Review: Children and Young People Whose Behaviour is Sexually Concerning or Harmful

Jackie Bateman and Judith Milner

Jessica Kingsley Publishers

ISBN: 978-1-84905-361-7

£22.99

168 pages

Around one-third of all sexual abuse of children and young people in the UK is perpetrated by other children and young people, with figures obtained by the NSPCC in 2014 showing that 8,000 under-18s were accused of sexual offences against other children in the past two years.

This is a solution-focused resource aimed at practitioners and anchored in the territory of strengths-based models and their practical application. The book opens with "myths, realities and possibilities" which sets out the context of harmful sexual behaviour work in the UK.

The authors point out the UK government has not had an adequate policy response over the last two decades, despite the 1992 seminal National Children Homes report that highlighted this challenge and acted as a clarion call to government to develop an integrated response to the problem.

There has been progress on understanding the aetiology and nature of harmful sexual behaviour; that these children and young people are in need of work to help them understand and take responsibility for their actions, and sometimes in need of protection themselves. This book is a pragmatic support resource allowing the reader to learn, consolidate and build confidence through using the practice activities and case studies, and rehearsing responses. It is aimed at those who work directly with children and young people who demonstrate sexually concerning or harmful behaviour and, more importantly, does not overwhelm or detract the reader with unnecessary jargon.

Bateman and Milner promote effective assessment as the key to ensuring that sexually concerning cases enter the right part of the system. The need to holistically gather information about the alleged sexual events as well as the strengths, skills and resources of the family to support and protect is fundamental to better outcomes.

The book expounds the need to understand the wider context in which the behaviour occurs and, also with younger children and those with learning difficulties, the drivers behind why these behaviours are being manifest and suggestions for a range of developmentally appropriate responses. Working in educational settings gets a mention and demonstrates that, when done well, it can reduce the isolation and anxieties that are commonly felt in decision making for this group of children.

It is instructive to see the benefit of involving families and carers and promoting their role in safety planning. Harmful sexual behaviour is a complex problem that carries with it immense stigma for children and their families. We continue to need a balanced approach to this issue that recognises both the risks and needs of children presenting with harmful sexual behaviours, such an approach exemplified and championed by this practical book.

Reviewed by Pat Branigan, development manager, sexual abuse strategy and development, NSPCC