Harmful sexual behaviour policy – Bury & Rochdale Youth Justice Service
Summary:
This harmful sexual behaviour policy underpins a cohesive approach used by all agencies in Rochdale tasked with safeguarding children when dealing with referrals regarding harmful sexualised behaviour (HSB).
Description:
Harmful sexualised behaviour (HSB) is developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour which is displayed by children and young adults, and is harmful or abusive.
The policy process for referrals is set out below
All referrals to either Greater Manchester Police or children’s social care regarding HSB should be considered in conjunction with the child protection procedures.
Once a referral has been received and it is suspected or confirmed that harmful sexualised behaviour has taken place, a child protection strategy meeting must be called within 24 hours of the referral. The strategy meeting should always include Greater Manchester Police, children’s social care, health, education and the youth justice service.
The strategy meeting should always start from the premise that the child who has displayed HSB may be a victim of significant harm themselves. Therefore, the meeting should consider child protection enquiries under Section 47, in relation to both the victim and the child who has displayed HSB.
Bury and Rochdale Youth Justice Service has set up a weekly triage meeting to reduce the number of strategy meetings and ensure all cases of HSB are responded to from a multi-agency perspective.
AIM – assessment, intervention and moving on
The purpose of the AIM assessment is to assess the concerns, risks and strengths of the child across four key areas. These are sexual and non-sexual behaviours, development, family and environment considering both static and dynamic factors.
Interventions can range from low level interventions and educational work through to a full intervention using the ‘Good Lives Model’.
The service and schools are also developing specific school-based programmes to assist in both prevention of HSB and to address any identified areas of concern.
Contact:
| Name | Sarah Hallam |
| Sara.Hallam@Rochdale.Gov.UK |