Children & Young People In Care At Higher Risk Of Sexual Exploitation Report Finds

Children & Young People In Care At Higher Risk Of Sexual Exploitation Report Finds

Councils continue to fail in their duty to protect children from sexual exploitation by and within predatory gangs , a two-year investigation by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner has found.

The report which was published recently, was critical of Children's  Services for continually  failing to safeguard children and and whom it feels underestimate  the scale of sexual exploitation risk after finding only 6% of local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs) are complying with key government guidance on tackling child sexual exploitation (CSE).

Nearly all of the Safeguarding Children's Boards  said that child sexual exploitation is a strategic priority, but only 50% could say how many victims had been detailed within the last 12 months in the local area. Very public court proceedings in Derby, Oxford and Rochdale  highlighted the extent and scope of this type of abuse.

Although it  highlighted local examples of  positive practice, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner found a concerning dearth of  knowledge, practice and services required to address the needs of those experiencing Child sexual exploitation despite the higher public profile.

The report instead a different and fresh structure called  See Me, Hear Me, for those who design, manage or provide services in specific areas of  child protection. Developed with those who have experienced sexual exploitation, the structure emphasises professionals should  “focus relentlessly on the child”. Alongside the structure are  two other reports , which shine a light on  the risk to children and the complexities around their understanding of giving consent to sexual activity.

London Metropolitan University conducted extensive interview research with hundreds of young people and found worrying views about sexual activity and consent including the likelihood of young people, particularly females of absorbing guilt and shame if they are sexually exploited.

The University's evidence  the showed a worrying reality  of Sexual exploitation in gangs and groups and societal authority failing to tackle the hidden phenomenon of child sexual exploitation,  according to the  Deputy  Children's  Commissioner  for England.

Sue Berlowitz is championing a new world  in the culture of children’s services so victims’ needs are top of the agenda. The Office's  report ‘If only someone had listened’ tries to do this by providing a structure  for practitioners to use when designing or planning services. It is hoped that implementing the new anti-child sexual exploitation structure will achieve this.

The research has been widely welcomed in most sectors, but some have expressed concerns that austerity budgets and cuts to services will impede attempts to bring the structure into practice.

Source : Community Care Online