Status / Guidance
Version / 1
Author / Michelina Racioppi
Governance Agreed Date / 13 October 2014
Review Date / November 2016

Children Abused through Sexual Exploitation – Guidance

This Guidance should be read in conjunction with the Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children procedures.

The Safeguarding Children procedures describe the roles and responsibilities of agenciesand action to be taken when there are concerns about a child or young person’s safety or welfare.

The term ‘child’ or children in this guidance includes children and young people up to their 18th Birthday.

Introduction

The Government definition of child sexual exploitation is:

Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitive situations, contexts and relationships where young people (or a third person or persons) receive ‘something’ (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them performing and /or another or others performing on them sexual activities. Child Sexual exploitation can occur through the use of technology without the child’s immediate recognition; for example being persuaded to post sexual images on the intranet/ mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. In all case, 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.

DCSF (2009) Safeguarding children and young people from sexual exploitation; supplementary guidance to Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child abuse and the impact can be devastating on the victim’s physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing.

Child Sexual exploitation is a term which covers a broad range of sexual abuse, it may involve some level of violence and it also includesemotional and physical abuse. But it does fall into the overall category of child sexual abuse. Child sexual exploitation involves both boys and girls under the age of 18 from a range of communities and cultures and includes a significant proportion of looked after children. Children who are sexually exploited should be treated as victims of abuse and not as offenders.The main priority of anyone who comes into contact with a child or young person who has been or is at risk of being sexually exploited must be to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child. Professionals must seek advice from their Designated or Named Professional within their Organisation where child sexual exploitation or the risk of it is suspected. If after discussion concerns remain then Local Safeguarding Children Procedures should be commenced, which includes a referral to Local Authority Social Care and the Police regardless of whether the victim is engaging with services or not.

Department of Education (2012) what to do if you suspect a child is being sexually exploited.

Children who are sexually exploited are ‘children in need’ under the Children Act 1989 and they are also children in need of protection. Professionals need to work closely together with the child/ young person and their families but also with partner agencies in order to develop a multi-agency network to be able to effectively assess risk and plan a coordinated package of support for the child/ young person. The level of intervention and package of support should be appropriate to the needs of the child and young person. The effects of child exploitation can last into adulthood and long term intervention and support may be needed in particular from Health Services.

DOH (2014) Health Working Group –Report on child sexual exploitation.

Prevalence

It is not possible to provide a reliable figure of how many children are victims of child sexual exploitation as it still remains a hidden problem and there is no central system of recording cases.

Research has evidenced that between 2010 and 2011 there was an estimated 16,500 children who were at risk of child sexual exploitation and from August 2010 to October 2011 there were 2,409 confirmed victims of sexual exploitation in gangs and groups.

  • The majority of victims are girls but boys are also sexually exploited.
  • The average age of children experiencing sexual exploitation is 15years old; however there are more 10 to 14 year old victims.
  • Children who are already vulnerable are at increased risk of exploitation.
  • Children who go missing frequent and those who live in care are at high risk of exploitation.

Children Commissioner Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups interim report (2012) I thought I was the only one, the only one in the world and DOH (2014) Health Working Group –Report on child sexual exploitation.

Types of Child Sexual exploitation

Barnardo’s have come up with four models of child sexual exploitation.

  1. Inappropriate relationships

Usually involves one perpetrator who has inappropriate power or control over a young person (physical, emotional, financial. One indicator may be a significant age gap. The young person may believe they are in a loving relationship.

  1. Boyfriend model

The perpetrator befriends and grooms a young person into a relationship and then coerces or forces them to have sex with them.

  1. Peer exploitation

This is where young people are forced or coerced into sexual activity by peers and associates. Sometimes this can be associated with gang activity but not always.

  1. Organised/networked sexual exploitation or trafficking

Young people who are often connected are passed through networks, possibly over geographical distances, between towns and cities where they are forced/ coerced into sexual activity with multiple men. Often this occurs at ‘sex parties’ and young people who are involved may be used as agents to recruit others into the network. Some of this activity is described as serious organised crime and can involve the organised ‘buying and selling’ of young people by perpetrators.

Barnardo’s (2011) Puppet on a string and DCSF (2009) Safeguarding children and young people who may be affected by gang activity.

Recognition/indicators of Child sexual exploitation

These indicators are only a guide and do not replace, but should assist the exercise of professional judgement. It is not an exhaustive list.

  • Going missing/ running away for periods of time.
  • Returning home late
  • Disengagement from education
  • Having an older boyfriend or girlfriend
  • Unexplained gifts or new possessions, new clothes, mobile phone, money
  • Association with young people who are involved in exploitation
  • Inappropriate sexual behaviour, sexually transmitted disease, promiscuity, pregnancy, sending sexualised images via the internet or mobile phones.
  • Disclosure of abuse but then withdrawing allegation.
  • Changes in temperament/mood swings / depression.
  • Changes in presentation
  • Drugs and alcohol misuse
  • Self-harming, poor self-image, eating disorder,
  • Association with other victims of Child exploitation and going to places known for exploitive activity ’hotspots’
  • Gang member or association
  • Offending behaviour
  • Abduction or forced imprisonment

Additional factors which could increase a child / young person’s vulnerability.

  • Witnessing /experiencing domestic violence
  • Being a looked after child
  • Patterns of abuse and neglect within the family
  • Substance misuse by parents/ carer
  • Learning disability
  • Mental Health issues
  • Death /loss of a significant person in the child’s life
  • Lack of love and security
  • Financially unsupported
  • Family conflict

It is important to be aware that the child /young person who are victims of sexual exploitation do not always recognise themselves as such.

Health’s role and responsibility

The NHS is a key partner in tackling Child sexual exploitation. The role of health professionals include:

  • Accessing appropriate safeguarding training regarding Child sexual exploitation.
  • Identifying warning signs of risk or indicators of child sexual exploitation.
  • Being open to the possibility of disclosure but acting to safeguard the child whether or not there is a disclosure.
  • Carrying out a holistic risk assessment.
  • Taking advice from internal safeguarding advisors.
  • Sharing information with and making a referral as appropriate to other agencies including the Police and Children’s Social Care.
  • Referring a child for immediate treatment for physical and/or psychological health, and provision of longer term recovery treatment.
  • Implementing the best method of supporting the child who may have a communication and / or learning disability/ difficulty.

DOH (2014) Health Working Group –Report on child sexual exploitation.

Information sharing

All health professionals need to be confident in carrying out their duty to safeguard sexually exploited children by knowing when and how to share confidential information, even without consent. Confidential information should be shared when it is in the public interest to do so and where there is a risk of significant harm to a child, either directly or indirectly through abuse or Neglect. The welfare of the chid should be the paramount consideration. The decision of sharing information should not be an individual decision but down to the professional discretion of the healthcare team.

The Caldicott Report, Data Protection Act 1998, Human Rights Act do not prevent the justifiable and lawful exchange of information for the protection of children and prevention of serious crime. The sharing of some health information can help to identify children at risk/ victims and help disrupt child sexual exploitation.

DOH (2014) Health Working Group –Report on child sexual exploitation and Lord Carlile (2002) Too serious a thing.

Sharing Concerns / Making a referral

Whenever there is reasonable suspicion that a child is being sexually exploited, advice should be sought from a Designated or Named Professional for safeguarding children. If concerns remain a referral must be made to Children Social Care or the Police Child Abuse investigation Unit. The level, the nature and extent of these concerns should be established. In Derby City the completion of the Child sexual exploitation risk assessment toolkit will help in considering the level of risk (See DSCB Safeguarding Children procedures). Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Board are at the development stage of this process.

The professional should seek consent from the child or parent unless this may:

  • Place the child at further risk of harm.
  • Jeopardise a criminal investigation.

When a referral has been made to Children Social Care / Police a strategy discussion will take place involving health tohelp determine the level of intervention / assessments required. A decision may also be made to convene a strategy meeting to further discuss the level of risk, intervention/ support and assessments required to safeguard the child/ young person. This meeting will also consider the need for immediate protection.

Key information to share when making a referral

  • Name and date of birth
  • Address
  • Family details
  • School or other educational establishment
  • GP
  • Details of the child’s/ young person’s associates who may be involved in the exploitation / abuse
  • Intelligence available that may be able to assist the Police in their investigation

Always follow up your verbal referral to Children Social Care in writing within 48 Hours, completing the standard referral form within the LSCB safeguarding children Procedures.

Always follow up your referral within 3 working days if you have not heard back from Children Social Care regarding your referral.

Always seek further advice from your Designated or Named Professional if you are not satisfied with decision made regarding your referral.

Remember to refer to Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Boards threshold Guidance and Derby and Derbyshire safeguarding Children Boards Escalation Policy and Process

Useful contact numbers
First Contact Team (Derby City Social Care): 01332 641172
Out of Hours Derby City Careline: 01332 786968
Call Derbyshire (Derbyshire Social Care) 08456058058
Derbyshire Police Central referral Unit: 101
Safeguarding Children Service (Derby City): 01332 361134 ex 31537
Safeguarding Children Service (Derbyshire): 01773 599410
Designated Nurse Kathy Webster (Derbyshire): 01246514061
Designated Nurse Michelina Racioppi (Derby City): 01332 868741

Points to remember regarding the Law

A child under the age of 13 is not legally capable of consenting to sex; if sex occurs this would be classified as statutory rape.

Sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 is also an offence- the age of consent in the UK is 16.

It is an offence for a person to have a sexual relationship with a 16 or 17 year old if they hold a position of trust or authority in relation to them.

References

DCSF (2009) Safeguarding children and young people from sexual exploitation; supplementary guidance to Working together to Safeguard Children 2010

Department of Education (2012) what to do if you suspect a child is being sexually exploited.

Barnardo’s (2011) Puppet on a string and DCSF (2009) Safeguarding children and young people who may be affected by gang activity.

Children Commissioner Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups interim report (2012) I thought I was the only one, the only one in the world

DOH (2014) Health Working Group –Report on child sexual exploitation.

DOH (2014) Health Working Group –Report on child sexual exploitation and Lord Carlile (2002) Too serious a thing.

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