required in terms of: P revention, D iversion, D isruption and S upport.
Here are some ideas with regard to intervention strategies and objectives:
Disrupting the young person’s relationship with other young people suspected of introducing them to adults involved in violence, gang activity, drugs and sexual exploitation.
Identify whom the young person is spending time with and recognise negative relationships.
Prevent visits to the home by other young people who may either deliberately or unwittingly be recruiting the young person.
Share information on known associates with Police and consider what risk they pose.
Disrupting the young person’s contact with adults suspected of being involved in violence, drugs and sexual exploitation.
Recognise and acknowledge abusive relationships.
Implement the Abduction Warnings and Orders strategy.
Deny individuals suspected of abusing, grooming, or recruiting the young person access to the child’s home.
Consider ways in which calls, texts etc can be monitored.
11 Updated December 2015 Gather and record information to assist prosecution and disruption of adults or other young people suspected of being involved in violence, gang activity, drugs and sexual exploitation. Corroboration of evidence is very important to prevent reliance on the young person’s statement.
Obtain as much information as possible to identify associates and those who pose a risk to children and young people. Good information includes full names, nick names, telephone numbers, addresses and car registrations etc.
Keep accurate records and retain the information on children's personal files; it is important to date and time the information and note who is involved in incidents and any interventions.
Share information appropriately with the Police.
Ensure all involved professionals are updated with regard to information regularly.
Promote positive relationships with family, friends and carers.
Carers/parents should be actively engaged in searching for the young person to show that they care.
Promote positive relationships with family and friends.
Promote the need for carers/parents to show attention.
Encourage honesty. Reinforce the nature of the crime.
Involve parents/young person in tackling the problem and in Network and CSE Meetings.
Identify suitable long-term key workers who can befriend the young person.
Maintain contact whilst absent; 'compassion banking'.
Ring the young person’s mobile phone.
There must be 24/7 contact available so that the young person does not feel isolated during evenings or at weekends.
Ensure the number of the Missing People Helpline and Childline is in the young person’s mobile phone address book or text the numbers to them.
Compassion banking - send text messages to the young person. Consider using ‘text language’ that the young person relates to, tell them you are worried and care about their safety and encourage them to contact you or another adult.
Enhance the return procedure to ensure it is a positive experience.
Return interviews are undertaken to gain better understanding of why the person went missing and what can be done to prevent it happening again. There is no
12 Updated December 2015 specified timescale for a return interview but Police guidelines state that a 'safe and well' visit should be undertaken by an officer as soon as is practicably possible. This will include a return interview by an officer unless crime is not suspected and a professional from a more suitable organisation is available to carry out the interview at a later stage.
As a multi agency network identify how you can maintain consistency of workers who complete the return interview and ensure this is someone the young person respects and wants to talk to.
Return interviews should be followed up by active support of the young person to ensure the return interview is seen as a positive experience.
Set clear boundaries to acceptable behaviour and motivate positive behaviour through reward.
Consult the young person and agree rewards and penalties. Consider reward schemes i.e. monetary/ vouchers. Be flexible. Adopt a behaviour management strategy. Give the young person more independence in response to responsible behaviour.
Empower the parent/carer/ foster carer, remember they are a key partner in protecting the child or young person and gathering information to disrupt perpetrators.
Raise the awareness of parent, carers and foster carers of relevant policies, procedures, their responsibilities, duties, legal powers, their options and restrictions upon them.
Consider family support services.
Maintain active support of parents, carers and foster carers.
Raise the awareness of parents and carers to help them to identify the signs of child sexual exploitation and encourage them to gather and log information where appropriate.
Build the young person’s self-esteem.
Identify and encourage positive activities that the young person may engage in and encourage the young person to make positive contributions at home, school, leisure or work; positive activities should build self-esteem, not just entertain.
Assist the young person to look at the consequences of their behaviour.
Take time to explain the issues and keep the young person informed.
Involve the young person in looking at alternatives and decision making.
Raise the young person’s awareness of CSE and the dangers of risk taking behaviours.
13 Updated December 2015 Refer them to an appropriate specialist CSE support service.
Consider health needs of young person.
Sexual health and contraceptive advice. Medical treatment if suffering neglect, injury or poor health. Therapeutic Interventions.
Involve the young person in diversionary activities.
Enable the young person to participate in exciting positive activities and leisure activities such as drama or dance.
Activity weekends or team building exercises through multi agency provision.
Arrange work experience opportunities or vocational training.
Use all agencies involved such as YOS, Police, Voluntary Sector and Social Care.
Make home a more attractive place to live.
Identify push/pull factors and deal with them.
Tackle relationship problems.
Address domestic violence issues.
Tackle drug/ alcohol problems of other family members.
Consider an alternative placement that gives the young person a feeling of more independence and responsibility.
Consider extended stay with a family member in a different city to break the cycle.
Achieve normality.
Enforce bed times. Enforce waking times. Promote attendance at school. Encourage young people to eat together at meal times.
Make school a more attractive place to go.
Tackle bullying, truancy and peer pressure. Encourage engagement with alternative and educational provision. Provide funding for after school activities.
Provide specialist support through other agencies.
DASH Counselling
14 Updated December 2015 Advocacy Mentoring CAMHS Promote use of drop in support services Barnardo’s No Limits Make young people aware of self-referral pathways Signpost parents to support services e.g. PACE (Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation)
Plan on positive change for the future and set small targets to achieve monthly.
Targets need to be agreed with young person and parents.
9. Useful contacts & resources to be aware of:
Southampton CSE Hub
Part of Southampton Children’s Services, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and promoting good practice in relation to CSE at all levels. Provides direct work with children who are considered vulnerable to CSE, and direct work with parents and carers to raise awareness and understanding of risk; support, guidance and consultation to professionals; CSE awareness raising sessions to agencies, children, community groups etc.
Laura Tanner (CSE Advanced Practitioner); Poppy Coombs (CSE social worker); Jade Bailey (CSE youth engagement worker) 02380 834816 [email protected]
Barnardo's – U-Turn Service
The U-Turn Service - provides long term support and intervention to children in relation to CSE, healthy relationships, keeping safe etc.
Barnardo’s also have the Miss-U Service which undertakes return interviews with Southampton children who have been reported missing, and complete a Miss-U assessment to assist in understanding why the children went missing and what support they may need.
Lisette Dennis (Team Manager, Miss-U & U-Turn Service) 01489 796684. www.barnardo’s.org.uk
No Limits
Provide a variety of services which are free for young people under 26 to access. Their service is confidential meaning they won't tell anyone what you've have told them unless you are, or another person is, at risk of harm. They offer support in relation to drugs and alcohol (through DASH service), counselling, housing and homelessness,
15 Updated December 2015 money and debt, sex and relationships, work and training. They have drop in centres in their city centre, Shirley and Sholing offices, as well as within some schools and colleges. 02380 224224 http://www.nolimitshelp.org.uk/need-help
Southampton Rape Crisis
Young People’s Counselling Service - offers free counselling to young people from the age of 12-18 who have experienced any form of unwanted sexual experience including rape or sexual abuse. If you have been sexually abused you may feel frightened, confused, alone, angry or guilty whether the abuse happened a long time ago or recently. The Young People's Counselling Service is a place where you can come and talk to a counsellor who will understand how you are feeling and will do their best to help you. Young People's Counselling Service: 023 8063 6314
Rape Crisis also provide support for families who are struggling with the impact of sexual abuse or assault through their family therapy service, and also offer therapeutic groups for young people.
General Enquiries: 023 8063 6312 Helpline: 023 8063 6313 [email protected] http://www.southamptonrapecrisis.com/index.html
Independent Sexual Violence Advisory Service (ISVA Service)
An advocacy and support service that networks with other agencies to ensure appropriate advice, information and practical support is provided following a sexual assault. ISVA supports anyone (male or female) aged 11+ who has experienced sexual violence or abuse either recently or in the past. You can get help whether or not you have reported to the police. This service is available to residents of Southampton, Eastleigh, New Forest and Test Valley (South) regardless of where the assault took place or to people who were assaulted in Southampton even if they live elsewhere. Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA): 077 6773 4700
Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation (PACE)
PACE work alongside parents or carers of children are – or are at risk of being – sexually exploited by perpetrators external to the family. PACE support parents through providing information, advice and guidance, emotional support and advocacy. Their website provides access to useful resources for both professionals and parents.
A PACE leaflet for parents ‘Working with parents to stop child sexual exploitation’ can be accessed through Laura Tanner, CSE Advanced Practitioner (details below). Confidential help and advice: 0113 240 5226 www.paceuk.info
NSPCC Southampton Service – Letting the Future In
16 Updated December 2015 A therapeutic service for children and young people affected by sexual abuse. It is suitable for children and young people aged 4-17 where there has been a joint or single agency investigation. It is also suitable in cases where there has been no joint investigation, but a child of sufficient age and understanding to have chosen not to make a formal statement to the police. The child should be living in a stable situation with a carer (and not with the alleged perpetrator). The carer will be required to be involved in the programme and will be offered some individual work and some joint sessions with the child. 21 The Avenue, Southampton, SO17 1XL 02382 023400
Tulip Integrated Sexual Health Clinic
The clinic is specifically for vulnerable young people, and staffed by a Doctor and Nurse. Full sexual health screening and treatment for STI’s is provided, follow up to sexual assaults for under 19’s, pregnancy testing, and access to all methods of contraception.
It differs from other sexual health clinics as it provides dedicated time to see the young person as opposed to sitting and waiting to be seen for a 20 minute appointment. This means there is time for proper discussion of issues, and appropriate referrals can be completed as needed. When: Wednesdays 2pm-4pm Where: Sexual Health Services, Level B, RSH Hospital, Southampton Bookable Appointment by Telephone 023 80716755.
CEOP – Thinkuknow https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk
The Thinkuknow website has sections for children, parents/carers and professionals providing advice, guidance and tools to use, in order to raise awareness of issues relating to online safety, and how to keep children safer online.
The Thinkuknow programme for professionals provides a range of free educational resources - films, lesson plans, presentations, practitioner guidance, games and posters - to professionals working with children and young people. Through the use of the educational materials you can help to empower and protect young people from the harm of sexual abuse and exploitation, both online and off. Topics include sexting, webcam, using social networks, inappropriate content and chatting with strangers online.
Video Resources:
Same Risk Different Gender - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cbXXjzkh90 A 30 minute video from The Blast Project highlighting the grooming and sexual exploitation of boys and young men. This resource is aimed at professionals and encouraging them to make their practice more inclusive of, and more accessible to boys and young men. This resource also encourages professionals to make judgements and decisions based on risk indicators and warning signs, NOT gender.
Exposed – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ovR3FF_6us
17 Updated December 2015 'Exposed' is a 10 minute drama designed by CEOP for use with 14 to 18 year olds. 'Exposed' deals with the subjects of sexting and cyberbullying, issues that teenagers commonly face.
Exploited - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qORv-TgI4JI Exploited is an 18 minute film designed by CEOP which helps young people learn to stay safe from sexual exploitation. It educates young people to identify features of an exploitative friendship or relationship in contrast with the development of a healthy relationship, and gives them clear information about how to report abuse and access support. [If used with young people this should be delivered in the context of a lesson by a professional within the children’s workforce – free resource pack available: www.thinkuknow.co.uk/teachers]
Clare thought she knew - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5WEnqnq1Hk
My new friend - The Grooming and Sexual Exploitation of Boys and Young Men https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5m40qOesDg A 2 minute film designed by The Blast Project to help raise awareness of the grooming and sexual exploitation of boys and young men.
Child Sexual Exploitation - The Parent's View https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ZTZSH2ywL_I A hard hitting video featuring local parents whose children have been victims of child sexual exploitation (CSE). It forms part of the ongoing West Yorkshire Police campaign entitled 'Know the Signs' which highlights the various indicators of the crime. West Yorkshire Police has worked in partnership with Pace (Parents against child sexual exploitation) to record the experiences of parents and raise awareness of the issues.
CSE & Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhqQw8YCJvg The personal stories of two young people and their struggle with going missing and child sexual exploitation as part of a project between Barnardo’s and Greater Manchester Police's "Phoenix Project."
Freedom Acts: Child Sexual Exploitation - https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=bC4qYwUR9TE Watch Alisha's story about how she was groomed for sexual exploitation as a teenager in Northern Ireland.
Losing Control: JAY - a story about sexual exploitation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XasNkfQ5AVM A 2 minute video designed by ChildLine. Jay groomed and sexually exploited his girlfriend, giving her alcohol and drugs so she'd sleep with his friends.
CSE parental awareness - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX3oowflZvE A 3 minute video aimed at parents to raise awareness of the signs of CSE and things they can do.
Child sexual exploitation awareness - I didn’t know - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQDYpIpgdtA A short 4 minutes film about child sexual exploitation, put together by the Essex Children in Care Council.
18 Updated December 2015 I Define Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QpgsP9U4-I A 4 minute short film was devised, developed and filmed by young women from Manchester over five days in October 2012. It shares views and experiences of them and their peers on issues affecting young women growing up in gang affected areas.
CAN YOU SEE IT? - Peer on Peer CSE - Video for Professionals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cG6s3LIS7E
CAN YOU STOP IT? - On Street CSE - Perpetrator Behaviours - A Professional's Guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STJ163BKOxQ
Sexual Consent and tea https://youtu.be/oQbei5JGiT8 Clip by Thames Valley police exploring situations where the understanding of consent can be blurred through situations. It provides a clear effective instruction to children and young people as to what constitutes as sexual consent.
19 Updated December 2015