Child Sexual Exploitation Assessment



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GANG VIOLENCE AND EXPLOITATION (EGVE) OF YOUNG PEOPLE

RISK MEASUREMENT TOOL

In line with HMO (2017) County Lines Guidance

Guidance Notes

This is the first measurement tool to be used by phoenix Oldham in respect of the criminal exploitation of children and young people. The tool will be used to assist a much broader social work assessment of the child’s strengths, needs and vulnerability. The way in which this is applied and written up depends very much on the skills and approach taken by the social worker undertaking the assessment. The risk measurement tool should be used with all children who have been referred to Children’s Social Care where there are concerns about their risk of criminal exploitation.

Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults is a geographically widespread form of harm that is a typical feature of countylines activity. It is a harm which is relatively little known about or recognised by those best placed to spot its potential victims. Like other forms of abuse and exploitation, county lines exploitation:

• can affect any child or young person (male or female) under the age of 18 years;

• can affect any vulnerable adult over the age of 18 years;

• can still be exploitation even if the activity appears consensual;

• can involve force and/or enticement-based methods of compliance and is often accompanied by violence or threats of violence;

• can be perpetrated by individuals or groups, males or females, and young people or adults; and

• is typified by some form of power imbalance in favour of those perpetrating the exploitation.

Whilst age may be the most obvious, this power imbalance can also be due to a range of other factors including gender, cognitive ability, physical strength, status, and access to economic or other resources. One of the key factors found in most cases of county lines exploitation is the presence of some form of exchange (e.g. carrying drugs in return for something). Where it is the victim who is offered, promised or given something they need or want, the exchange can include both tangible (such as money, drugs or clothes) and intangible rewards (such as status, protection or perceived friendship or affection). It is important to remember the unequal power dynamic within which this exchange occurs and to remember that the receipt of something by a young person or vulnerable adult does not make them any less of a victim. It is also important to note that the prevention of something negative can also fulfil the requirement for exchange, for example a young person who engages in county lines activity to stop someone carrying out a threat to harm his/her family.

Risk/Vulnerability Factors

Scores from ten main categories plus a score for your professional judgement are added together to provide an overall risk score for that child. The first page provides a summary of the scores, demonstrating whether the risk to that child has increased or decreased since the last time an assessment was conducted. Discuss and record the wishes and feelings of the young person and record and reflect on the insight offered by partner agencies. Use all this information to help you complete the professional judgement section and provide an analysis of what all this tells you as a professional. Pay particular attention to the following risk indicators:

• Persistently going missing from school or home and / or being found out-of-area;

• Unexplained acquisition of money, clothes, or mobile phones

• Excessive receipt of texts /phone calls

• Relationships with controlling / older individuals or groups

• Leaving home / care without explanation

• Suspicion of physical assault /unexplained injuries

• Parental concerns

• Carrying weapons

• Significant decline in school results / performance

• Gang association or isolation from peers or social networks

• Self-harm or significant changes in emotional well-being

Consider these vulnerabilities when analysing your perception of the risk to an individual in the professional judgement section. Provide a score from 1 – 20 (20 being the highest risk) and carry this forward to the first page summary sheet. Adding the score from the 10 categories plus the score for professional judgement should give you a total score of between 0 - 60.

PHOENIX GANG VIOLENCE AND EXPLOITATION (EGVE) OF YOUNG PEOPLE MEASUREMENT TOOL

*** please read guidance notes before completing. Should be completed by a social worker – in consultation with young person and partners ***

|Young Person’s Information |

|Name | |D.O.B | |Telephone Number | |

|Address | |Date of Assessment | |Reason for Assessment | |

| | |Date of Referral |Assessment Completed by | |

|Indicator |Score | |Score |

|Episodes of missing from home/care | |6. Physical presentation/ suspected abuse | |

|Current education status | |7. Engagement with an appropriate service | |

|Misuse of substances | |8. Behavioural changes/ criminal behaviour | |

|Relationship with parent/ carer | |9. Association with risky peers/adults | |

|Accommodation | |10. Internet and Social Media use | |

|Sub Total | |Sub Total | |

|Total Assessment Score | |

|Professional Judgement Score: |Overall Score (Total from 10 categories plus Professional Judgement Score) |

|RAG Rating |

|High (41 – 60) | |Medium (21 – 40) |

|1. Missing from home/ care |Additional comments and observations |

|a |Has never been missing from home/ care |Score: 0 |

| |(Score 0) | |

|b |Stays out later than they should, but rarely goes missing | |

| |(Score 1) | |

|c |Occasionally goes missing, whether for short or prolonged periods of time | |

| |(Score 2) | |

|d |Frequently goes missing but usually for short periods of time and/ or found out of area. | |

| |(Score 3) | |

|e |Is persistently missing form home and/ or found out of area. | |

| |(Score 4) | |

|2. Current education or work situation |Additional comments and observations |

|a |Engages well with education or is in stable employment | Score: |

| |(Score 0) | |

|b |Is engaged with education/work but attendance or stability is a concern | |

| |(Score 1) | |

|c |Is on a reduced timetable or is persistently absent from education/work. Significant decline in behaviour and| |

| |serious decline in results/ performance. | |

| |(Score 2) | |

|d |Is excluded from education but shows an interest in finding a suitable place or is unemployed and actively | |

| |seeking employment. Prior to exclusion/ leaving school significant decline in behaviour and serious decline | |

| |in results/ performance. | |

| |(Score 3) | |

|e |Is excluded from education and shows no interest in finding a suitable place or is unemployed and not seeking| |

| |work however has access to money and days are largely unaccounted for. | |

| |(Score 4) | |

|3. Misuse of Substances |Additional comments and observations |

|a |No concerns |Score: 0 |

| |(Score 0) | |

|b |Some concerns about drugs or alcohol (or cigarettes with younger children) | |

| |(Score 1) | |

|c |Use of drugs or alcohol is concerning | |

| |(Score 2) | |

|d |Alcohol and/or drug dependency is suspected and young person regularly has access to substances. | |

| |(Score 3) | |

|e |Clear evidence of alcohol and/or drug dependency/ Suspicion that young person may be involved in the | |

| |distribution of substances. | |

| |(Score 4) | |

|4. Relationship with Parent/ Carer |Additional comments and observations |

|(NB: Please answer based on who the person resides with) | |

|a |Positive relationship with parent/carer with effective communication. Evidence of emotional warmth and |Score: |

| |stability in the home. Responds well to boundaries as age appropriate. | |

| |(Score 0) | |

|b |Relationship with parent/carer is generally positive. Boundaries are in place and the young person generally | |

| |abides to these. Young person is showing signs of age appropriate behaviours which at times can be difficult. | |

| |(Score 1) | |

|c |Relationship with parent/carer is strained or there has been a recent negative change in the quality of the | |

| |relationship. Young person can be seen to be withdrawn/ aggressive when in the home. | |

| |(Score 2) | |

|d |Historic abuse in the family (emotional, neglect, physical or sexual) OR negative communication with | |

| |parent/carer including not adhering to boundaries. History of poor mental health/ domestic violence/ criminal | |

| |activity within the family. | |

| |(Score 3) | |

|e |Ongoing abuse in the family OR poor communication, low warmth, attachment or trust. Parent/carer does not | |

| |implement age appropriate boundaries. Young person can present as angry/ aggressive/ withdrawn/ abusive | |

| |towards parents/ carers. Parents/ carers have significant concerns about change in young person’s demeanour/ | |

| |behaviour. | |

| |(Score 4) | |

|5. Accommodation |Additional comments and observations |

|a |Accommodation meets the child’s needs and is a stable place where they feel secure. Child lives with parents/ |Score: |

| |stable carers. | |

| |(Score 0) | |

|b |Accommodation is generally satisfactory but with some concerns about longer term stability. | |

| |(Score 1) | |

|c |Accommodation is unsuitable/ unstable/ unsatisfactory or placement has recently changed. | |

| |(Score 2) | |

|d |Young person is in care and the placement is very unstable/ there have been several recent placement changes. | |

| |(Score 3) | |

|e |Is homeless or in temporary accommodation. (Score 4) | |

|6. Physical appearance/ suspected abuse |Additional comments and observations |

|a |No concerns. Young person does not appear to have any physical injuries/ seems emotionally stable. |Score: |

| |(Score 0) | |

|b |Young person has not presented with any physical injuries however there has been a change in mood/ general | |

| |demeanour. | |

| |(Score 1) | |

|c |Young person has been assaulted/ received an injury in what seems to be an isolated incident. Young person can| |

| |be guarded about their appearance. | |

| |(Score 2) | |

|d |Young person has presented with unexplained injuries and appears to be reluctant to speak about how injuries | |

| |have been obtained. | |

| |(Score 3) | |

|e |Young person has been the victim of assaults and has presented with unexplained injuries. There is reason to | |

| |believe that there is a significant threat to the young person’s life. | |

| |(Score 4) | |

|7. Engagement with services |Additional comments and observations |

|a |Good engagement with all appropriate services |Score: |

| |(Score 0) | |

|b |Good engagement with a single service provider but less so with others | |

| |(Score 1) | |

|S |Some engagement with services, occasional contact | |

| |(Score 2) | |

|d |Contact with services is sporadic and/or inconsistent | |

| |(Score 3) | |

|e |Poor or no engagement with services | |

| |(Score 4) | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|8. Behavioural changes/ criminal behaviour |Additional comments and observations |

|a |No concerns in regards to behaviour changes. No recorded crimes/ convictions. |Score: |

| |(Score 0) | |

|b |Some changes in behaviour. Knowledge of other young people involved in anti-social behaviour however not | |

| |actively involved. | |

| |(Score 1) | |

|c |Young person is involved in anti-social behaviour and intelligence to suggest young person is involved in | |

| |criminal behaviours however nothing to substantiate this. | |

| |(Score 2) | |

|d |Young person is actively involved in anti-social/ criminal behaviour. | |

| |(Score 3) | |

|e |Young person is actively involved in criminal behaviours. Young person is known to be carrying weapons. | |

| |(Score 4) | |

|9. Association with risky peers/ adults |Additional comments and observations |

|a |No concerns |Score: |

| |(Score 0) | |

|b |Aware of local gang activity or similar risks but not actively involved | |

| |(Score 1) | |

|c |Socialises with vulnerable peers or peers who may pose a risk | |

| |(Score 2) | |

|d |In contact with adults who may pose a risk. Is spending time adults and is protective of these relationships.| |

| | | |

| |(Score 3) | |

|e |Regularly associates with risky adults/peers or is actively involved in gangs. Young person has relationships | |

| |with older controlling adults. | |

| |(Score 4) | |

|10. Internet and social media use |Additional comments and observations |

|a |Good awareness of online dangers, with suitable parental controls in place. No concerns in regards to mobile |Score: |

| |phone use. | |

| |(Score 0) | |

|b |Has links with or is friends with unknown people via social media/ internet | |

| |(Score 1) | |

|c |Involved in secretive/ unmonitored use of the internet, including via a mobile phone. Sometimes receives texts| |

| |or contact from unknown people. | |

| |(Score 2) | |

|d |Regularly receives a high number of phone calls/ texts and is secretive about phone. Has access to more than | |

| |one mobile phone. (Score 3) | |

|e |Has photographs/ videos on their social media which are gang related/ violence. Has access to a mobile phone | |

| |which has been provided to them from an unknown source. Is threatened/ threatening on social media. Receives a| |

| |high number of calls/ texts and will often leave the home following a call. | |

| |(Score 4) | |

|Wishes and feelings of child/ young person |

Involvement of other teams/ services/ organisations in completing this assessment

|Service |Comments (include contact details of the person with whom you consulted) |

|Children’s Social Care – |. |

|Children’s Social Care – | |

|GMP – Liz Tomlinson CMT | |

Professional Judgement (Score from 1 to 20 with 20 being the highest risk)

Use this section to provide an analysis of what the information you have from all agencies is telling you about the young person and their life. Highlight any concerns that have been raised which add to the young person’s vulnerability such as recent bereavement, domestic abuse, mental health issues, low self-esteem etc. If the child/young person has a diagnosed learning difficulty/disability then it is strongly advised that the score in this section is AT LEAST 10 POINTS as evidence shows that such children are particularly vulnerable to abuse.

Score:

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