It wasn't until the Rotherham sexual abuse scandal hit the headlines in summer 2014 that the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE) came to the forefront of public policy.
Not only did the Rotherham case trigger wholesale change at the council, it also prompted decisive action from policymakers to improve the national response.
In 2015, the Department for Education produced an action plan for tackling CSE, supported by £30m to develop a range of new projects and organisations charged with improving awareness, detection of cases and support for victims.
Last year, updated guidance for children's professionals set out a clearer definition of what constitutes CSE to reflect the role of technology, particularly social media, in changing how perpetrators attempt to groom children.
In-depth inspections of how safeguarding agencies tackle CSE revealed encouraging practice in many areas, but also concerns about the way agencies share information and intelligence. This is particularly important in light of latest data showing that CSE is becoming more frequently detected during child in need assessments.
Awareness of CSE has grown since 2014, and a recent NSPCC report warned that the focus is diverting policymakers' attention from efforts to combat other forms of child abuse.
CYP Now's special report on child sexual exploitation assesses key research, summarises latest policy developments and highlights examples of good practice on tackling the issue.
Click on the links below for more in this special report.
Research Evidence
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of child sexual abuse (CSA). Although societal and professional awareness of CSE has increased over recent years, challenges remain on how best to address it and support those affected.
The paper by Kwhali highlights the need for all practitioners working with children, young people and families to have knowledge and understanding of CSA and CSE as distinct areas of sexual abuse as part of their safeguarding responsibilities. The findings of this paper are echoed in the article by Thomas and D'Arcy, who highlight the importance of using holistic, strengths-based family approaches to improve services for children and young people affected by CSE.
Most CSE services are targeted towards young women rather than young men. The paper by Cockbain and colleagues explores the relationship between sexual exploitation and gender in their study of young people accessing CSE support. The final article by Buck and colleagues provides an insight into young people's views and experiences of a peer mentoring programme that works to address the hidden problem of young gang-associated women who have been exploited or are at risk of sexual exploitation.
- Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Knowledge, Confidence and Training within a Contemporary UK Social Work Practice and Policy Context
- Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation with Young People and Parents: Contributions to a Twenty-First-Century Family Support Agenda
- Immaterial Boys? A Large-Scale Exploration of Gender-Based Differences in Child Sexual Exploitation Service Users
- Exploring Peer Mentoring as a Form of Innovative Practice with Young People at Risk of Child Sexual Exploitation
Practice Examples
