Agenda item

·       Appendix One - Rotherham CSE Needs Analysis;

·       Appendix Two - Salford University Report – CSE Needs Analysis Report.

Councillor Hamilton welcomed Jo Abbott, Consultant in Public Health, and Gary Ridgeway, Assistant Director (CSE Investigations), to the meeting to present the following reports: -

·       Rotherham Child Sexual Exploitation Needs Analysis – CSE joint intelligence working group LSCB CSE sub-group (December, 2015);

·       Needs Analysis Report following the Sexual Exploitation of Children in Rotherham – University of Salford Manchester (Final report, October, 2015). 

Jo presented the reports: - 

·       She apologised for the delay in submitting the Needs Analysis to the Improving Lives Select Commission.  It was the first attempt at producing a Needs Analysis and there was little to draw on nationally and Rotherham had been contacted by others for guidance;

·       All figures were provided with a “Health Warning” as they were a snap shot in time (about one year ago) from various agencies.  The figures provided a good proxy of services that were required;

·       The CSE Needs Analysis had informed the commissioning of appropriate services for victims and survivors.  It was not merely a paper exercise;

·       As services were established, along with data recording systems, it was anticipated that data would be “firmed up” to assist in future needs analysis.

Key issues that had been found so far: -

• Lack of knowledge about age of consent;
• Gender inequality (girls classed a slags, whilst men receive credibility);
• Sexual violence viewed as “normal” and “inevitable” leading to a lack of reporting and disclosure;
• Health impacts – psychological trauma, self-harm and suicide;
• Many victims of undisclosed abuse were receiving support in mental health, drugs and alcohol, domestic violence and criminal justice system. Services may respond to presenting issues but be less effective in addressing the underlying trauma. Jo Abbott had been having discussion with Psychotherapists at RDASH to address this. She has been working closely with other agencies on case based discussion and help to navigate to appropriate services and offer support;
• Support for survivors – Pyramid effect with a broad base and more specialist services at the top.  Self-help was at the bottom of pyramid and support going through the court process, counselling and specialist mental health services were at the top; 
• All the recommendations have been picked up in the CSE Action Plan.

Jo presented the information within the report undertaken by Salford University.  This report was commissioned to hear the voices of victims and their families following being accused in reports of not listening and not being transparent. This has partly led to a lack of trust. The voices of victims and their families hold the key to what is happening and how to address it.

The Salford report: -

·       Independent report carried out by the University of Salford;

·       The objectives were to: -

o   Gain understanding and insight into the views of victims, survivors and their families affected by CSE from all sections of the population;

o   To better understand the scale and nature of CSE as it affects the diversity of minority groups with particular emphasis on Roma and Asian communities.

·       Views were collected via focus group and online questionnaires. Participants did not shy away from explaining the difficulties they faced and issues of trust as past mistakes created a sense of vulnerability;

·       There was evidence that healing was starting to take place amid determination to meet current and future needs with a sense of collective rigour;

·       One quote: - “I don’t want to survive, I want to thrive”.

Questions and comments followed, and the following matters were covered: -

Councillor Ahmed asked why health referrals were so low and whether there were barriers to them reporting.  -  Jo explained that awareness raising was leading to increased reporting.  Health staff were being given designated protected learning time. 

Councillor Hamilton asked why high levels of chlamydia were being reported but there were low referrals from health partners?  -  Jo explained about the Sexual Health Strategy Group and the flag system that was in place to ensure that referrals were made following appropriate contacts, including following requests for emergency hormonal contraception. 

Councillor Hoddinott asked what agencies had learnt from the reports.  What was the feedback from victims and survivors on the reports? -  Jo explained that the University of Salford was providing feedback to the victims and survivors who had contributed. 

Gary explained how the reports had shown him how important the third sector was in meeting victims’ needs. 

Kay Denton-Tarn, Healthy Schools Consultant, explained that the issue of consent was part of national PSHE materials for secondary schools.  It was also important that age-related appropriate information was shared throughout the school day; it should not just be confined to PSHE lessons.  Equal choices, chances and expectations needed to be in place and their absence challenged. 

Councillor Hoddinott asked whether early intervention or targeted support could be provided to groups showing concerning attitudes? -  Kay explained that this would be done separately on a case-by-case basis depending on the issues involved.  Professional judgement would be important and school and family engagement was crucial. 

Jean Imray referred to children’s access to violent and sexually violent computer games was a concern of hers, along with wider issues of community cohesion and separation. 

Councillor M. Vines asked how agencies were working with ethnic minority communities -  There was some mistrust within ethnic minority groups.  Third sector agencies needed to be made more accessible. 

Councillor Rose asked what support was available for wider families of victims and survivors and the support and guardianship available for children born as a result of CSE? -  Jo Smith explained about the counselling that was available, and how this often enabled victims to disclose other incidents which resulted in other agencies needing to become involved. 

Councillor Ahmed asked about participation in the focus groups.  Was this positive?  Did ethnic minority groups participate in the questionnaires? -  Jo Smith explained how fragile participation was.  Support needed to be provided individually in order to not jeopardise justice processes. 

Councillor Hoddinott was concerned that perpetrator groups had not been engaged with.  She also asked how Mosque groups were being engaged with in the programme of CSE awareness raising? -  Gary Ridgeway agreed and this had been recognised as an issue.  He saw their involvement as being key to vocalising condemnation of CSE.  Expertise was being shared across organisations and key workers were involved. 

Councillor Hamilton asked what the biggest challenges were to delivering the recommendations of the report? -  Gary Ridgeway’s concern was the need for professionals to work across boundaries to achieve all the aims of victim support and bringing perpetrators to justice.  This would involve moving from a narrow agenda and a cultural shift.  Jean Imray required reassurance about resources.  The Council was receptive to responding to demand but large scale and significant investigations were happening all of the time that had impacts on resources. 

Resolved: - (1)  That the covering report and the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and University of Salford reports be noted. 

(2)  That further updates be provided to the Improving Lives Select Commission in relation to progress against these reports. 

(3)  That the researchers from the University of Salford be invited to attend a future meeting of this Commission to discuss their report.