Pan-London Child Sexual Exploitation Operating Protocol

1. Pan-LondonChild Sexual ExploitationOperating Protocol

2. Nasima Patel NSPCC Executive Director of Services For Children and Families on behalf of CSE multi-agency working group

3. Objectives of this presentation • The Pan London protocol • Definitions • Look at action if concerns are identified • What should other agencies be doing? • S.A.F.E.G.U.A.R.D. mnemonic • Be confident in your practice

4. Pan London CSE protocol This is the new improved working arrangement for all c/yp that are identified as being sexually exploited (CSE) or at risk of CSE across London. To be used by all professionals.

5. Governance • Metropolitan Police have adopted it - Pilots in two areas and other areas working to it. • Consultation with expected sign off by Dec 2013 by Pan London LSCB • Incorporated into revamped London LSCB guidance and procedures. • It will be THE multi-agency framework

6. Purpose of the Protocol • Clarify roles and responsibilities • Ensure common understanding of CSE • Clarify exact referral routes • Advice on meeting and info-sharing structure. • Detail role of MASH

7. Why a new protocol • Under identification is of real concern. • Ensure C&YP get the safeguarding response they need • Better Working Together arrangements • To build on current good practice • To support Met Police new pathways

8. The Key Principles • Sexually exploited children should be treated as victims • Recognition is critical • Overlaps with other vulnerabilities • Coercion, enticement, manipulation or desperation. • Range of behaviors and offences • Coordination and leadership are key

9. Key principles • Distinguishing challenge between own choices and the sexual activities they are coerced into • Law enforcement must direct resources against the coercers and sex abusers  • Sexually exploited children are children in need of services under the Children Act 1989 and 2004 • They are also in need of immediate protection • A Multi-agency network or planning meeting/discussion/process is central

10. The Definition Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where the young person (or third person/s) receive ‘something’ (eg, food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them performing, and/or another or others performing on them, sexual activities.

11. The Definition Continued Child sexual exploitation can occur through the use of technology without the child’s immediate recognition; for example being persuaded to post images on the internet/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common. Involvement in exploitative relationships is characterised by the child’s or young person’s limited availability of choice as a result of their social, economic or emotional vulnerability.

12. The Definition Continued A common feature of CSE is that the child or young person does not recognise the coercive nature of the relationship and does not see themselves as a victim of exploitation (Association of Chief Police Officers CSE Report – 2013)

13. CSE can affect many young people, vulnerability is the most clear identifying factor Push Pull Street life – dissociation from family and education ‘Safety’ of adults Gang activity Peers already involved Economic Criminal activity Blackmail • Neglect • Disruption • Violence • Sexual abuse • Substance misuse (parents) • Mental health (parents) • Gang association • Conflict • Over strict • Forced marriage • Care system • School not working • Loss and bereavement

14. SAFEGUARD MNEMOIC • S- exual health and behaviour concerns • A - bsent from school or repeatedly running away • F - amilial abuse and/or problems at home • E - motional and physical condition • G - angs, older age groups and involvement in crime • U - se of technology and sexual bullying • A - lcohol and drug misuse • R - eceipt of unexplained gifts or money • D - istrust of authority figures

15. There are many models of CSE, more will emerge, hybrid dynamic nature of these is key to understanding young people’s experience

16. Shared Risk Assessment Category 1: At Risk Indicators suggesting risk but often no clear ‘evidence’, just concern. Category 2: Risk is evident Evidence of targeting, concern about coercion, control. Indicators are clearer

17. Shared Risk Assessment Category 3 A child or young person whose sexual exploitation is habitual, often self denied and where coercion/ control is implicit

18. Referral pathways (non-police) • Ensure that as much detail as possible is gathered, including what warning signs are identified • The normal Social Care referral pathways should be followed • A risk assessment will be made by Social Care as to which category (London Procedures)

19. Referral Pathways (non-police) • Allocated Social Worker will risk assess • Allocated Social Worker will let MASH know • If no Social Worker, then MASH will pick, gather information from all agencies, risk assess and progress. • Feedback should be given and all decisions should be multi-agency

20. Referral pathways – Police • Officer conducts risk assessment • R.A.R.A ( Remove, avoid, reduce and accept) • High risk will go to sexual exploitation police team • If YP is low risk, will make CRIS report and forward to MASH for follow up • All CSEYP will have a CRIS report with CSE flag and a Merlin report • Combined with a focus on disruption, intelligence and contact with key agencies and partners

21. Multi-Agency Panels (MAP), Convened by the Lead Agency, often Children’s Services, as specified by the London Child Protection Procedures. This is for casework planning Cross borough meetings for those children that are placed out of borough should also be established where required The CSE lead in Children’s Services feeds trends into the Multi Agency Sexual Exploitation meeting. (MASE)

22. Multi-Agency Sexual Exploitation Meeting (MASE) • Each borough should establish a MASEmeeting • The MASE Meeting will co-ordinate the tactical responses • This is the meting that links the individual/operational to the strategic for intelligence and planning.

23. Multi-Agency Sexual Exploitation Meeting (MASE) • Named SPOC’s from each agency are expected to attend these meetings • Any intelligence should be fed through into the Police and LSCB by respective SPOCs • Meeting will maintain detailed overview of CSE case, trends, prevalence and patterns. • Linked to LSCB and Sexual exploitation Command

24. Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards Meeting (LSCB)Lead Agency - Children’s Services. • The CSE lead (SPOC) for each agency will report to the Children’s Services member on the LSCB • The LSCB should directly, or through a sub-group, establish a local strategy which includes a prevention strategy, measures for identifying outcomes for CSE and an agreed approach to obtain a data set of CSE cases across Children’s Services and other agencies.

25. Early findings Lewisham and Camden Lewisham and Camden More young people identified and receive a service. Still girls, not boys. First abduction notice. Different decisions about children Way to go • Training of oos of officers in CSE • More involvement of police in multi-agency work. • MASE meetings working. • Improved coordination • Enhanced understanding of peer issues

26. The beginning of real work The significant shift that is currently being made in CSE work is the shift from being a primarily a victim needs led response to a much more child protection response which includes support for victims, a priority to secure prosecutions using joint investigation approaches  within a  wider community safety agenda Multi-agency approaches and leadership at all levels from all agencies.

27. Thank You Nasima Patel NSPCC Executive Director of Services For Children and Families on behalf of CSE multi-agency working group