Stage 2 PRACTITIONERS RISK ASSESSMENT
Use after or with the Stage 1 Initial Screening and Assessment Tool where the child is not known to CSC.
Use Stage 2 where the child is known to CSC all practitioners/partners
Guidance on the use of the stage 2 Risk Assessment
Completion of the stage 2 Risk Assessment by the professional identifying the concerns should involve liaison with other agencies to ensure that there is multi-agency information sharing and support. Where a case is already open to CSC the SW will lead this assessment/ where the child is not known to CSC complete stage 1 Initial screening and assessment tool and stage 2 practitioner risk assessment where further detail is known about the child Young person being referred.
If a child or young person presents with an indicator of CSE action is required. The earlier the intervention the better the chances of success. Not all indicators of CSE may require social care or specialist intervention but will need to be screened by the MASH team.
The purpose of the assessment toolkit is to enable professionals to assess a child or young person’s level of risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in a quick and consistent manner. Children and young people under the age of 18 (Children Act 1989) are considered under the scope of this guidance and toolkit. The framework needs to be used flexibly to take account of each child’s individuality, the uniqueness of his / her circumstances and the changes that may occur for him / her over time.
Use the scoring system to indicate the prevalence of the statements according to the domain you are answering i.e. 0 low 5 high. / Who should use this stage 2 practitioners Risk Assessment?
This document is for all professionals who work with children and young people who are at risk of or being sexually exploited All open CSC cases CIC/CIN/CP should use this Assessment tool. Important points to remember when assessing Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE):
• Both girls and boys can be victims of child sexual exploitation and can be equally vulnerable
• The coercers and perpetrators are usually an adult, but can be children and young people in a position of power of either gender. (Gangs)
• It should be considered that those who appear to be coercing others into child sexual exploitation may be victims of it themselves.
• Young people may exchange or sell sex as a result of constrained choices such as poverty, isolation and historic abuse.
• Parents/Carers may be involved in the sexual exploitation of their children and young people or fail to prevent/protect from it.
• Groups of children and young people and multiple perpetrators may be involved (organised abuse).
• Children and Young People under the age of 18 (Children Act 1989) are considered under the scope of this guidance and toolkit.
• No child under 13 years can be assessed as Lower Risk if behaviours indicate involvement in CSE.
• Children and Young People with additional needs require special consideration up to the age of 21 years.
• No child with a learning disability will be assessed as Low Risk if behaviours indicate involvement in or risk of CSE.
• Be aware: disclosure of information by the young person may take time and evident risks may only emerge through on-going engagement.
Review form March 2016
Step 1 – Identify the child and the assessor
DETAILS OF CHILD AT RISKName: / Date Of Birth:
Age: / Place Of Birth:
Home Address: / Telephone Number:
School: / G.P. and Surgery:
Ethnicity: / Gender:
DETAILS OF ASSESSING INDIVIDUAL
Name: / Organisation:
Role / Position: / Address & Telephone:
Date of Assessment: / Secure Email:
(Include direct email as addition if the secure option is not personal to you).
Part 2 – Identify the Risk Indicators
RISK LEVEL / BEHAVIOURS / Score 0-5 / Evidence /SourceCategory 1- what to do next;
Refer to MASH use stage 1initial screening and assessment tool.
Where already an existing open case to CSC – use this document stage 2 practitioners Risk assessment and refer to CSE surgery for guidance if required.
Category 1 definition;
A vulnerable child or young person, where there are concerns they are being targeted and groomed and where any of the CSE warning signs have been identified. However at this stage there is no evidence of offences but rather a heightened level of concern for the individual. / Emotional Health
Poor self-image, eating disorders some self- harm/difficulty in maintaining relationships
Contact with abusive persons/or risky environments
Associating with unknown adults or other sexually exploited children or young people / associating with gang members and manipulative peers
Rewards
Unaccounted for monies or goods /perceived friendships or affection
Sexualised Risk Taking
Sexualised risk taking including on the Internet /meeting adults or unknown people through internet/boyfriend known to services/known to get in to strangers cars/ previous history of sexual abuse/ Overt sexualised dress attire or sudden change in dress code
Coercion/Control
Reduced contact with family/friends and other support networks /secretive about having a mobile possibly more than one /late night phone /internet activity
Sexual Health
Sexually transmitted infections/sexually active
Substance Misuse
Experimenting with drugs/alcohol
Looked After Child
Pre-existing recognition that CLA who go missing associate with gangs are more vulnerable to CSE
Running away/going missing
Regularly coming home late or going missing /absent without permission and returning late/includes education
Education
Truanting from school /losing interest in education / friendships relationships
Additional indictors
Learning disability / low IQ
RISK LEVEL / BEHAVIOURS / Score 0-5 / Evidence /Source
Category 2 what to do next;
Refer to MASH use stage 1initial screening and assessment tool.
Where already an existing open case to CSC – use this document stage 2 practitioners Risk assessment and refer to CSE Co-ordinator for MASE referral.
Category 2 definition;
Evidence a child or young person is being targeted for opportunistic abuse through the exchange of sex drugs perceived affection, sense of belonging, accommodation overnight stays, money, goods etc. This will also include a child or young person being sexually exploited through the use of technology and without the young person receiving any reward: IE the exchange of indecent images on –line. The likelihood of coercions and control is significant. / Contact with abusive persons/ and or risky environments
Associating with known adults and/or other sexually exploited children/ young people/ and or missing children
Extensive use of phone, particularly late at night /Having access to premises not known or approved by parent or carer
Reliable resources, suggesting involvement in sexual exploitation / Seen in known districts /properties for selling sex/drugs
Is a member of a gang
Rewards
Unaccounted for monies and or goods/ offers of protection / perceived friendship or affection
Emotional health
Poor self-image / cutting overdosing/ eating difficulties poor eating habits/ bullying threatening behaviour/ violent outbursts/ offending behaviour / difficulty making and maintaining friendships with peers
Sexualised risk taking
Getting in to strangers cars/ meeting adults through the internet/ ‘clipping’ offering to have sex and running once paid/ older boyfriend (5yrs +) / boyfriend known to services / reputation with peers and or community for sexual promiscuity
Coercion and control
Disclosure of a physical/sexual assault, then refusing to make or withdrawing a complaint/ secrecy about owning a mobile phone possibly more than one/ late night calls internet / limited contact with family and friends/physical injuries internal /external
Sexual health
Multiple sexually transmitted diseases and infections/ miscarriages / terminations/ frequent sexual activity with peers
Looked after child
Pre-existing recognition that CLA who go missing associate with gangs are more vulnerable to CSE
Substance misuse
Regular use of substances / concerns for drugs dependency
Running away /Missing
Frequently staying out overnight without consent /running away and going missing from home or placement for periods of time / looking well cared for despite having no known place to stay upon return / regular breakdown of placements due to behavioural problems
Education
Non - school attender/ regular breakdown of school provision due to behavioural problems
Additional indicators
Frequent attendance at A and E for injuries/ unmet /met mental health difficulties
RISK LEVEL / BEHAVIOURS / Score 0-5 / Evidence /Source
Category 3 what
to do next;
Children /Young people under cat 3 will already be known to CSC and overseen by the MASE panel. The stage 2 Risk assessment should be used to update the MASE panel of case activity / there will be a range of disruption/ prosecution and protective strategies discussed at MASE to disrupt the CSE.
Category 3
Definition;
A child or young person whose sexual exploitationis habitual and self-denied and where coercion is implicit and is often asocitaed by multiple perpetraitors or a group of perpetraitors known to each other / Contact with abusive persons and/or risky environments
Having access to premises not known to parent carer
Heavily entrenched gang culture
Linked to areas and properties known for drugs/ prostitution /crime
Picked up in red light district
Running away Going Missing
Persistently running away going missing for long periods frequent regular periods/
Pattern of street homelessness
Sexual health
Multiple sexually transmitted diseases
Pregnancy
Miscarriages /terminations
Inappropriate exploitative sexual activity with peers/adults
Boyfriends knowledge of having sex with other people
Disclosure of selling exchanging goods for sex and or being pimped
Coercion and control
Abducted and forced imprisonment
No contact with family or friends
Disappear from the system
Physical injuries internal and external
Secretive about having mobile phone/more than one
Disclosure of physical sexual assault followed by withdrawal
Being taken to clubs and hotels by adults and engaging in sexual activity
Emotional health
Chronic poor self-image
Violent or emotional outbursts
Has no apparent healthy friendships or connections
Offending behaviour
Bullying and threatening behaviour
Eating disorder/difficulties
Cutting/overdosing
Sexualised risk taking
Others knowing that sex can be exchanged for money and or goods (common knowledge to others)
Getting in to strangers cars/
Meeting adults through the internet
Clipping (offering sex and running once payment received)
Boyfriend /adults known to services
Looked After Child
Pre-existing recognition that CLA who go missing associate with gangs are more vulnerable to CSE
Education
Non - school /college attender
Regular breakdown of school placement due to behaviour problems / excluded and not on roll.
Step 3 – Identify additional vulnerability factors
UNDERLYING VULNERABILITY FACTORS / Y/N / Evidence /SourceWitnessing/experiencing domestic abuse
Children and young people ‘Looked After’
Patterns of abuse and/ or neglect in family
Homelessness/sofa surfing/
Substance misuse by Parents/Carers/child
Learning disabilities, special needs or mental health issues
Homophobia
Breaks in adult relationships
Death, loss or illness of a significant person in the child’s life
Financially unsupported
Some form of family conflict
Lack of love and security
Adult soliciting (prostitution)
Migrant/refugee/asylum seeker
Step 4 – Provide a free text description of concerns
DETAILS OF CASE / INCIDENT / INTELLIGENCE(Please include source of information, names, nicknames, ages, descriptions, vehicle details, addresses, activities, locations, events seen or reported).
Step 5 – Record the other professionals involved
DETAILS OF AGENCY INVOLVEMENT(either involved in the case or with whom this information has been shared with).
Name / Agency and Address / Telephone Number
Step 6 – What to do next – CSE Risk Assessment Flowchart
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