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Unprotected, overprotected: meeting the needs of young people with learning disabilities who experience, or are at risk of, sexual exploitation: England briefing
- Authors:
- FRANKLIN Anita, RAWS Phil, SMEATON Emilie
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 8
- Place of publication:
- Ilford
One of four nation-specific briefings, this paper presents a summary of the key findings from the a UK-wide study on how to meet the needs of young people with learning disabilities who experience, or are at risk of, CSE. It highlights that young people with learning disabilities are vulnerable to CSE due to factors that include overprotection, social isolation and society refusing to view them as sexual beings. Lack of awareness among professionals also contributes to the children’s vulnerability while there are gaps in national policy and a lack of implementation of current guidance. The briefing sets out key recommendations for England, including: the development, revision and implementation of legislation, policy and guidance; ensuring multi-agency arrangements lead to an effective response to young people with learning disabilities who experience, or are at risk of, CSE; raising awareness among young people with learning disabilities and their parents and carers; and ensuring professionals, practitioners and volunteers are equipped to respond to young people with learning disabilities who experience, or are at risk of, CSE. (Edited publisher abstract)
Unprotected, overprotected: meeting the needs of young people with learning disabilities who experience, or are at risk of, sexual exploitation
- Authors:
- FRANKLIN Anita, RAWS Phil, SMEATON Emilie
- Publisher:
- Barnardo's
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 147
- Place of publication:
- Ilford
This exploratory research study aims to increase understanding of how to meet the needs of children and young people with learning disabilities who experience, or are at risk of, CSE. Specifically, the research undertook to: scope and detail current provision, including the scale of interventions for this group of children and young people; explore the views of practitioners, managers and local and national policymakers around practice, looking into both enablers of and barriers to good practice; understand the needs of this group of children and young people and gather their views on current practice; identify gaps in policy, provision, evidence and research; and generate evidence-based recommendations for future developments to meet these children and young people’s needs. The report reveals that significant numbers of children with learning disabilities are not being adequately protected from sexual exploitation because of the false perception that they do not need sex and relationships education or accessible information about how to keep safe online and in the community. The research also reveals that children with learning disabilities are not being adequately protected due to a worrying lack of specialist services and a failure to implement existing national and local policies. The report calls on the governments to ensure that accessible and relevant sex and relationship education is made available to children and young people with learning disabilities and highlights the need for more training for professionals and for services to work together to better prevent, identify and provide effective support for these children. Support for parents and raising awareness in the community is also crucial to making sure that children with learning disabilities are kept safe from sexual exploitation. (Edited publisher abstract)