Workshop 3 - Paul O_Donnell Developing SAFE ACCOMMODATION - Priority Childcare

8/13/2019 Workshop 3 - Paul O_Donnell Developing SAFE ACCOMMODATION - Priority Childcare

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DEVELOPING SAFE

ACCOMODATION FOR THOSE

VULNERABLE OF SEXUAL

EXPLOITATION!

STRONGER TOGETHER

CONFERENCE!


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Providing Safe and Supported

Accommodation for Young People who arein the Care System and who are at Risk of,or Experiencing, Sexual Exploitation orTrafficking for Sexual Exploitation.

University of Bedfordshire andNSPCCJuly2011


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They said................


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No empirical studies have looked at thespecific issue of providing safe and supportedaccommodation for young people in care, butmore generally there is an absence ofsystematic comparison and evaluation ofdifferent models of practice. This is true bothin relation to the literature on sexualexploitation and research into the caresystem.


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The concept of safe care requires further

exploration young people value safety andare conscious of environments which makethem feel safe, but may find it difficult toarticulate what it means.At the same time,

identifying the place and type of care thatprovides this can involve a long and complexprocess.


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Frequent changes of care placement and

accommodation are emphasised in theresearch literature as being unhelpful toyoung people.


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Stability of relationships is even more

important than continuity of placement, andongoing support from an adult emerges as akey issue for young people who are in careand those who are sexually exploited.


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The provision of appropriate support for

carers, including training, access to supportfrom social care, mental health, educationand other services, is therefore crucial if

placements and relationships are to be

maintained.


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There are several issues that require

consideration in respect to safety in care,including the safety of the locationof theplacement, safety of young people withintheir peer groups,and safety in terms of the

overall quality of care that they receive.


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Research indicates that while care is often

perceived as problematic, many youngpeoplefind both safety and access toadditional help and support while in care.


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Nationally there is a small, and diminishing

presence of specialist servicessupportingsexually exploited and trafficked youngpeople. There is also considerable variation inthe level of attention the issue is receiving

within individual Local Safeguarding ChildrenBoards (LSCBs).


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Although housing has been given greater

priority in leaving care services, there is stillevidence that the most troubled youngpeople experience difficulty in findingappropriate accommodation and are often

placed in unsafe communities and housing,including bed and breakfastaccommodation.


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Young people value a service response that is

flexible, takes their views and individualcircumstances seriously and recognises theimportance of education, training andemployment, health needs and links with

their families and carers.


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Consultation with practitioners demonstrateda high level of agreement about thegaps inknowledge in the relationship between the

provision of safe accommodation and theprevalence of child sexual exploitationamongst the looked after and in carepopulation. They noted that it should begiven greater priority in national and localpolicy and practice.


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During the seminar discussion, a number ofelements of good practice were highlighted,including the importance of professionalawareness and understanding of thecomplexity of the issues relating to sexualexploitation; attachment and holding theyoung person; and continuity in relationshipswith young people, even when things weredifficult.


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Efforts to consult with young peopleillustrated a number of important issues,

including the potential interest from youngpeople, the importance of support fromadult professionals, but also the potentialchallenges to young peoples involvement.These include challenges within theirchanging circumstances and those of the livesof adults working with them.


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ECPAT UK (End Child Prostitution, Child

Pornography and the Trafficking of Childrenfor Sexual Purposes) is a leading UKchildrens rights organisation campaigningsince 1994 to protect children from

commercial sexual exploitation.


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On the Safe SidePrinciples for the safe accommodation

of child victims of trafficking (2011)


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They said..........


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Principle 1

The best interests of the child should be atthe centre of all decisions regarding theprovision of safe accommodation and relatedsupport


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Principle 2

Children should be asked about what makesthem feel safe


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Principle 3

Children should be given sufficientinformation to help them make informeddecisions about their accommodation andcare


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Principle 4

Safety measures should be implemented toreduce a childs risk of going missing,especially within 24 to 72 hours after firstcontact with the child


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Principle 6

A childs accommodation and safety needswill change over time and should be regularlyassessed


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Principle 7

A child should not feel punished or overlyrestricted by measures taken to help keepthem safe in accommodation


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Principle 8

A child should be given access to a range ofpsychological, educational, health, social,legal, economic and language support thatbrings safety to the child and helps them

recover


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Principle 9

Everyone working with child victims oftrafficking should be trained to recognise andrespond appropriately to their needs


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Principle 10

Efforts to keep children safe should involvethe wider community in ways that help createan environment that is difficult for traffickersto operate in


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PRIORITY CHILDCAREWe say.............

The propertyThe location

The partnership

The cooperation

Assessment

The Young Persons needs

Their involvement

Agreement

Implement

RelationshipStability

Communication

Review


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THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ANDCONTRIBUTIONS

Documents

Workshop 3 - Paul O_Donnell Developing SAFE ACCOMMODATION - Priority Childcare