Children who display problematic and harmful sexual behaviours
Wherever a child has harmed another, all agencies must be aware of their responsibilities towards both children and multi agency management of both cases must reflect this. It is possible that the child with the identified harmful behaviour may pose a significant risk of harm to their siblings, other children and/or adults.
This is a complex area of work where expert advice may need to be sought.
The terms ‘problematic and harmful sexual behaviours’ reflect a continuum of concern.
Problematic sexual behaviours are those where a child or young person has done something inappropriate and of a sexual nature to another.
Listing such behaviour is not helpful because, before coming to a judgment, professionals need to consider:
The actual incident
The impact on the victim
The motive of the perpetrator
The level of remorse shown by the perpetrator
Whether the behaviour was one-off or is repeated.
Harmful sexual behaviours are those, which;
- Are serious and cause physical and emotional damage to self or others, and where there are little or no balancing factors, that is they are repetitive; planned; use of force; they are denied and no empathy or remorse are shown etc.
- Would fall within the definition of a sexual offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Where the suspected or alleged perpetrator of sexual abuse is a child or young person under the age of 18 years, consideration should always be given to convening a separate strategy discussion in relation to that child of young person in their own right. The focus of that discussion will be to determine whether that child or young person may themselves be at risk of significant harm. See Strategy Discussion.
The South West Safeguarding Children’s Boards advocate a partnership approach to assessments that encourage and promote co-working, the sharing of information, knowledge and specific expertise that can be translated into appropriate and positive interventions for these young people and their families
The AIM project is one source of advice and guidance around best practice. The AIM project provides information about:
- Assessment models for under 12’s, adolescents, families and carers, adolescents with learning difficulties and internet assessment, intervention and moving on (iAIM), and
- Guidance for interventions with adolescents, parents/carers/families and children under 10 years old
Their assessment manuals are a valuable resource in responding to and reducing the sexually harmful behaviour of children and young people through evidence based practice.
For further information, click here for the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
