National action plan to tackle child sexual exploitation: progress report 2017-2018

1. Develop a set of indicators to measure progress towards achieving the outcomes in this plan.

Outcomes have been agreed to monitor progress in the short term. The National CSE Group will undertake a mapping of evidence against these outcomes from which indicators will be developed.

CSE indicators will be developed that will help demonstrate the National Action Plan is being implemented.

In progress

2. Develop an approach to involving children and young people in developing and reviewing the actions in this plan and shaping future national policy on child sexual exploitation.

This action will be taken forward through the Child Protection Improvement Programme.

The meaningful involvement of children and young people to strengthen CSE policy is being taken forward through Children in Scotland.

In progress

3. Train a further 1,860 young mentors to develop the skills to identify abusive and violent behaviours and develop safe options to support and challenge their peers.

The Mentors for Violence Programme ( MVP) is now being delivered in 19 local authorities. Training and support continues.

Increased awareness and confidence among children and young people around identifying abusive and violent behaviours.

Completed

4. Expand the national sexual violence prevention programme in secondary schools across Scotland.

Rape Crisis Scotland deliver workshops in secondary schools and youth groups across Scotland; providing direct support to young people.

The national sexual violence prevention programme in secondary schools across Scotland has been expanded.

Completed

5. Consider how the Sidestep peer mentoring and community engagement approach can support young people at risk or affected by sexual exploitation and their families.

The proposed pilot specifically utilising the sidestep peer mentoring programme and community engagement approach to support young people at risk or affected by sexual exploitation has been delayed.

Increased support for children and young people.

In progress

6. Support schools, colleges and education services in undertaking their safeguarding responsibilities.

Issues related to CSE are highlighted through inspection and review approaches. Self- valuation is used to support improvement.

Online information for practitioners related to CSE have been developed for the Education Scotland National Improvement Hub ( NIH).

Improved awareness of CSE issues amongst schools, colleges and education services through inspection and review activities and practitioner resources.

Completed

7. Deliver regional safeguarding events for education staff to share learning and best practice.

Two events took place in January 2018 in Glasgow and Dundee. 21 out of 32 Local Authorities were represented.

Increased awareness and understanding of risks associated with young people missing from school amongst child protection coordinators from 21 education authorities.

Completed

8. Ensure that all practitioners and agencies use the same definition of child sexual exploitation to facilitate joint risk assessments and effective multi-agency responses.

A revised definition of CSE for Scotland was published in October 2016. http://www.gov.scot/publications/child-sexual-exploitation-definition-practitioner-briefing-paper/

A shared definition of child sexual exploitation is increasingly being utilised across partners and contributes to an improved response to this issue.

Completed

9. Develop a framework for Child Protection Committees to facilitate a consistent and collaborative approach to identifying and responding to child sexual exploitation across Scotland.

The National CSE group has developed a Core Components Checklist for Child Protection Committees.

Improved local responses to child sexual exploitation though learning from self-evaluation activity.

Completed

10. Develop guidance for practitioners and agencies to support the identification and assessment of child sexual exploitation.

Evaluation work has highlighted that CSE guidance is already in place across the country and further guidance is not required.

The National CSE Group will consider work to support consistency and encourage continuous learning and improvement.

Improved consistency across Scotland in identifying and assessing CSE.

In progress

11. Deliver child sexual exploitation regional workshops for practitioners to share learning and best practice.

Nine child sexual exploitation regional workshops took place between March and May 2017. And an evaluation has been undertaken.

Child Protection Committees continuously improve their local responses to child sexual exploitation by learning from each other and from national developments.

Completed

12. Deliver 150 community events across Scotland to support local areas raise public and practitioner awareness of child sexual exploitation.

Since March 2017, multi-agency training, single agency training and specific training for night time economy staff has taken place. 1034 individuals have attended 45 events.

Public and practitioner awareness of child sexual exploitation has been raised, particularly in relation to young people with additional support needs and boys and young men.

In progress

13. Develop the new community justice self-evaluation framework to cross-reference adult and child protection arrangements, including the response to child sexual exploitation, to support Community Planning Partnerships in evaluating the effectiveness of their response.

"A guide to self-evaluation for community justice in Scotland" published November 2016.

Quality indicator 5.2 "Assessing and responding to risk and need" makes reference to children and adult protection, including explicit mention of sexual exploitation.

The focus on child sexual exploitation as part of self-evaluation activity for partners across the Community Planning Partnership has helped improve multi-agency responses to child sexual exploitation locally.

Complete

14. Deliver training sessions to raise awareness of the links between child sexual exploitation and radicalisation.

Roshni are no longer in operation.

The National CSE Group will consider how it can help implement this action at a local level through child protection committees.

Practitioners across agencies are supported to understand the links between child sexual exploitation and radicalisation and this contributes to improved recognition and early intervention with individuals at risk.

In progress

15. Agree a template to capture information about child sexual exploitation and implement across Scotland to improve consistency of information collection.

This action is being progressed under the wider Data and Evidence work stream of the Child Protection Improvement Programme ( CPIP).

A shared dataset is being developed for vulnerable children and young people, that will include indicators of CSE.

Our understanding of the scale and nature of child sexual exploitation in Scotland will be improved by consistent information collection.

In progress

16. Pilot, evaluate and roll out a child sexual exploitation and abuse intelligence sharing toolkit to strengthen the multi-agency response to prevention, disruption and detection.

The Partners Intelligence Toolkit has been developed and piloted. It is now being rolled out to Dundee and Aberdeen.

Police Scotland will be able to deploy resources and improve response to child sexual exploitation through having an effective tool to capture intelligence.

In progress

17. Develop a coordinated evidence base in which existing and emerging information and research is consolidated and gaps identified.

A Data and Evidence Review was conducted in 2016 as part of phase one of the CPIP.

Scottish Government will consider options for research to improve our knowledge of the scale, nature and prevalence of CSA in Scotland.

Child protection partners will have an improved understanding of child sexual exploitation through the dissemination of emerging information and research.

In progress

18. Develop guidance for medical practitioners on child sexual exploitation for inclusion in national child protection guidance for health professionals in Scotland.

Guidance was developed and published on 31 March 2017 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/03/3288

There is improved consistency of response to child sexual exploitation amongst medical practitioners who feel supported in understanding their role and responsibilities.

Completed

19. Identify action at national level to support local areas raise awareness of child sexual exploitation with night-time economy workers.

Night watch materials for Scotland have been developed by Barnardo's Scotland. https://www.celcis.org/knowledge-bank/search-bank/nightwatch-cse-materials/

A guide to assist local areas promote awareness of CSE for the night time economy will be developed.

Local areas have improved guidance available to support activity with night-time economy workers.

In progress

20. Evaluate the impact of the national awareness raising campaign and work with partners and key stakeholders to extend its reach.

An evaluation of the national awareness campaign has been completed.

Learning from the evaluation of this campaign has been used to inform future awareness raising activity at national level.

Completed

21. Raise awareness and understanding of child sexual abuse with sports clubs, churches and faith organisations, residential care homes for children and young people, LGBT communities and organisations supporting children with disabilities.

Stop it Now! Scotland will test their web based primary prevention toolkit with specified targeted communities/agencies in Scotland, to develop an evidence-based approach to preventing child sexual abuse that supports learning about primary prevention approaches and informs future planning for delivery. This year, key stakeholders have been fully involved in the design and development of the new website which will be tested later in 2018.

Sports clubs, churches and faith organisations, residential care homes for children and young people, LGBT communities and organisations supporting children with disabilities are more aware and have an increased understanding of child sexual abuse

In progress

22. Reform the system of civil orders available to protect communities from those who may commit sexual offences.

Sections 10 to 40 of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016 introduce new preventative orders in Scotland, namely Sexual Harm Prevention Orders ( SPOs) and Sexual Risk Orders ( SROs). SROs will replace Risk of Sexual Harm Orders ( RSHOs). Work in relation to the commencement of the new preventative orders is underway.

Greater legislative options will be available in order to improve protection.

In progress

23. Ensure that return interviews are undertaken in all cases where a child or young people has been missing to help identify abuse.

The publication of the National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland in May 2017 emphasised the need for return discussions to take place for all those who return from missing and current mapping following the publication of the Framework is taking place.

Improved quality and consistency of return discussions will help prevent repeat episodes of missing and therefore minimise risk of harm.

In progress

24. Ensure that relevant training for practitioners highlights the links between going missing and vulnerability to abuse.

Missing People, Shelter Scotland and Barnardo's Scotland have developed training for roll-out in 2018 and part of the training includes risks and vulnerability with sexual exploitation included.

Practitioners who attend this training will have an increased understanding of the links between going missing and vulnerability to abuse.

Completed

25. Ensure that prevention planning for going missing takes place for vulnerable individuals and groups.

The National Missing Persons Framework aims to prevent people from going missing and prevention planning for vulnerable individuals is an important step in prevention for vulnerable groups.

Pilot protocols building on care plans to include relevant information for vulnerable individuals have been run and are being evaluated.

Effective prevention planning for individuals will minimise risk of harm.

In progress

26. Market the Runaway and Say Something helpline services directly to young people in Scotland to ensure that more children and young people are supported when they are thinking of going missing or need help to stay safe.

New publicity partnerships have been developed and marketing strategies deployed. There has also been testing of system to ensure Missing People are ready to respond immediately to any child alerts

A number of children and young people have been reached: 75 contacts with Runaway helpline, helping some to reconnect; 138 textsafe messages sent to under 18s; 1 child involved in publicity campaign to reconnect; Child Rescue Alert sign-ups are slightly increasing; 1201 children have benefitted from the activities of Missing People through the funding.

More children and young people are safe through the Runaway and Say Something helpline services.

In progress

27. Pilot a protocol for looked after children who go missing from residential and foster care with a view to rolling out nationally.

The pilot protocol has been run in three different locations, for children in care: Edinburgh, South Lanarkshire and Dundee.

The evaluation of this Police Scotland pilot protocol has commenced.

Learning from the evaluation of this pilot will help inform an improved response to looked after children who go missing.

In progress

28. Support all care services for looked after and accommodated children inspected address any issues in identifying and supporting vulnerable children and young people who may be at risk of, or affected by, sexual exploitation.

The Care Inspectorate collated information as part of an inspection focus area from registered services for children and young people.

Care staff have increased awareness in relation to CSE where we identified improvements could be made recommendations and requirements were made during our scrutiny activity.

In progress

29. Consider further action to provide better protection for children and young people with learning disabilities and support them develop an understanding of relationships and risk

Guidance has been developed and rolled out locally.

http://www.bild.org.uk/resources/cse-and-ld/

Young people with learning disabilities are kept safer through the use of specialised guidance and other resources which are in place to support this type of direct work.

Completed

30. Ensure that more children and young people at risk of or affected by sexual exploitation and other forms of sexual abuse are identified early and receive appropriate support.

Scottish Government is providing funding (from April 2016) through the Children and Young People Early Intervention Fund to a number of organisations who offer advice and support to children and young people who may be at risk of or experiencing child sexual abuse.

These include Barnardo's Scotland (£300,000 per year), ChildLine in Scotland (£198,000 per year) and the Moira Anderson Foundation (£25,000 per year)

There is an increasing number of counselling sessions available for children and young people who contact ChildLine.

There are increased opportunities for children and young people to contact ChildLine.

There is an increased number of children and young people who can access timely support through improved technology, including website improvements.

In progress

31. Develop a skills and knowledge framework for those working with adults and children and young people affected by trauma and abuse to help practitioners identify the risk of abuse and respond to keep people safe.

1. The National Trauma Training Framework was published in May 2017: http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/education-and-training/by-discipline/psychology/multiprofessional-psychology/national-trauma-training-framework.aspx

Practitioners working in the statutory and voluntary sectors are more equipped with the knowledge and skills to be able to identify risk of abuse and be able to respond in a way which will enable positive outcomes for survivors of abuse and trauma.

Completed

32. Develop a national training plan for those working with children and young people and adults affected by trauma and abuse to inform and prioritise commissioning of services.

A National Training Plan is being developed.

Practitioners working in the statutory and voluntary sectors are more equipped with the knowledge and skills to be able to identify risk of abuse and be able to respond in a way which will enable positive outcomes for survivors of abuse and trauma.

In progress

33. Develop a programme to support implementation of the trauma and abuse skills and knowledge framework and training plan.

A programme to support implementation of the training strategy will be developed by March 2019

Practitioners working in the statutory and voluntary sectors are more equipped with the knowledge and skills to be able to identify risk of abuse and be able to respond in a way which will enable positive outcomes for survivors of abuse and trauma.

Not yet due to commence

34. Report on emerging themes in relation to child sexual exploitation from inspections in the last 12-18 months to inform service planning and delivery.

In August 2016, the Care Inspectorate published findings from a number of inspections highlighting local responses to prevent and reduce child sexual exploitation.

http://www.careinspectorate.com/images/documents/3354/Review_of_findings_of_joint_inspections_children_and_young_people_2014-16.pdf

Learning from joint inspections in relation to CSE has been shared to support continuous improvement.

Completed

35. Publish Scotland's first Human Trafficking and Exploitation strategy.

The Human Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy was published on 30 May 2017.

http://www.gov.scot/publications/trafficking-exploitation-strategy/

Sustained and collaborative effort is taken to support victim recovery, assist with reintegration and continue to address the conditions that foster child trafficking and exploitation.

Completed

36. Agree the future direction of online safety work in Scotland.

A refresh of the Scottish Governments National Action Plan on Internet Safety for Children and Young People was published on 21 April 2017 http://www.gov.scot/publications/national-action-plan-internet-safety-children-young-people/

Action is being taken to ensure that children and young people are protected online.

Completed

37. Develop a programme of change to improve how evidence is taken from children and vulnerable witnesses.

Following publication of the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service's Evidence and Procedure Review – Joint Investigative Interviews Workstream Report in June 2017, a wide range of work to support the recommendations has been underway, including:

A multiagency group is researching and developing a training programme for JIIs suitable for both police officers and social workers. This will be accompanied by statutory guidance.

Police Scotland have recently invested approximately £300,000 on new IT and video recording equipment and are currently reviewing what additional investment is required to ensure the new equipment is fit for purpose.

The Scottish Government have consulted on pre-recording of evidence for children and other vulnerable witnesses and are exploring how the concept of Barnahus may be adapted to suit a Scottish context.

The Scottish Government also plan to introduce a Vulnerable Witnesses and Pre-recorded Evidence Bill which will remove legislative barriers to the greater use of pre-recorded evidence for child and vulnerable adult witnesses.

The quality of Joint Investigative Interviews ( JIIs) will be improved and this will contribute towards increasing their use as evidence in chief and reducing the need for children to attend court.

These changes will help move our criminal justice system much closer to achieving our vision that children, wherever possible, should not have to give evidence in court during a criminal trial.

In progress

38. Pilot and evaluate the Stop to Listen approach to supporting children and young people disclose sexual abuse and supporting practitioners to act in a child-centred way.

Four local authority areas are involved in this national pathfinder - Glasgow, North Ayrshire, Perth & Kinross and Renfrewshire.

Each has developed and implemented a project plan focusing on an identified area for change in relation to local response to child sexual abuse and exploitation. Children 1st are supporting this pathfinder and have a Development Manager in post to oversee and support this work.

A National Steering Group is in place and mechanisms to share learning across the four sites.

Children and young people affected by child sexual abuse and exploitation are effectively supported.

In progress

39. Share best practice in supporting child victims and witnesses of violence from across Europe with Child Protection Committees.

Children 1 ^st continue to attend the PROMISE Learning Exchange study visits and facilitated a visit to the Barnahus Iceland by the then Minister for Childcare and Early Years and the Justice Secretary.

This was also attended by Senior Social Work and Police Scotland staff thereby ensuring a direct link to Child Protection Committees Scotland.

National and local government have a better understanding on the shortcoming of the current approach and the need to improve the multi-disciplinary support to children and young people within Scotland's systems and processes.

In progress

40. Provide training and accreditation for staff preparing and prosecuting sexual offences cases.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have a system of accreditation for all Case Preparers, Solemn Legal Managers and Indicters engaged in work involving Sexual Offences Work.

Staff are better informed and provide an improved response.

In progress

41. Use the findings of the evaluation of the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit to inform future development.

The evaluation is complete and an abridged report containing 8 recommendations, 6 of which have been completed.

Work will now be undertaken to develop mechanisms to share learning and expertise.

Evaluation work is used to inform continuous improvement.

In progress

42. Improve practice to better support young people who may be at risk of or involved in offending.

Implementation of youth justice priorities including practice development is supported by the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice ( CYCJ) who are funded by the Scottish Government.

CYCJ's work plan includes a priority to support practice development to prevent sexual offending (including internet offending) involving children and young people. This will include work with partners to improve risk management and develop practice through evidence based approaches.

An expert group has been established to bring together expertise from across Justice, Education and health to prevent and respond to sexual crime involving young people in Scotland.

Young people at risk of or involved in sexual offending are supported to change their behaviour.

In progress

43. Ensure child sexual offences committed in the rest of the UK can be prosecuted in Scotland.

This is a provision in the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016. The Provision came into effect on 24 April 2017.

Legislation in Scotland has been amended to improve our response to those who perpetrate offences against children.

Completed

44. Strengthen links with Equally Safe to ensure alignment with action to prevent and tackle child sexual exploitation.

A number of member organisations on the National CSE Group were involved in work to develop the Equally Safe strategy and delivery plan.

Appropriate Information sharing and joint planning is facilitated by the strengthened link between the National CSE Group and the Equally Safe Group.

In progress