One Day Harmful Sexual Behaviour Training (13/03/2024)

Target Audience: Multi agency children and family practitioners

Following this training delegates will be able to:

• Work within Welsh Government Guidance and Procedures when identifying HSB,
• Provide proportionate responses to children who display HSB,
• Apply knowledge of risk and needs factors associated with HSB in practice,
• Identify and build on protective factors to prevent HSB escalating,
• Apply practice strategies when supporting children or families who deny or minimise HSB,
• Create workable safety plans to promote healthy child development while managing risk of HSB concerns.

Sexual violence is a profound violation of human dignity that can be deeply traumatising for victims, families and communities. While we do not expect children to behave in this way, Harmful Sexual Behaviour displayed by children under the age of 18 is a common form of sexual abuse (Radford 2011) and can be every bit as harmful to victims as Child Sexual Abuse perpetrated by adults.

However, children and young people represent a distinct population from adults who commit sexual offences, and pathways into – and out of – these behaviours are very different for children compared to adult populations.

A child developmental perspective foregrounds the fact that children who have harmed others often have vulnerabilities themselves. This training will give focus to the factors that influence Harmful Sexual Behaviour by children and young people.

It will provide an overview of approaches highlighted within Welsh Government Guidance and Procedures to ensure Harmful Sexual Behaviour is seen within a safeguarding context that extends to developmental awareness of the care, support and protection needs of all children involved.

This course is designed to meet the needs of professionals working with this group of children. The purpose is to support colleagues by enhancing their understanding of engagement, assessment, and recovery from HSB across all of its domains and equip them to identify and provide proportionate responses to meet the child’s needs in a family, online and community context.

This course aims to help professionals develop skills and techniques in assessing and working directly with children, young people, and families within the area Harmful Sexual Behaviour.

This course will use case studies, exercises, and discussion to help professionals to reflect on their practice as well as build confidence when working with children and young people where there are sexual concerns.