Minutes:
Claire Edgar, Team Manager, Sexual Exploitation Unit, reported that Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) was an expanding area of work with the issue now widely reported both nationally and locally.
The Council had provided a CSE specialist service (Risky Business) long before the issue of CSE was widely accepted and understood. Following on from the success of Risky Business, the Council had resolved to unite all agencies involved in safeguarding young people to manage the threat at the highest level. The new Service, which was continuously reviewed, aimed to:-
- Reduce sexual exploitation by deterring offenders with the threat of disruption, prosecution and by awareness raising amongst young people
- Identify victims early, win their confidence and help them recognise themselves as victims
- Achieve successful prosecutions and prevent young people from becoming victims
- Support victims and their families through intensive one-to-one advocacy and emotional wellbeing work to help them move forward positively with their lives
The interventions required must be co-ordinated and overseen by qualified Social Workers in accordance with current Legislation, Guidance and good practice. Accordingly, the new Service:-
- had recruited 2 qualified Social Workers who would be able to provide continued support to young people whether they were at high risk or if they were on the fringes of CSE
- aimed to provide a rapid consistent response to young people at risk of CSE
- the Specialist Team would sit alongside investigators within the Police Public Protection Unit to ensure a shared responsibility and consistent approach
- target children and young people from a variety of ages and backgrounds within schools with a clear aim of reducing the numbers of young people at high risk of CSE in the future
- develop closer links with Healthy Schools and other education providers
- develop and build on the prevention and education booklet and continue to target schools not currently engaged with the Service
- devise a clear Strategy outlining the indicators of CSE including referral pathways and guidance for professionals as to where support could be sought for children and young people who may be on the fringes of CSE but not currently involved
- provide support and guidance to parents, carers and professionals who worked with young people who were at risk of or being abused through sexual exploitation
Discussion ensued on the report with the following highlighted:-
o If a child came into Social Care they would be discussed in the daily Unit briefings to ascertain if there was a Police investigation etc.
o Safeguarding Board training open to all sectors
o Children’s Commissioner’s Child Exploitation report and the report by the University of Bedfordshire - element that fell between the Partnership and the Local Safeguarding Board
o Understanding how to individually and collectively open up appropriate conduits of safe environments to allow disclosure to be made
o How did the Partnership raise awareness about what was needed to be looked for?
o Have a clear view on what prevention looked like
o How could agencies always ensure in every circumstance that the child was safe particularly when moving from disclosure through the criminal system
o Professional dilemma in looking at the rights of the individual. Protocols required to help
o Use the media to demonstrate the hard work that had taken place and be upfront about the challenges that all communities faced – a lot of the concerns were perceptions
o The media could be used to publicise the “signs” to look out for
o Arrangements in hand for a national Child Sexual Exploitation conference hosted in Rotherham
o The need for work with young people with disabilities post 16 who fell in between Children and Adult Services – improved links between the Services. Currently Adult Services would not carry out an assessment of a young person until 6 months before their 18th birthday
o Consideration to the process of engagement and the most appropriate way – LSP responsibility as Corporate Parent?
o Voluntary and community sector worked with young people and had a long reach both as service provider and possible recogniser/reporters of sexual exploitation
o Avoid work duplication with the Police and Safeguarding Board with regard to action plans
o Recognition of the work carried out by the Education Welfare Officers
Agreed:- (1) That the report be noted.
(2) That quarterly updates be submitted to the Partnership.