1. Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Raising Awareness:
Say Something if you See Something…….
All professionals in universal services need to be aware of their role in identifying and addressing child sexual exploitation. Children, young people and their parents and carers need to have the right information to help them access support quickly and safely.

2. Purpose of Session
To raise awareness of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) including:
Forms of CSE
Risk/Vulnerability factors
Identification of those at risk
What to do if you have concerns
These can be altered for individual agencies if there are other elements that you need to include but all the ones listed in the slide will remain in place.

3. If you have web access then play this short clip introducing CSE:
You will need access to wifi to show this clip or if you know this will not be possible please save onto your desktop in advance of the session.
It is a really powerful clip which draws out many of the main points around CSE so please make every effort to show it!

4. Definition of CSE
Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where the young person (or third person/s) receive ‘something’ (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them performing, and/or another or others performing on them, sexual activities.
Taken from the London CSE Operating Protocol 2nd Edition March 2015

5. Definition of CSE cont…
Child Sexual Exploitation can occur through the use of technology without the child’s immediate recognition; for example being persuaded to post sexual images on the internet/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common. Involvement in exploitative relationships is characterised by the child’s or young person’s limited availability of choice resulting from their social, economic or emotional vulnerability.
A common feature of CSE is that the child or young person does not recognise the coercive nature of the relationship and does not see themselves as a victim of exploitation.
Taken from the London CSE Operating Protocol 2nd Edition March 2015

6. Rotherham CSE
Ask the group what CSE cases they may be aware of from the news?
Use these headlines to remind individuals of high profile cases.

7. Forms of CSE Gangs & groups Trafficked Older ‘boyfriend’ Online Sexual
Opportunistic
Familial
Sexual
Bullying
Older
‘boyfriend’
Gangs &
groups
Child Sexual
Exploitation
This slide summarises the seven routes into CSE. You can link back to the Jay video and ask what form of CSE that was demonstrating.

8. Vulnerability
All young people are vulnerable to CSE but some factors can increase vulnerability e.g:
Living in a chaotic or dysfunctional household
History of abuse
Living in residential care, hostel, B&B or being homeless
Gang association either through relatives, peers, intimate relationships or neighbourhood
Lacking friends from the same age group
Attending school, or are friends with, young people who are sexually exploited
Not engaging in education/training or employment
Unsure about their sexual orientation or unable to disclose sexual orientation to their families
Learning disabilities
Young carer
Recent bereavement or loss
Low self-esteem or self-confidence.
Stress to group that ALL young people may be at risk of CSE but there are some factors that can make individuals at greater risk.
Before going through the list ask the group what some of these factors may be………..

9. What are the signs to look out for?
RISK FACTORS
What are the signs to look out for?

10. A – Absent from School/home F – Familial Abuse
S – Sexual Health
A – Absent from School/home
F – Familial Abuse
E – Emotional and Physical Condition
G – Gangs
U – Use of Technology & Sexual Bullying
A – Alcohol and Drug Misuse
R – Receipt of unexplained Gifts or money
D – Distrust of Authority Figures
These are risk factors to be aware of when identifying those that might be exposed to CSE. There may be one or more evident but even if you one see one or two and you have concerns then you should refer as there may be other information held on that young person centrally that greatens the risk.
Discuss the following when talking through the pneumonic:
Sexual health and behaviour Evidence of sexually transmitted infections, recurrent urinary tract infections, pregnancy and termination; inappropriate sexualised behaviour. Often identified through health services.
Absent from school or repeatedly running away Evidence of truancy or periods of being missing from home or care.
The link between Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and children and young people going missing is inextricable since going missing can be both a cause and a consequence of being sexually exploited.
Barnardos (in 2011) identified that 50% of sexually exploited young people they worked with in 2009/10 went missing on a regular basis 
Familial abuse and/or problems at home Familial sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, as well as risk of forced marriage or honour-based violence; domestic violence; substance misuse; parental mental health concerns; parental criminality; experience of homelessness; living in a care home or temporary accommodation  
Emotional and physical condition Thoughts of, or attempted, suicide or self-harming; low self-esteem or self-confidence; problems relating to sexual orientation; learning difficulties or poor mental health; unexplained injuries or changes in physical appearance, eating disorders etc.
Gangs, older age groups and involvement in crime Involvement in crime; direct involvement with gang members or living in a gang-afflicted community; involvement with older individuals or lacking friends from the same age group; contact with other individuals who are sexually exploited
Use of technology and sexual bullying Evidence of ‘sexting’, sexualised communication on-line or problematic use of the internet and social networking sites Making contact with young people through social networks, texts and picture messages; posting inappropriate photos or messages on the internet or social networks; Using mobile phones or social networks to exert power and control ; Using the internet, social networks or mobile phones to advertise a young person’s availability; Using a young person’s identity/photo for pornographic images without their knowledge
Alcohol and drug misuse Problematic substance use
  Receipt of unexplained gifts or money Unexplained finances, including phone credit, clothes and money
Distrust of authority figures Resistance to communicating with parents, carers, teachers, social services, health, police and others

11. Use this as a summary visual of the risk factors just discussed

12. Again a visual example. Key point in this slide is that the victim is male. Whilst the majority of victims are female there male victims too.
With the support of Barnardo’s, research led by University College London has found that almost one in three in a sample of the sexually exploited young people supported by Barnardo’s since 2008 were male

14. Grooming Strategies Target vulnerable groups of young people
Know where young people hang out
Use subtle techniques to form relationships – hard to distinguish from genuine relationships at first
Appeal to young person’s vanity/self esteem/confidence with gifts, comments, treats, drugs & alcohol
Gradually isolate young person from peer friends
Exert emotional pressure on young person to perform sexual activities
Using drugs or alcohol as a form of control
Frequently move young people to disorientate them

15. Remember…………
Children and young people who are sexually exploited are victims first
A person’s ability to give consent may be affected by a range of issues, influence of drugs, threats of violence, grooming, a power imbalance between victim and perpetrators.
A 16- or 17-year-old can be sexually exploited even though they are old enough to consent to sexual activity.
Sexually exploited young people are a group of vulnerable children who may become lost to statutory agencies
Young people who are sexually exploited often don’t realise that they are victims. It is important that young people are not judged as being bad and that they are listened to, believed and supported.

16. Why is it difficult for children to disclose?
No perception of abuse
Fear of not being believed
Fear of being judged
Guilt and shame “it was my fault”
Fear for personal or family safety
Dependency on “groomers”
Terrified
Talk through some of the barriers to disclosure from the young persons perspective.

17. What to do if a child makes a disclosure
Inform the young person that you will have to share the information
Have a child/young person-centred approach
Be patient
Ask only open questions Who/Where/What/When/Why?
Do not ask any leading questions
Write down each question and answers given
Date and time any notes taken
Sign any notes taken
Discuss any concerns with a member of the safeguarding team
Together refer any concern or disclosure to your local authority children’s service or the police.
Following these steps is important as it will assist with a successful prosecution.

18. Referrals
Ensure that as much detail as possible is gathered in the risk screening tool
Discuss details with your safeguarding lead/line manager immediately
If risk factors identified contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), or the child’s allocated social worker if relevant, with your concerns
Complete MASH referral form - see CSE supplementary threshold document
Within MASH a risk assessment will be conducted using the Sutton CSE Assessment Tool and each case will be categorized a level of risk as per CSE Risk Matrix.
In the first instance, the London Child Protection Procedures must be followed to consider immediate risk and safeguarding actions required. Therefore a Strategy Meeting must be convened in each case. Consideration will need to be given as to whether CAIT (Child Abuse Investigation Team) or CSE Team from the police are involved at this stage alongside other key agencies. ( )
Following initial investigation as outlined above, most cases of suspected, actual or potential CSE will be referred into the MASE meetings.
Each agency that has CSE concerns about a child in their care should ensure that as much detail as possible is gathered, including what warning signs are identified.
The normal Social Care referral pathways should be followed – to contact the front door which in London is or will be MASH or the allocated Social Worker if there is one.
A risk assessment will be made by Social Care as to which category (London Procedures) the case falls into and identify the appropriate interventions required and which police team will deal with it. The higher the risk , the specialist the response from the police, all decisions should be made within multi-agency context and communicated.
k Reference the London Child Protection Procedures for guidance on referrals and assessments 18

19. All flowcharts, CSE Risk Screening tools, MASH referral forms are all available on the Sutton LSCB website within the CSE toolkit.

20. Multi-Agency Sexual Exploitation (MASE) Operational Meeting
A multi-agency forum to review all new cases and CSE activity against previously reported cases
It shares information/intelligence about serial perpetrators, involvement of gangs/groups, premises/location hotspots linked to CSE.
Meets on a monthly basis
A MASE a referral must be made via MASH (if not previously known) or the allocated social worker
The MASE meeting discuss and review action plan in respect of individuals or issues.
Ensures there is a coordinated approach with other boroughs
*MASE does not replace London Child Protection Procedures and individual safeguarding
actions must be taken alongside any referral to MASE

21. What else can I do as a professional?
Staying alert to changes in behaviour or any physical signs of abuse and investigating these further
Use routine contacts with children and young people and don’t be afraid to explore concerns and LISTEN
Don’t be afraid to talk to your child protection lead follow if you have concerns about a child or young person
Think about out ways to better support and help young people to share information if they are worried about their own or another young person’s situation
Identifying opportunities to educate young people and their parents about healthy relationships and about sexual exploitation

22. Thank you for Listening and
SAY SOMETHING IF YOU SEE SOMETHING

23. Useful Links:
Sutton LSCB CSE Strategy & Toolkit (incl. referral forms )
London CSE Operating Protocol
London Child Protection Procedures supplementary guidance on Safeguarding Trafficked and Exploited Children
The National Working Group on Child Sexual Exploitation 
CSE awareness raising material