Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Knowledge, Confidence and Training within a Contemporary UK Social Work Practice and Policy Context

• Josephine Kwhali et al
• British Journal of Social Work, 46, (2016)

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.

This paper reports on the implications of a study commissioned by the NSPCC to explore social workers' confidence and understanding of child sexual abuse (CSA) and child sexual exploitation (CSE) in particular. It discusses:

• Practice issues in relation to social workers' knowledge and confidence in working with children and young people who have been sexually abused or exploited.
• Effective support, supervision and training for social workers working with CSA/CSE.

Research and key findings

Focus groups and interviews were conducted with frontline practitioners and managers in various teams in six local authorities in England. The size and nature of these varied in terms of region, size and rates of reported cases of CSA.

Practice issues and confidence

Some participants considered themselves to have considerable experience and knowledge of CSA work, while others less so. Social workers' experiences of CSA were primarily acquired through the assessment or management of cases of intra-familial sexual abuse. Procedures and guidance in this area were well developed.

Social workers were less confident in working with cases that involved grooming, trafficking, internet abuse and other types of exploitative behaviour, and where multi-agency responses were required. They highlighted 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.

Participants expressed uncertainty around their role in partnership working. In particular, they lacked clarity regarding their role in supporting children and other family members during police investigations. They expressed concern about the potential delays for children accessing therapeutic interventions during this process. Managers and social workers were also concerned about the reliance on the voluntary sector for direct post-disclosure therapeutic work with sexually abused children and the sustainability of these services.

Supervision and training

Social workers discussed the complexity of their role and of the multifaceted issues that informed their work with sexually abused children. In addition to the knowledge and skills required to manage the investigative process, they identified the importance of being able to assess risk and understand the different forms of sexual abuse and their impact on children.

Working with children who have been sexually abused and their carers can be complex and potentially traumatising for practitioners. Participants identified the need for practitioners to have sufficient time for preparation and reflection when working with CSA/CSE cases, but noted that this was rarely available. They also highlighted the need for effective support and supervision to help them in their work with children and young people post disclosure.

Training relating to CSA/CSE was generally evident for those working in two teams: duty and assessment, and child protection/children in need. However, this was often not the case for social workers in leaving care, fostering and adoption, family support and disability teams. Participants commented on there being no standard route or timescale in which children disclose abuse. In addition, grooming may be a specific risk factor in residential and leaving care settings, with all child care workers needing to be alert to the signs of abuse and have skills in working with children and young people post disclosure.

Participants did not feel that their post-qualifying training fully prepared them for working with CSA/CSE cases. They highlighted the skills required to manage the investigative process as well as assess risk and understand the different forms of sexual abuse and their impact on children. They highlighted the need for further training on risk assessments, direct work, grooming, different forms of abuse, children's behaviours relating to CSA and the use of tools. In addition, they identified a need for training to cover the healthy development of children, particularly relating to sexual development, so that their practice is not viewed only through the prism of abnormality.

 Implications for practice

• Training on CSA/CSE should be made available to all frontline social workers and family support workers. This should cover risk assessment, different forms of abuse and their impact on children and young people, healthy sexual development and therapeutic approaches to recovery.
• Social workers should have sufficient time for preparation and reflection when working with children who have been sexually abused. They also need time to develop trusting relationships with children and to support their welfare in the longer-term.
• Clear guidance is needed around roles and responsibilities to ensure effective multi-agency working. This is especially important where there is a police investigation and where therapeutic interventions may be delayed until criminal proceedings have been completed.

The research section for this special report is based on a selection of academic studies which have been explored and summarised by Research in Practice, part of the Dartington Hall Trust.