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CYP Now webinar will explore effective responses to HSB in children

1 min read Social Care
Leading experts in the field of harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) by children will be speaking at a webinar on the topic hosted by Children & Young People Now.
A significant proportion of child protection plans cite HSB as a factor. Picture: Photographee EU Adobestock
A significant proportion of child protection plans cite HSB as a factor. Picture: Photographee EU Adobestock

Research shows that a third of child sexual abuse is committed by other children, while 43 per cent of protection plans had offline HSB, and 25 per cent online HSB, recorded as a factor.

Despite this, analysis by the NSPCC has shown that HSB is sometimes overlooked by social workers and that practitioners want more support in how they assess and respond to the issue.

The webinar, HSB in children and young people: how to recognise it and respond effectively, is taking place from 12-1pm on Wednesday 29 November and is free to attend. 

Speakers include safeguarding trainer and social worker Marcella Leonard, who has specialised in assessment and therapy in the fields of sexuality, sexual deviancy and trauma in both victims and perpetrators, and Sharron Wareham, children’s services manager at Barnardo’s Cymru Better Futures Service, whose work has helped shape NICE guidelines on working with children and young people who sexually harm.

In addition, Dr Kevin Gallagher, managing director of Amberleigh Care, will be talking about a Theory of Change for HSB interventions in a therapeutic residential context, and Pete Thomason, head of therapy at Kites Children’s Services, will be discussing group and individual therapeutic approaches with young people.

Issues to be discussed include how to identify HSB at assessment and start a conversation with parents, what therapeutic responses are available and how to tailor these to different settings, and what outcomes can be achieved and how to measure these.

The webinar, hosted by CYP Now editor Derren Hayes, is aimed at children’s social workers, safeguarding leads in schools, residential care and fostering teams, children’s social care commissioners and third sector providers. It will include a panel discussion, interactive polls and an opportunity for delegates to ask questions.

To register to attend the webinar, click here


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