Schools

SCHOOLS.

It’s everyone’s responsibility

If you work or come into contact with young people in a school setting, whether in an employed or voluntary capacity, then you have a duty of care towards them.

It is your responsibility to make sure that you:

• Know and understand WHAT CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IS

• Recognise THE WARNING SIGNS

• Know who to contact and HOW TO REPORT CONCERNS

You can help to raise awareness among young people themselves about recognising the signs of CSE and helping them keep themselves safe.

Talk to them about healthy relationships and what they can do to help protect themselves, if they are in a difficult situation.

Act on it! Report it!

You are not alone. If you have any concerns that a child or young person you know may be a victim of child sexual exploitation, help is available.

  • Use your safeguarding policy and procedures – and remember, if you feel something’s not right, it probably isn’t.
  • Talk to your Designated Safeguarding Lead.
  • Complete the CSE Risk Factor Matrix together if you have concerns someone may be at risk of or experiencing child sexual exploitation
  • Listen to the child and if you have any concerns, do what is needed to help them.
  • If you consider the child to be at risk of harm through sexual exploitation, refer to First Response immediately on 0300 1313 126..

Can you help the child yourself?

  • If the child is at low risk, it may be too early to refer the case on. It may be that providing advice and guidance, or other early intervention to a child, young person and/or family to help them stay safe, is more appropriate.
  • With parental consent or the consent of the young person themselves, a single agency or group of agencies can do this via an Early Help Assessment (EHA) or with the help of your Local Support team (LST)
  • If you are in any doubt, or if a young person is at an immediate risk, you should refer the case to: First Response in Staffordshire on 0800 1313 126 or Safeguarding and Referral Team on 01782 235100 in Stoke on Trent, following consultation with your own Safeguarding Lead or designated person.
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If the child is at risk of harm or there are wider concerns:

  • Refer the case to First Response on 0800 1313 126 in Staffordshire or the Art
  • Refer the child to a multi-agency CSE Panel for support
  • Contact Staffordshire Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Sexual Consent and Young People

Someone consents only if they agree by choice and they have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.

Consent may be given to one type of sexual activity but not another.

Consent can be withdrawn at any time during sexual activity and each time activity occurs.

Sexual Consent and Young People

Young people do not understand consent.

Children do not understand that they should not send sexualised images or under what circumstances they can consent to sex.

The following educational videos can help with their understanding.

This video from Thames Valley Police explains consent in very simple terms

Copyright © 2015 RockStarDinosaurPiratePrincess.com and Blue Seat Studios.

This video shows how sexting can have a massive impact on people’s lives

Further Resources for Schools

This section includes a collection of teaching resources and downloads. Please note these links may take you out of this website.

Resources for schools

Share Aware Guide - a PDF guide produced to empower parents to keep their children safe online.

NetAware - a comprehensive guide for parents on over 50 of the top social networks, apps and games that young people use.

Talking to Your Child About Staying Safe Online - advice and tips from the NSPCC on how to have effective conversations with your children about an array of online topics, including cyberbullying, online porn, and sharing images and information.

Parental Controls - information on how parental controls can be used to help keep children safe online.

Teaching Materials

NSPCC Teaching Materials - Resources to support teachers to deliver online safety lessons to children aged 8-12.

Help for Young People

Online grooming - an advice page, looking at what online grooming is, how it happens, and what you can do to keep yourself safe.

Sexting - information on what sexting is, what the risks are, and what you can do if someone sends you a picture or asks for one.

Mobile phone safety - an advice page, focusing on how to use your phone safely. It covers what you should do if you are being bullied through your mobile or being pressured to share your phone number.

Online gaming - ChildLine content, giving advice on how to stay safe when gaming. It discusses voice chat, online bullying, and how to keep a record of abusive messages.

A collection of CSE Videos

Here are some useful video resources for professionals.

Matt Thought He Knew - Online Grooming

Get confident in spotting the signs of CSE - Remember S.A.F.E.G.U.A.R.D

Consequences - This is what targeting and grooming looks like

Lucy and the Boy - short animated video for young people highlighting the risks of sharing personal information with strangers online

I Saw Your Willy - short video for young people that shows the dangers of sharing private images and how quickly such pictures can spread.