street safe 29 june 2011 basw child sexual abuse conference
TRANSCRIPT
Street Safe29 June 2011BASW Child Sexual Abuse Conference
Introduction
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• Context of service
• Focus on the experience of young person
• Professional engagement
• The future and challenges ahead
Context
• The Children’s Society so far
• Service developed from Lancashire Young Runaways Project
• Recognised nationally for its practice
• 2010/11: 575 new cases (25% frequent missing from home)
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Street Safe
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• The Children’s Society in Lancashire
• Established in 2003 – changed focus in 2007
• Strong partnership focus
• Take account of Lancashire’s geography
• Lancashire’s six police divisions: Breakthrough, Cherish, Deter, Freedom
Service Model
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1-1 customised direct support
Schools and groupwork
Awareness-raising and training for professionals, parents/carers and general public
Intensive Support Worker
The role is as follows:
• Engage and agree to undertake direct work.• Undertake direct 1:1 work. • Signpost and support young people to relevant services.• Act as advocate ensuring views are shared, listened to and
acted upon. • Work with other colleagues to plan appropriate
interventions, being mindful of the views of the young person they are working with.
• Support police investigations where appropriate.• Offer advice and guidance to colleagues.
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Definition
A young person’s view:
‘Someone taking advantage of you sexually, for their own benefit.
Through threats, bribes, violence, humiliation, or by telling you that they love you, they will have
the power to get you to do sexual things for their own, or other people’s benefit or enjoyment.’
Ref: New Horizons Group 2008
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Young person’s experience (1)
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• Gemma – aged 15
• Seeking part-time work
• Relationship with parents
• Befriended by owner
• Access to drugs
Young person’s experience (2)
•Romeo & Juliet
•The rule of optimism
•‘Good’ drugs
•‘Nobody tells me anything’
•Help of others
•Outcome
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Models of exploitation
1. Inappropriate relationships:
2. ‘Boyfriend’ model of exploitation
3. Organised network of sexual exploitation or trafficking
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Statistics
• In 2010/11:
• 575 new cases
• 25% frequently missing from home (+40%)
• 90% lived with own family
• 254 offenders being investigated
• 116 arrests plus 90 sentenced under Section 2
• 80% white British; 16% BME
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Ethos and Values
• Honesty
• Holistic approach
• Independence
• Persistence
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Challenges and Opportunities
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• Young person’s perspective
• Personalities matter
• Collaborative working
• Lancashire Again Crime Partnership – Comic Relief and Children in Need
• Develop work with boys and young men
Young person’s perspective
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“When you are 14 and decide you’re gay you can’t go
and get a boyfriend in
school. If they find out, they
bully you and beat you up. That’s why your only choice is to go
with older men.”
(14 year old)
Discussion points
• Attitudinal change
• Diversity of experiences of young people
• Links to running away and other issues
• Lack of contact between young people and agencies
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The future
• Safe Choices
• Lobbying and advocacy
• DfE developing an action plan over the summer.
• The Office for Children’s Commissioner are setting up a 2 year inquiry on CSE (Sept).
• CEOP thematic assessment on CSE in June.
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