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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/29/gaps-remain-in-tackling-child-sexual-exploitation-ofsted
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| Gaps remain in tackling child sexual exploitation, Ofsted finds | Gaps remain in tackling child sexual exploitation, Ofsted finds |
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| Some victims of child sexual exploitation are still being described as “promiscuous” or said to have made choices when found in abusive situations, an Ofsted report says. | Some victims of child sexual exploitation are still being described as “promiscuous” or said to have made choices when found in abusive situations, an Ofsted report says. |
| The watchdog found improvements in cooperation between police, social care and health professionals to protect vulnerable children, but said some officials had used language that could leave victims feeling they were responsible for their own abuse, while others had an “inadequate” understanding of the signs of child sexual exploitation. | The watchdog found improvements in cooperation between police, social care and health professionals to protect vulnerable children, but said some officials had used language that could leave victims feeling they were responsible for their own abuse, while others had an “inadequate” understanding of the signs of child sexual exploitation. |
| The report says a small number of police and social care professionals are still using victim-blaming language, two years after a damning report by Prof Alexis Jay revealed that in Rotherham alone at least 1,400 children had been subjected to sexual exploitation over an 18-year period. | The report says a small number of police and social care professionals are still using victim-blaming language, two years after a damning report by Prof Alexis Jay revealed that in Rotherham alone at least 1,400 children had been subjected to sexual exploitation over an 18-year period. |
| It states: “In the worst examples the term ‘promiscuous’ was used in relation to a clear case of sexual exploitation; the rape of a 15-year-old was described as ‘consensual’; and the age gap between a victim and perpetrator was described as ‘small’ when the perpetrator was 23 and the child 15. Young people were described as ‘making choices’ when they were found in situations of harm or risk.” | It states: “In the worst examples the term ‘promiscuous’ was used in relation to a clear case of sexual exploitation; the rape of a 15-year-old was described as ‘consensual’; and the age gap between a victim and perpetrator was described as ‘small’ when the perpetrator was 23 and the child 15. Young people were described as ‘making choices’ when they were found in situations of harm or risk.” |
| Ofsted along with the Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and HM Inspectorate of Probation looked at how the police, probation services, youth offending teams, health services and local safeguarding children boards dealt with child sexual exploitation in central Bedfordshire, Croydon, Liverpool, Oxfordshire, and south Tyneside. | Ofsted along with the Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and HM Inspectorate of Probation looked at how the police, probation services, youth offending teams, health services and local safeguarding children boards dealt with child sexual exploitation in central Bedfordshire, Croydon, Liverpool, Oxfordshire, and south Tyneside. |
| Inspectors found that agencies were better at tackling child sexual exploitation, with systematic communication between agencies improving the help victims received. | Inspectors found that agencies were better at tackling child sexual exploitation, with systematic communication between agencies improving the help victims received. |
| But gaps remain, according to the report. Police did not always identify children who ran away from home as being at high risk of exploitation, risk assessments were inconsistent and interviews with returning children were not always carried out. | But gaps remain, according to the report. Police did not always identify children who ran away from home as being at high risk of exploitation, risk assessments were inconsistent and interviews with returning children were not always carried out. |
| The inspectors also found that exploited children were still sometimes forced to tell the story of their abuse to several different adults. In one case a child had five separate appointments in one week with different professionals, risking “the child feeling overwhelmed and disengaging from those who were trying to support them,” the report states. In some cases, it says, children are waiting too long for support. | The inspectors also found that exploited children were still sometimes forced to tell the story of their abuse to several different adults. In one case a child had five separate appointments in one week with different professionals, risking “the child feeling overwhelmed and disengaging from those who were trying to support them,” the report states. In some cases, it says, children are waiting too long for support. |
| Matthew Reed, chief executive of the Children’s Society, said children who went missing were still experiencing poor or patchy responses. “Improvements are being made and strategies drawn up to tackle the sexual exploitation of children. But we know from our work with vulnerable young people across the country that many are still being let down,” he said. | Matthew Reed, chief executive of the Children’s Society, said children who went missing were still experiencing poor or patchy responses. “Improvements are being made and strategies drawn up to tackle the sexual exploitation of children. But we know from our work with vulnerable young people across the country that many are still being let down,” he said. |
| Reed called for all children who go missing to be classed as high risk. “When a child goes missing it’s vital that authorities take action without delay to make sure they are safe and work out what needs to be done to stop them running away again. Instead too many children are lumped into a low-risk category that dismisses their experience as a temporary absence and makes it harder to protect them from harm.” | Reed called for all children who go missing to be classed as high risk. “When a child goes missing it’s vital that authorities take action without delay to make sure they are safe and work out what needs to be done to stop them running away again. Instead too many children are lumped into a low-risk category that dismisses their experience as a temporary absence and makes it harder to protect them from harm.” |
| The report, Time to listen – a joined-up response to child sexual exploitation and missing children, also says not all frontline healthcare staff are able to identify the signs of sexual exploitation, and in “too many areas the health community has insufficient resources”. | The report, Time to listen – a joined-up response to child sexual exploitation and missing children, also says not all frontline healthcare staff are able to identify the signs of sexual exploitation, and in “too many areas the health community has insufficient resources”. |
| Examples in the report suggest abusers may be changing their modus operandi. In Croydon, a dedicated team of child sexual exploitation experts discovered that abusers had been taking victims to private residences rather than hotels and avoiding taxis, and online grooming was becoming more prevalent. | |
| This may be in response to police crackdowns. In Oxfordshire, a “hotel watch” scheme informs hotels about what to watch out for, while in south Tyneside 94% of taxi drivers have been trained in identifying child sexual exploitation as a condition of receiving a licence, and reports to police from drivers increased 53% between 2014-15. | This may be in response to police crackdowns. In Oxfordshire, a “hotel watch” scheme informs hotels about what to watch out for, while in south Tyneside 94% of taxi drivers have been trained in identifying child sexual exploitation as a condition of receiving a licence, and reports to police from drivers increased 53% between 2014-15. |
| Eleanor Schooling, Ofsted’s national director for social care, said that when frontline staff took their roles seriously, worked together and built relationships with children, child sexual exploitation could be dealt with “sensitively and successfully”. | Eleanor Schooling, Ofsted’s national director for social care, said that when frontline staff took their roles seriously, worked together and built relationships with children, child sexual exploitation could be dealt with “sensitively and successfully”. |
| “We have found that strong leadership makes a huge difference. Those areas where there was clear direction and a collective will to tackle this issue did well by their vulnerable children,” she said. “Practice needs to improve. Local authorities, police and health services need to gain a better understanding of why children run away from home. We need to understand why the current system of return home interviews is not working if we really want to help children who go missing.” | “We have found that strong leadership makes a huge difference. Those areas where there was clear direction and a collective will to tackle this issue did well by their vulnerable children,” she said. “Practice needs to improve. Local authorities, police and health services need to gain a better understanding of why children run away from home. We need to understand why the current system of return home interviews is not working if we really want to help children who go missing.” |
| Wendy Williams, HM Inspector of Constabulary, said the response of police had to be more consistent. “We found variation between, and sometimes within, forces as to how children were supported. This needs to improve to ensure children receive the support they need,” she said. | Wendy Williams, HM Inspector of Constabulary, said the response of police had to be more consistent. “We found variation between, and sometimes within, forces as to how children were supported. This needs to improve to ensure children receive the support they need,” she said. |
| Prof Ursula Gallagher, of the Care Quality Commission, said the “overwhelming concern” raised by the review was that “understanding of the signs of child sexual exploitation by key frontline healthcare professionals is inadequate. The healthcare system must recognise and act on its safeguarding responsibilities in this area. If it does not, children and young people will continue to be let down by services that should have their best interests at heart.” | Prof Ursula Gallagher, of the Care Quality Commission, said the “overwhelming concern” raised by the review was that “understanding of the signs of child sexual exploitation by key frontline healthcare professionals is inadequate. The healthcare system must recognise and act on its safeguarding responsibilities in this area. If it does not, children and young people will continue to be let down by services that should have their best interests at heart.” |
| An NSPCC spokesman said while improvements were welcomed, good practice had to be followed in every area of the country. “This worrying report exposes a patchy care system where all too often agencies are not working together, some frontline staff don’t understand what child sexual exploitation is, and professionals aren’t always sharing information,” he said. “When a child’s safety hangs in the balance, it is crucial that agencies all come together to catch them before they slip through the net.” | An NSPCC spokesman said while improvements were welcomed, good practice had to be followed in every area of the country. “This worrying report exposes a patchy care system where all too often agencies are not working together, some frontline staff don’t understand what child sexual exploitation is, and professionals aren’t always sharing information,” he said. “When a child’s safety hangs in the balance, it is crucial that agencies all come together to catch them before they slip through the net.” |