Safeguarding Children from CSE

This policy was adopted on: March 2017

This Policy was revised and updated in:September 2017

The policy will next be reviewed on: March 2018

Key Contacts:
Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection (DSL):
Previously known as: Designated Member of staff / Veneda Goodwin
Tel: 01243 544107
Mob: 07753 490360

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection / Lucy Hairsine
Tel: 01243 544107
Mob: 07790 610555

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection
(School) / Tom Milson
Tel: 01243 544107
Mob: 07769154006

West Sussex Children’s Services: MASH (multi-agency safeguarding hub): / Tel: 01403 229900
Fax: 01403 754205

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): / 0330 222 3337

The sexual exploitation of children is described in the government guidance document as;

"involving exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people (or a third person or persons) receive 'something' (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of their performing, and / or another or others performing on them, sexual activities. It can occur through the use of technology without the child's immediate recognition; e.g. being persuaded to post sexual images on the internet/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. In all cases, those exploiting the child have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common, involvement in exploitative relationships being characterised in the main by the child's limited availability of choice resulting from their social/economic and/or emotional vulnerability."

Child sexual exploitation can take many different forms including:

  • Exploitation by family members, including being ‘sold for sex’;
  • Sexually exploitative relationships with older adults;
  • Sexually exploitative relationships with peers;
  • Sexual exploitation through technology including grooming through social media and the taking and circulation of sexually explicit images of the child.

Any concerns that a child may be being sexually exploited should be managed through our normal safeguarding procedures. Staff will inform their Line Manager and the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately. The Designated Safeguarding Lead will when there is a concern inform West Sussex MASH to notify them and seek further advice and also notify the child's placing authority. As in other child protection issues, it is important for staff to recognise that it is theirs, and the organisation'sduty to cooperate with any investigation Amicus do not initiate our own investigations. However, if an incident were to occur locally, it is important that staff note as much detail as possible i.e. descriptions of suspicious people, car registrations etc in order to help the authorities disrupt exploitative activities.

Recognising Risk Factors

The key to safeguarding vulnerable children is the ability to recognise ‘at risk’ children and for agencies to work effectively together within a risk assessment framework. Due to the previous experiences and traumas of the children at Amicus they are all vulnerable and all considered to at some scale to be at risk.

Levels of risk can be identified by considering the number and range of risk indicators present in a child’s life. Vulnerabilities include:

  • Family history of abuse or neglect;
  • Family history of domestic abuse;
  • Family history of substance misuse;
  • Family history of mental health difficulties;
  • Breakdown of family relationships;
  • Low self-esteem;
  • History of local authority care.

Risk indicators include:

  • Staying out late;
  • Multiple callers (unknown adults/older young people);
  • Use of a mobile phone that causes concern;
  • Expressions of despair (self-harm, overdose, eating disorder, challenging behaviour, aggression, suicide threats);
  • Disclosure of sexual or physical assault and / or followed by withdrawal of allegation;
  • Sexually transmitted infections;
  • Peers involved in clipping (receiving payment in exchange for agreement to perform sexual acts but not performing the sexual act) or sexual exploitation;
  • Drugs misuse;
  • Alcohol misuse;
  • Use of the internet that causes concern;*
  • Unsuitable or inappropriate accommodation (including street homelessness, rooflessness, and living in a place where needs are not met);
  • Isolated from peers and social networks;
  • Lack of positive relationship with a protective, nurturing adult;
  • Exclusion from school, unexplained absences from school or not engaged in education or training;

Significant risk indicators include:

  • Periods of going missing overnight or longer;
  • Older ‘boyfriend/girlfriend’ or relationship with a controlling adult;
  • Physical or emotional abuse by that ‘boyfriend/girlfriend’ or controlling adult;
  • Entering and/or leaving vehicles driven by unknown adults;
  • Unexplained amounts of money, expensive clothing or other items;
  • Physical injury without plausible explanation;
  • Frequenting areas known for sex work.

Child sexual exploitation is becoming more prevalent in today’s society and exposes children to abuse, assault and emotional vulnerability. It can threaten their well-being and lead to a loss of self-esteem.

The children placed with Amicus are amongst the most vulnerable in society and as a result have little understanding of risks they may be exposed to.

Simply because a child is looked after by a residential home does not make them any less vulnerable to those who choose to abuse children through exploitation or pornography and staff must be well aware of the potential risks open to the children in our care.

Vulnerable children will be identified and targeted by abusers/coercers and Amicus will ensure that both we and local agencies act quickly and sensitively in the best interests of the child or young person concerned. It is vital that good strong support and re-integration strategies are put into place to ensure a positive outcome.

A lot of evidence will be gathered and recorded through our normal procedures e.g. details of any periods where the child is missing. Staff need to be alert to children returning with cash, phones or gifts, any behavioural or personal presentation issues. Details of any adults linked with the child, addresses, car registration numbers etc. should also be recorded along with information about other children they may be frequently absconding with or local ones that they regularly meet when leaving unauthorised (absconding) and the child’s Safety Plan’s and corresponding risk assessments updated with this information accordingly.

Children do not have phones whilst at the school but older children may have use of mobile phones when at home. The children's use of mobile phones is carefully monitored and they are educated on how to keep themselves safe online. It is acceptable for home or school staff to confiscate a mobile phone if they have reason to suspect that it is being used by abusers to contact the child. The police may also request the phone is removed and given to them for evidential analysis.

It is also acceptable and may be necessary for home/ school staff to preserve the child’s clothing (including underwear) when they suspect there may be forensic evidence. In such cases the clothing should be handled as little as possible and placed in clean bags before being handed to the police.

Confiscation of phones and/or clothes should be done in consultation with the Senior management Team or On-Call as appropriate. Children may have age appropriate access to social media, this and the children’s internet usage is monitored during school time and when they are at home. Where the child is a day student, advice and support will be given to the parents/ carers of the child on how to keep their children safe online. Staff follow guidelines as detailed in our policy on ‘Online safeguarding of Children’on how to monitor online spaces. Suspicious activity should be brought to the attention of the Designated Safeguarding Lead. The homes and school will liaise with MASH and the appropriate authorities and they may request that the police access reports where they are suspicious that a child is being groomed online.

Although the structures and practices of the organisation would make the children safer, this will not prevent us from being alert to the dangers of them being targeted. All staff should be alert to the possibilities of the children being targeted and groomed both when the children are here in the homes and school as well as when they are away for holidays or family contacts or having increased time out as part of their work towards their growing independence.

Peer on Peer

The Amicus Community has put in place safeguards to reduce the likelihood of peer on peer allegations. There is an established ethos of respect, friendship, courtesy and kindness. The organization seeks to educate all children on healthy relationships through the relationships we build with the children, everyday interactions and through the curriculum, however we recognise that despite this and due to the experiences and trauma that many children arrive with, that we need to be alert to peer on peer abuse.

It is important to recognise that children do engage in sexual play and experimenting, which is usually age appropriate. However, it is important that no individual makes the decision alone to determine where on the spectrum between exploration and curiosity to abuse any incident lies. All incidents of a sexual nature must be recorded on our relevant incident forms/ observations and logs and reported to the Designated safeguarding Lead.

The presence of one or more of the following points in situations where there has been sexual activity between children should always trigger some concern:

  • There is an age difference of two years or more between the children
  • One of the children is significantly more dominant than the other
  • One of the children is significantly more vulnerable than the other eg. in terms of disability, confidence, physical strength
  • There has been some use of threats, bribes or coercion to secure compliance or to maintain secrecy

Where a concern regarding peer on peer abuse has been disclosed to the DSL(s), the information will be passed on to MASH and the child’s placing authority and discussions will take place as to what actions are required. Where it is clear a crime has been committed or there is a risk of crime being committed the Police will be contacted. Working with external agencies there will usually be an organizational response to the unacceptable behaviour, for example, if a child’s behaviour negatively impacts on the safety and welfare of other children, then safeguards will be put in place to promote the well-being of the children affected, the victim and perpetrator will be provided with support to prevent any reoccurrence of improper behaviour.

These measures will be reflected in updates to each child’s Risk Assessment.All children have a risk assessment in place around their vulnerability and risk around CSE and the safeguarding measures in place to protect them from this and keep them safe. This is reviewed and updated regularly.

Training

Staff receive both internal and external training on Child Sexual Exploitation. External training is commonly through West Sussex LSCB and learning passed on through the organization internally. Internal training is also through open and regular discussion of the children and the safeguarding measures being in place to review and protect them from harm and keep them safe. Staff are informed of the latest updates and changes in legislation regarding CSE and this is distributed via email or discussed in staff meeting spaces. Staff are distributed policies relating to safeguarding and CSE when new ones are written and also when they are viewed so they can be aware of this information and ensure it is applied to their practice.

Corresponding Policies:

  • Amicus Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
  • Amicus Online Safeguarding of Children
  • Amicus Prevent Policy
  • Amicus Missing from care (unauthorized absence) Policy

References:

  • Child Sexual Exploitation: support in children’s residential homes. Research Report – December 2016
  • Children’s Homes Quality Standards Partnership: Practice Paper 5: Children Who Go Missing - Action for Children (The Who Cares Trust)

Department for Education guidance (references and further reading)

  • Child sexual exploitation: definition and guide for practitioners (2017)
  • Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care (2014)
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children and related statutory guidance (2017)
  • The Missing Children and Adults strategy (2011)
  • Safeguarding Children and Young People from SexualExploitation (2009)
  • The Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation Action Plan (2011)
  • Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including thequality standards (2016).

Written and Authorised by: Rebecca Newton

Title: Director of Operations and Development, RI & School Proprietor

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