Collaboration is the key to councils tackling CSE

Read in conjunction, the two reports on child sexual exploitation (CSE) published last week confirmed the fears of many children's services leaders: that CSE is both widespread, and in too many areas is failing to be properly tackled by agencies.

The reports' findings are of course deeply concerning, but the challenge facing local authorities - and their police and health service partners – is to ensure they get to grips with the problem without it affecting their wider safeguarding work.

After taking evidence from CSE experts, including Professor Alexis Jay, author of the recent report into the abuse scandal in Rotherham, the communities and local government committee concluded that Rotherham was "no outlier", and urged other authorities to conduct their own investigations when credible CSE allegations arose. A day later, an Ofsted thematic review of CSE arrangements in eight councils - ordered in direct response to the Rotherham scandal – found most were inadequate to sufficiently protect children at risk of CSE. The fact that two councils had yet to put any plans in place at all highlights the main problem with tackling CSE - until recently, it has been dealt with as part of general child protection services, with the specific needs of young people at risk of it not recognised or acted upon.