Children and Young People At Risk of Sexual Exploitation Risk Assessment Tool The risk assessment tool adopts a four step stage approach to assessing risk of sexual exploitation these are: Step 1: Identify the risk indicators Step 2: Identify additional vulnerability factors Step 3: Complete the risk factors matrix Step 4: Risk analysis and plan Important points to remember when assessing sexual exploitation [SE] are: • Vulnerable children and people are victims of crime Both girls and boys can be victims of sexual exploitation and can be equally vulnerable • The coercers and perpetrators are usually an adult, but can be children and young people in a position of power of either gender • Young people may exchange or sell sex as a result of constrained choices such as poverty, isolation and historic abuse • Parents/carers may be involved in the sexual exploitation of children, or fail to prevent/protect from it • Groups of children and young people and multiple perpetrators may be involved (organised abuse) • No under 13 years can be assessed as Low Risk if behaviours indicate involvement in SE • No child with a learning disability should be assessed as Low Risk if behaviours indicate involvement in or risk of SE • Disclosure of information by a young person may take time and risks may only emerge during ongoing assessment, support and interventions with the young person and/or their family
Step 3: Complete the Risk Factors Matrix RISK LEVEL NUMBER OF INDICATORS BEHAVIOURS REQUIRED ACTION (BRIEF POINTS) CONSIDERATIONS Low Risk Low risk cases do not usually meet the threshold for Children’s Social Care intervention but should have individual or multi agency intervention ONE OR MORE INDICATORS IDENTIFIED Regularly coming home late or going missing Notify police if the child or young person is going missing If needs cannot be met by an individual agency consider doing a CAF Identify a lead practitioner and pull together a TAF care team meeting Keep detailed records of incidents/risks No child under 13 can be categorised as LOW. No child with a learning disability can be categorised as LOW. Ensure information is recorded Seek Children’s Social Care advice as and when required Overt sexualised dress Sexualised risk taking including on the internet Unaccounted for monies or goods Associating with unknown adults or other sexually exploited children Reduced contact with family/friends Sexually transmitted infections Experimenting with drugs/alcohol Poor self-image, eating disorder, some self-harm 8
RISK LEVEL NUMBER OF INDICATORS BEHAVIOURS REQUIRED ACTION (BRIEF POINTS) CONSIDERATIONS Medium Risk Low and medium risk behaviours Any of the above AND ONE OR MORE INDICATORS IDENTIFIED Getting into cars with unknown or known CSE adults CAF, lead practitioner and TAF put in and a referral to the Vulnerable Young Risk Management Panel Where there is a service specific assessment such as ASSET in place, his should be updated and the additional information used to inform pre sentence reports. Police discussion regarding potential investigation Employ immediate disruption tactics If the escalate and there is reasonable cause to suspect that the child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm a referral must be made to Children’s Social Care Being groomed on internet Clipping i.e. offering to have sex with the intention of robbing the victim, then running before sexual activity Disclosure of physical assault with no substantiating evidence to warrant a S47 enquiry, followed by withdrawal of complaint Reports of involvement in CSE such as seen in hot spots Older boy/girlfriend Non school attendance or excluded Staying out overnight with no explanation Breakdown of placements due to behaviour 9
Step 4: Risk analysis and plan DANGER PROTECTION Dangers/What are we Worried About? List all aspects that demonstrate likelihood of maltreatment (past, present or future). Strengths/what’s working well? List all aspects that indicate safety (exceptions, strengths and resources, goals, willingness etc.) COMPLICATING FACTORS (What makes things more difficult?) -