Children’s Services Select Committee 5 March 2014 Child Sexual Exploitation Elaine Ryan Safeguarding Lead for Education March 2014

Understanding Child Sexual Exploitation Definition “Exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people (or a third person or persons) receive ‘something’ (for example, food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of performing sexual activities and/or another performing sexual activities on them. In all cases those exploiting the child/young person 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 or young person’s limited availability of choice resulting from their social/economic and/or emotional vulnerability.” 2009 Statutory Guidance Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation

Introduction and Background  Barnados Child Sexual Exploitation Pilot Project – 2010  One year duration  Five active cases identified  Successful outcomes  Targeted support for Schools

Developments  Barnardos – Identifying and Preventing Child Sexual Exploitation Training  Understanding the impact of Child Sexual Exploitation  Keeping Safe – PHSE Citizenship module  Sexual Exploitation Lead  Young Peoples Safety Forum

Current Position  The Daniel Project  The ARC Theatre Group  Workshops – Gangs and Child Sexual Exploitation  Gender specific programme  IDVAS Direct intervention

Direction of Travel  Finalise and agree the Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Strategic and Operational Plan  Formalise the MASE / CSE Strategic Sub-Group  Formalise the CSE Multi-Agency Planning (MAP) group  Rolling out multi - agency specialist CSE training events / briefings

The Strategic Approach is to… Raise awareness of the issues/publicise within the workforce, community, independent, private and voluntary sectors Map prevalence and identify vulnerability factors and profiles Prevent CSE by building resilience and education Respond, support and protect victims and those at risk Share information to enable disruption and prosecution of perpetrators

It is expected of all agencies to be provided with the tools to recognise the signs of abuse and ensure that they know what to do if they suspect a child or young person is being exploited. The commitment of Barking and Dagenham is to:  Prevent exploitation  Protect those who experience it  Prosecute those who commit it  Publicise information to promote awareness Prevent ProtectProsecutePublicise The B&D CSE Strategy

Prevention – What we will do  Review current procedures in line with the London Child Protection Procedures (5 th Ed.,) 2014  Targeted work to build resilience amongst young people at risk  Identify and implement early intervention practices  Introduction of a flag for young people who are known to be at risk of CSE  Commission post abuse support for children and young people to reduce re-victimisation  Develop specialist training for parents, foster carers and care staff supporting young people at risk of sexual exploitation  Incorporate CSE into all parenting programmes  Incorporate the LCPP 5 th Edition re: Child Sexual Exploitation Supplementary Guidance/Pan London Protocol for CSE

Protection – What we will do  Establishment of a Multi-agency Planning (MAP) Meetings where safety plans can be effectively co-ordinated and reviewed  Endorse the Pan London CSE Operational Protocol  Commission services for young person within existing local domestic and sexual violence offer to include support for young people  Targeted work around Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups  Agree membership, links and accountability of MASE / CSE Strategic Group  Development of effective quality assurance of interventions  Reflection on lessons learned

Prosecution – What we will do  Expansion of a Tactical Disruption approach - work alongside the MPS Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Investigation Command (SC&02/5)  Transfer good practice from our proactive work on identifying young people involved in gangs  Ensure co-ordination between CSE and public protection mechanisms such as MAPPA, MARAC, MASH and Missing Children sub group  Ensure effective coordination between all agencies

Publicise – What we will do  Understanding what is happening – The local profile of CSE  Specialist CSE training and resources for health and social care practitioners, police and designated Child Protection leads in Schools  Enhance understanding of reporting routes  Awareness raising for universal staff, families and friends and stakeholders in the independent, private, voluntary sectors and the wider community

Key Documents Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation: A scoping study of Current Practice in London – University of Bedfordshire ‘If only someone had listened’ – Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups (Nov 2013 The Office of the Children Commission) See Me, Hear Me – Operational and Strategic Framework Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation – A study of current practice in London - University of Bedfordshire/London Councils/London Safeguarding Children Boards

Next Steps... Strategic  Formalise the CSE sub group  Review the strategy and operation plan  Leadership / Ownership  Joined up working  Quality Assurance schedule  A clear mechanism of identification and tracking CSE victims/cases  Develop/Establish to MASE group

Next Steps cont… Operational  Problem Profiling to identify the scale and nature of CSE in Barking and Dagenham  Develop a clear pathway for CSE cases in B & D  Develop a mechanism of identification and tracking of CSE cases

‘Everything gets better in the end, and if it’s not better, it’s not the end’ Quote by: The Office of the Children’s Commissioner’s report into Child Exploitation in Gangs and Groups