Slides from the Promoting Respectful Relationships conference in Cardiff 12th November 2010 - See http://www.respectwales.org.uk

1. Young people who sexually abuse
others: an introductory session

2. Introduction to the Taith
Service
Taith is a partnership between
 Barnardo’s
 South Wales Police
 7 Local Authorities
 Hillside Secure Centre
 Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board
 Youth Justice Board

3. Introduction to the Taith
Service
The Service offers
 Assessment
 Longer-term programme work
 Consultation
 Direct work to parents/ carers
 Training
The Taith Service accepts referrals across Wales

4. Referral criteria
 Aged 8-17 years on referral o r
 Aged 18-21 years
 Displaying sexually harmful behaviour
 Ordinarily open to YOS/ SSD

5. Referrals
In 2009/10
 Taith worked with 128 young people
 For over half, yp had engaged in at least one incident
prior
to the referring behaviour
 7% referral rate on girls
 Average age on referral 13.5 years
 56% mainstream education, 20% PRU/ special school
 33% in LAC system
 30% have statement of special educational need

6. Referring behaviour
In 2009/10
 12% exposed genitals (incl exposure and
masturbation)
 43% sexually assaulted another
 28% raped/ attempted to rape (penetration of vagina,
anus
or mouth without consent)
 8% engaged in other penetrative behaviour (causing
another to penetrate him without consent/ digital or
objectile penetration)
 3% had downloaded indecent images of children
 5% other behaviours

7. Structure of assessment
 ERASOR Version 2.0 (Worling and Curwen, 2001)
 Range of questionnaires devpd by ASAP (Beckett et
al),
where appropriate
 SDQ (Goodman, 2005)
 TSCC (Briere, 1996)

8. The purpose of assessment
 Identify level of concern/ risks yp may represent
 Establish therapeutic needs
 Make recommendations for placement (where
appropriate)
 Make recommendations for risk management

9. Talking to young people
about sexually harmful
behaviour
 Acknowledgement of difficulty/ demonstrate empathy
etc
 Non judgemental
 Straightforward approach
 Clear on boundaries of confidentiality
 Create an expectation that they will discuss the
incident
with you
 Importance of language/ terminology used
 Questioning style

10.  16% of children aged under 16 years experienced
abuse in
childhood, 11% of which was contact abuse (11%
boys and
21% girls) (Cawson et al, 2000, published by NSPCC)
 Retrospective studies present a broad consensus that
25-
35% of all child sexual abuse is perpetrated by other
young

11.  Review of 25 studies into arrest and reconviction
rates
amongst adolescent sexual offenders found
recidivism
rates of between 1.7% and 19.6% over 1-10 year
periods
(Caldwell, 2002)
 30-50% of adult sex offenders reported that they
began to
abuse when they were children or adolescents
(Marshall

12. Own victimisation and other
behavioural issues
Taith 2009/10 N 128
 41% known or suspected to have been sexually
abused
 42% known or suspected to have been physically
abused
 61% known or suspected to have been emotionally
abused
 62% known or suspected to have been exposed to
domestic violence
 48% known or suspected as having been bullied by
others
 3% known or suspected as having been sexually
exploited

13. Own victimisation and other
behavioural issues
 18% young people reported as having known or
suspected
drug or alcohol issues
 18% young people have diagnosed or suspected
depression
 14% young people are known or suspected to engage
in
self harm
 62% involved in fighting/ aggression
 38% involved in bullying (of others)
 35% were identified as having damaged property

14. Areas that may be of
concern
 Social adequacy deficits
 Poor self regulation/ problem solving skills
 Specific thinking errors about young children and sex
 Poor empathy for victim of own behaviour/ victims of
sexual abuse (poor correlation with risk in adults)
 Hostile/ adversarial attitude towards girls
 Likely to misinterpret girls’ behaviour in sexualised
ways
 Pro criminal thinking

15. Some ideas on risk
management in school
setting
Forall young people
 Clear rules around privacy
 Clear guidelines around masturbation
 Clear rules around pornography and mobile phones
(internet and camera funcs)
 Clear policies on bullying (incl sexual/ homophobic)
 Awareness of safeguarding duties and procedures
 Promotion of healthy sexuality

16. Ourthoughts on challenging
inappropriate behaviour
 Directly challenge
 Challenge immediately where possible
 But with respect for sensitivities involved
 Do challenge ‘the small stuff’
 Be explicit
 Outline alternative appropriate behaviour

17. Ourthoughts on challenging
inappropriate behaviour
 Record behaviour clearly
 Discuss behaviour with appropriate colleagues
 Check out your own feelings – get support when
needed
 Report behaviour when necessary
 Inform young person and parents

18. Managing Risk- Processes
 Safety plans
 Child Protection Procedures
 Criminal Justice System – bail/ licence/ supervision
conditions
 MAPPA
 Sexual Offences Prevention Order

19. Contact us at
E mail
taith.service@barnardos.org.uk
Tel 01656 – 749235
www.barnardos.org.uk/taith