Peer abuse
Children, particularly but not exclusively those living away from home, are also vulnerable to physical, sexual and emotional bullying and abuse by their peers. Such abuse should always be taken as seriously as abuse perpertrated by an adult. Whenever a child may have harmed another, all agencies must be aware of their responsibilities to both children and multi-agency management of both cases must reflect this. Agencies should also be alert to the possibility that a child or young person who has harmed another may well also be a victim. However, the interests of the identified victim must always be paramount consideration and professionals should also be alert to the fact that there is likely to be a risk to children other than the current victim. A significant proportion of sex offences are committed by teenagers although, on occasion, such offences are committed by younger children. Staff working with children, including carers of children living away from home need clear guidance and training to identify the difference between consenting and abusive, and between appropriate and exploitative peer relationships. Staff should not dismiss some abusive sexual behaviour as 'normal' between young people, and should not develop high thresholds before taking action.
Work with children and young people who abuse others, including those who sexually abuse/ offend, should recognise that such children are likely to have considerable needs themselves, and that they may posr a significant risk of harm to other children. Evidence suggests that children who abuse others may have suffered considerable disruption in theor lives, been exposed to violence within the family, may have witnessed or been subject to physical or sexual abuse, have problems in their educational development and may have committed other offences. Such children and young people are likely to be children in need, and some will, in addition, be suffering, or at risk of suffering, significant harm, and may themselves be in need of protection. Children and young peoplewho abuse others should be held responsible for their abusive behaviour, while being identified and responded to in a way that meets their needs as well as protecting others.
Three key priciples should guide work with children and young people who abuse others:
* there should be a co-ordinated multi- agency approach including youth justice (where appropriate), children's services, education (including educational psychology) and health (including child and adolescent mental health) agencies and police;
* the needs of the children and young people who abuse others should be considered seperately from the needs of their victims; and
* a multi-agency assessment should be carried out in each case, appreciating that these children may have considerable unmet developmental needs, as well as specific needs arising from their behaviour.
In assessing a child or young person who abuses another, relevant considerations include:
* the nature and extent of the abusive behaviours. In respect of sexual abuse, there are sometimes perceived to be difficulties in distinguishing between normal childhood sexual development and experimentation, and sexually inappropriate or aggressive behaviour. Expert professional judgement may be required, within the context of knowledge about normal child sexuality;
* the context of the abusive behaviours;
* the child's development, and family and social circumstances;
* needs for services, specifically focusing on the child's harmful behaviour as well as other significant needs; and
* the risk to self and others, including other children in the household, extended family, school, peer group or wider social network. This risk is likely to be present unless the opportunity for futher abuse is ended, the young person has acknowlwdged the abusive behaviour and accepted responsibility and there is agreement by the young abuser and his/her family to work with relevant agencies to address the problem.
Decisions for local agencies ( including the Crown Prosecution Service where relevant) according to the responsibilities of each include:
* the most appropriate course of action within the youth justice system if the child is above the age of criminal responsibility;
* whether the young person who perpatrated the abuse should be the subject of a child protection conference; and
* what plan of action should be put in place to address the needs of the young abuser, detailing the involvement of all relevant agencies.
A young abuser should be the subject of a child protection conference if he or she is considered personally to be at risk of continuing significant harm. Where there is no reason to hold a child protection conference there is likely to be a need for a multi-agency approach if the young abuser's needs are complex. Issues regarding suitable educational and accommodation arrangements often require skilled and careful consideration.
Children with inappropriate sexual or very violent behaviour who are re-entering the community following a custodial sentance or time in secure accommodation, or who move into an area from another local authority, require the multi-agency response ( assessment/ intervention) initiated at the earliest opportunity. Where a child who has been convicted of sexual offences involving the abuse of other children is released into the community, the MAPPA must be invoked.
This information has been taken from Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010.
