Research

Safe Foster Care for Victims of Child Sexual Exploitation

This study is the first UK evaluation of specialist foster care for children at risk, or victims, of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and/or trafficking. It investigates how well the Safe Accommodation Project reduced risk and safeguarded these children.

Authors Lucie Elizabeth Shuker

Published by Safer Communities, Volume 14, Issue 1, (2015)


Exploitation risks

Any child can be affected by CSE regardless of their background and caution should be taken when attributing background experiences to level of vulnerability of being exploited. Many potential indicators are not strongly demonstrated, however research by Brown et al (2016) suggests that experience of being in local authority care is an indicator of increased risk of being a victim of CSE or child sexual abuse (CSA).

The expectation in Standard 4 of the Department for Education's Fostering Services National Minimum Standards that all children living in care "are protected from abuse and other forms of significant harm, for example, sexual or labour exploitation" is not being met. Children's social care services need to address the concerning research finding that aspects of local authority care may combine with these children's backgrounds to increase vulnerability.

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