Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Pan-Cheshire Child Sexual Exploitation Protocol

This section should be read in conjunction with the HM Government document ‘Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation; Supplementary Guidance to Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2010 and especially paragraph 4.7;

In fulfilling their function of developing policies and procedures, LSCBs should ensure that specific local procedures are in place covering the sexual exploitation of children and young people.

‘Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation; Supplementary Guidance to Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2010 states that the sexual exploitation of children and young people is a form of child sexual abuse.

Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) describes sexual abuse as follows:

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

  1. ‘Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation; Supplementary Guidance to Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2010 uses the following description of child sexual exploitation:

Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative 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 Internet/mobile phones without 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.

Sexual exploitation of children and young people has been difficult to identify, but is increasingly recognisable as practitioners gain more understanding of grooming and other methods of sexual exploitation, and begin to take a proactive and coordinated approach to this type of abuse.

Sexual exploitation can take many forms from the seemingly “consensual” relationship where sex is exchanged for attention/affection, accommodation or gifts, to serious organised crime and child trafficking.  What marks out exploitation is an imbalance of power within the relationship. The perpetrator always holds some kind of power over the victim, increasing the dependence of the victim as the exploitive relationship develops.

Children can be exploited in a variety of forms from a situation where sex is exchanged for money, accommodation or gifts, to sophisticated and very well organised criminal enterprises, where children are trafficked for sexual exploitation purposes.

The exploitation can take a physical form, such as prostitution or indeed non contact forms such as forcing a child to pose for abusive images taken on a camera, video or mobile phone.

This guidance covers the prevention of sexual exploitation, the protection of children and young people who are or who are at risk of being sexually exploited, as well as the disruption and prosecution of offenders.

Key Principles

Work to tackle sexual exploitation should be grounded in a number of key principles:

  • A child centred approach – focussing on the child’s needs and involving them in decision making whilst acknowledging that they may not recognise they are in a situation of exploitation or abuse 
  • Parenting, family life and services – where interventions are necessary, they should support families in making their own plans for the welfare and protection of their children, as long as this is consistent with the safety and welfare of the child 
  • The rights of children and young people – the UK Government is a signatory to the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse 
  • Responsibility for criminal acts – sexual exploitation of children and young people should not be regarded as a criminal act by the child or young person, but as child sexual abuse, where the responsibility lies with the exploiter 
  • An integrated approach – plans for safeguarding and promoting each child’s welfare should be based on a wide ranging assessment of the needs of the child and their family and wider circumstances, and local work to address the issue of sexual exploitation should be integrated into wider work such as through the Halton Children and Young People’s Plan. 
  • A shared responsibility – of education providers, health services including sexual health services, youth services, Connexions, children’s social care, together with criminal justice agencies and voluntary sector services supporting children and families; underpinned by committed leadership, shared understanding, and effective co-ordination by the Cheshire East Local Safeguarding Children Board 
  • Prevention and early intervention – prevention strategies should be regarded as a key part of agencies’ approaches to sexual exploitation.

Process

Agencies must take action to safeguard and promote the welfare of particular children and young people who may be sexually exploited.

Children who are subjected to sexual exploitation should ordinarily be treated as victims of child sexual abuse, even where a criminal offence may have been committed by the child or young person, the focus of any criminal investigation should be on the abusers, those persons that are ‘controlling’ the child and those using the for sexual gratification. In very exceptional circumstances a decision to take action against a child or young person may be considered but this decision must be a multi agency one and based on the best interests of the child.

Local agencies must consider developing their own prevention strategies which focus on how they can contribute to preventing sexual exploitation of children and reduce the child or young persons vulnerability and improve their resilience.

It is vital that those agencies who work or are in close contact with children and young people assist in raising the child’s / young persons awareness of the issue of sexual exploitation to help them to develop the knowledge and skills they will need to make healthy choices. Targeted prevention work can be done on an individual or group basis focusing on children known to be more vulnerable to exploitation.

All professionals who work with children and young people should be alert to the signs of possible abuse or neglect including through sexual exploitation.

Many children and young people might not think that they want or need protection from sexual exploitation and might be resistant to what they perceive as interference from authorities. Often the process of engaging with children who are being sexually exploited can be difficult and lengthy as it can take time for professionals to build up trust and overcome their resistance to being helped and supported to exit the abusive situation 

Anyone who has regular contact with children and young people is in a good position to notice changes in behaviour and physical signs which may indicate involvement in sexual exploitation. Organisations and agencies must ensure that professionals have access to single or multi agency training about the nature and recognition of sexual exploitation.

A crucial part of the process is early and effective communication of concerns. If a professional becomes aware that a child may be being sexually exploited they must raise their concerns with the agencies person / manager who has safeguarding children / child protection responsibilities or the agencies child sexual exploitation coordinator.

Advice can be sought from Children’s Services and / or the police, this does not necessarily mean that those agencies will consider this contact as a referral and such contact can be undertaken without directly naming the child or young person.

A child or young person who is suspected of suffering or being at risk of suffering sexual exploitation will be a child who may be in need under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989. Anyone who suspects that a child is being sexually exploited, or is at risk of being sexually exploited must make a referral to Children’s Social Care. On receiving a referral, Children’s Social Care will conduct an initial assessment. Where it appears that the significant harm threshold may be met and/or a criminal offence committed against the child, a strategy discussion/meeting will be arranged to discuss the next steps, which may include initiating a Sec 47 enquiry and a criminal investigation and taking emergency action to safeguard the child, but may also decide that an initial process of engagement with the child is the appropriate next step.

If the child suspected of suffering or being at risk of suffering sexual exploitation is a child in Care under Section 20, section 31 or section 38 of the Children Act 1989 the child’s allocated social worker and allocated Independent Reviewing Officer must be informed.

It must be stressed that if the child or young person are considered at immediate risk of significant harm then a referral must be made to Children’s Social Care in accordance with the Pan Cheshire Safeguarding Children Procedures or the police, who have emergency powers to safeguard a child. 

In all cases where child sexual exploitation is suspected professionals must consider the matter of gathering and preserving the integrity of evidence about perpetrators. This could include appropriate record keeping of, for example, the professionals observations, notes of conversations in meetings with the child etc.

Identifying, disrupting and prosecuting perpetrators must be a key part of work to safeguard children and young people from sexual exploitation. The police must focus on taking action against those intent on abusing and exploiting children and young people but the support of other partners is vital.

It is extremely important that professionals consider the processes and possible responses for supporting children and young people who have been identified as being at risk of sexual exploitation or are being sexually exploited, for example, the provision of counseling or therapeutic service.

If an agency is fearful of losing a young person’s engagement by reporting their concern to a statutory service, the agency should contact the local authority Safeguarding Unit to discuss these concerns and agree a way forward.

The fact that a young person is 16 or 17 years old and has reached the legal age of being able to consent to sex should not be taken as a sign that they are no longer at risk of sexual exploitation. They can still suffer significant harm as a result of sexual exploitation and their right to support and protection from harm should not be ignored because they are over the age of 16.

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

It must be acknowledged that young people reaching adulthood can continue to be sexually exploited into adulthood and will still require support and protection. It is essential that young people coming up to the age of 18 years of age are referred to Adult services prior to the point of reaching adulthood in order to ensure effective transition and continuation of services.

Local Safeguarding Children Board

Guidance on identification of child sexual exploitation can be found at paragraph 6.3 ‘Identification of those at risk of or suffering from sexual exploitation’ and paragraph 6.12 ‘Boys and young men’ of Chapter 6 – ‘Managing individual cases’ ‘Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation; Supplementary Guidance to Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2010

Cheshire East LSCB has a sub group for Child Sexual Exploitation which will act as a coordinating body for this protocol. Each agency of the Local Safeguarding Children Board will nominate a lead professional, who will act as the agency’s single point of contact for all matters relating to child sexual exploitation and will also be responsible for providing advice and support to their agencies workers.

The lead professional for child sexual exploitation within the Local Authorities Children’s Services department will be responsible for updating the Local Safeguarding Children Board via the relevant sub group on a quarterly basis with statistical information including the number of; referrals received, strategy discussions held.

The Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children Board child sexual exploitation sub-group will be responsible for updating the Local Safeguarding Children Board on a six monthly basis of the prevalence, scope and nature of child sexual exploitation in the area. This will include the statistical information provided by the Children’s Services Department.

Ref:           

DCSF Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation

Working Together 2010 Chapter 6 Para 6.2 – 6.4

 

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE

Practitioners and their managers should be aware of the potential signs that a person is being groomed for sexual exploitation and be able to identify these. The indicators below are recognised as factors linked to child sexual exploitation. This is not an exhaustive list and the presence of any of the indicators should not be taken as proof of involvement or as predictive of future involvement in sexual exploitation. They should however give rise to considering whether an assessment of the child is required to determine their needs and whether they are or are likely to be suffering harm. Concerns would usually increase the more indicators that are present.

Indicators of possible sexual exploitation

Domain: Child or Young Person’s Developmental Needs

Health:

  • Physical symptoms (bruising suggestive of either physical or sexual assault)
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Recurring or multiple sexually transmitted infections
  • Pregnancy and/or seeking an abortion
  • Evidence of drug, alcohol or substance misuse
  • Sexually risky behaviour

Education:

  • Truancy/disengagement with education or considerable change in performance at school

Emotional and Behavioural Development:

  • volatile behaviour exhibiting extreme array of mood swings or use of abusive;
  • language
  • getting involved in petty crime such as shoplifting, stealing
  • anti-social behaviour;
  • secretive behaviour;
  • entering or leaving vehicles driven by unknown adults;
  • aggressive or violent;
  • sexually offending behaviour;

Identity:

  • low self-image, low self-esteem, self-harming behaviour, e.g. cutting, overdosing, eating disorder, promiscuity;

Family and Social Relationships:

  • hostility in relationship with parents/carers and other family members;
  • physical aggression towards parents, siblings, pets, teachers or peers;
  • placement breakdown;
  • reports from reliable sources (e.g. parents/carers, friends or other professionals incontact with the child or young person) suggesting the likelihood of involvement insexual exploitation;
  • detachment from age-appropriate activities;
  • associating with other young people who are known to be sexually exploited;
  • young person known to be sexually active;
  • sexual relationship with a significantly older person;
  • unexplained relationships with older adults;
  • possible inappropriate use of the Internet and forming relationships, particularly with adults, via the Internet;
  • phone calls, text messages or letters from unknown adults
  • adults or older youths loitering outside the child’s usual place of residence;
  • persistently missing, staying out overnight or returning late with no plausible explanation;
  • Returning after having been missing, looking well cared for in spite of having no known home base
  • missing for long periods, with no known home base;
  • going missing and being found in areas where the child or young person has no known links

Social Presentation:

  • change in appearance
  • leaving home/care setting in clothing unusual for the individual child (inappropriate for age, borrowing clothing from older young people)

Domain: Parental Capacity

Ensuring Safety:

  • history of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse or neglect.

Domain: Family and Environmental Factors

Family History and Functioning:

  • history of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse; neglect; domestic violence;
  • parental difficulties;

Housing:

  • pattern of street homelessness;
  • having keys to premises other than those known about;

Income:

  • possession of large amounts of money with no plausible explanation;
  • acquisition of expensive clothes, mobile phones or other possessions without plausible explanation;
  • accounts of social activities with no plausible explanation of the source of necessary funding

Family’s Social Integration:

  • reports that the child has been seen in places known to be used for sexual exploitation
  • seen at public toilets known for cottaging or adult venues (pubs and clubs)