What is Time to Listen
The report ‘Time to Listen’ summarises the findings of five Joint Target Area
Inspections (JTAI) carried out between February and August 2016. The
report considers the strategies and responses of inspected local authorities to
tackle child sexual exploitation (CSE) and missing children. In later iterations of the
inspection framework, the definition was broadened to cover all aspects of child
exploitation. Read the full report on the first five inspections.
The report focused on three key areas:
Understanding — having strategies and training in place regarding CSE and
applying these across multiple services; and raising awareness of indicators
and risks of CSE amongst services, young people and communities.
Collaboration — sharing information across local area services and agencies
and encouraging effective joint working; encouraging engagement between
frontline workers, young people and their families to build relationships.
Leadership — oversight from managers and leaders is crucial in providing
good frontline practice.
Whilst findings were positive in many areas, the report notes examples of poor
responses to CSE as result of: lack of understanding of why children go missing;
absence of training regarding CSE; lack of oversight of frontline work by
Management; and significant delays in assessments and reporting of incidents.
What were the findings in relation to understanding
The report emphasises that basic child-protection processes need to be followed
across agencies, risks should be prioritised to improve focus, and wider
circumstances need to be considered. The report notes multiple areas where single
and multi-agency practice needs to be improved. Health services and health
practitioners were not easily accessible to young people, and were not identifying
signs of risk when evident. Police responses also varied widely in regards to children
going missing—inconsistent risk assessment and a lack of return home interviews
means signs are not understood.
More positively, local authorities are using a variety of innovative campaigns to raise
awareness and safeguard children and young people at risk of CSE. Schools have
been essential in helping to deliver these. Campaigns have been particularly
effective when involving young people or local community groups, such as ethnic
minority groups, in developing the material used, and where local patterns of risk
were already recognised.
What were the findings in relation to collaboration
The starting point for local areas in tackling CSE is developing an accurate map of
risk in their locality. In areas that were effective, information sharing between the
local authority, schools, youth offending teams and police allowed prevention work to
be targeted. This was most effective when dedicated staff were involved in managing
and mapping the information provided, which was then shared across agencies to
analyse the wider context of concerns.
Identification of children and young people at risk relied on having easy access to
frontline services — health practitioners and sexual health services available at
schools and youth centres were seen as good examples of this. CSE also needs to be
understood in a wider context of vulnerability, and effective local authorities
demonstrated a shared understanding that patterns of offending can alter over time.
Where risk assessments are effective, the models are well understood by partners
and the assessments themselves are well-informed by agencies.
Practice is effective where practitioners build positive relationships with young people
and their families/carers. Children feel listened to and respected when
engaged fully. Youth Offending Teams were particularly knowledgeable as to the
needs of young people. The report recommends that practitioners provide a sense of
control for the child over the support and intervention they receive, whilst not
overwhelming them with large amounts of professional contact, in order to build trust
and confidence.
What were the findings in relation to leadership
Quality of leadership was highlighted in the report, with an emphasis on getting leaders
involved at all levels. There has been improvement since inspections in 2014 in the
development of strategies to tackle child sexual exploitation. Strategic goals were
clearly identified across agencies and demonstrated commitment to improving
services, aided by elected members having received training on CSE.
To provide effective services on the ground, the report states leaders need: a good
understanding of the local profile of CSE; a good understanding and oversight of
frontline practice; and commitment to providing staff with necessary resources and
knowledge to engage with children effectively.
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