Harmful sexual behaviour by children and young people: Expert Group report

Annex I: Interventions for Vulnerable Youth (IVY)

Interventions for Vulnerable Youth (IVY) is a national tertiary service based at the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice. IVY provides advice on those young people aged 12-18 who present a significant risk of harm to others by any sort of behaviour, including sexual behaviour.

From the 184 young people referred to IVY (displaying a variety of different behaviours, needs and risks), 45% have exhibited some form of sexual harmful behaviour; either contact, non-contact or both.

The young people referred to IVY have been assessed as presenting a risk to others and are some of the most high risk young people in Scotland.

This therefore is not a reflection on the potential issue of HSB across the board, but shows that for the young people who present the highest risk, HSB can be a common feature.

Table: Harmful Sexual Behaviour present in notes of young people referred to IVY

Between September 2013 and January 2019, a total of 115 young people were referred to the IVY Project with documented concerns regarding HSB (56.1% of all IVY Project referrals). From these 115 young people, 89 had documented concerns about contact HSB and 87 young people have documented concerns about non-contact HSB. Within these groups, there are 64 young people who presented with both contact and non-contact HSB.

At least 71% of the children supported by IVY were looked after children, with around 61% having experienced domestic violence.

A high number had had previously undiagnosed learning difficulties.

Referrals have been taken from 31 of the 32 local authority areas and the majority of referrals (73%) were from social work services.

To make a referral to IVY, download a referral and consent form at https://www.kibble.org/services/interventions-for-vulnerable-youth-ivy-project/. For further information or to discuss a potential referral please contact CYCJ on 0141 444 8622 or email ivy-admin@strath.ac.uk.