NWG Network Response to Government announcements for their approach to Mandatory Reporting and the launch of the Hydrant Programme 

Sheila Taylor MBS Chief Executive of NWG Network said:  

The NWG Network has been highlighting the issue of children and young people affected by sexual exploitation for many years. High-profile cases and inquiries have helped to bring a real focus of child sexual exploitation and its impact across all communities. However, we are still hearing of young people not recognised as exploited, not receiving appropriate responses and practitioners and families having to navigate complex situations through safeguarding and justice systems. 

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) calls for systemic change and we are delighted that the government is beginning to respond to those recommendations. The sector knows there is a real need to understand the prevalence of child exploitation and the devastating impact it has on all corners of society so we can effectively develop services across all sectors to meet that need.  

Mandatory reporting is a part of the systemic change and is a complex debate, understanding what constitutes as a disclosure against the need for a safe confidential space to talk about what is happening to them. A space where we understand the young person and support them to disclose without compromising their relationship with key workers is essential and needs careful consideration. The proposed consultation needs to address the entire children’s workforce, and closely listen to their concerns, views and worries about this proposal whilst recognising the value of relationship-based practice and creating a culture free from judgement and blame.  

Rishi Sunak also set out plans with the NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council) Hydrant Programme to tackle child sexual exploitation in the form of a new police-led task force, and we look forward to hearing more about these plans and assisting, where we can, in the fight against child exploitation. 

The NWG recognises that the exploitation of children comes in many forms, individuals who cause harm, harm caused through grooming and exploitation online, group-based abuse, and as Sabah Kaiser, ethnic minority ambassador to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), so eloquently told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “Child sexual abuse does not have a skin colour, it doesn’t have a religion, it doesn’t have a culture. Child sexual abuse does not discriminate.” 

It will be the task of us all as practitioners to ensure we do not miss any of the signs or symptoms any young person demonstrates and ensure we react appropriately. With equal focus, there must be an approach to tackling the demand driven by those who wish to harm our young people today. We welcome the government’s crackdown on this abhorrent crime, including new powers for tougher sentencing of perpetrators but we need to ensure that there are no ‘blind spots’ when identifying and responding to these crimes. It will take more than one focus in one area to ensure young people do not get missed and so it is important that we consider the appropriate use of language and terminology when describing the nature of these crimes. 

  

  BBC News item https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65160429

The NWG supports practitioners working in the field of child exploitation, offering  

• Forums covering a range of subject matters such as diversity, health, police, faith, education, transitional safeguarding, corporate parenting and partnerships – the purpose of these forums is to enable networking, identify barriers and challenges and develop common solution-focussed and strength-based partnership responses to tackling child exploitation.  
• An interactive online knowledge hub of over 1600 tools and resources including benchmarking tools, assessments, toolkits, campaign materials and template policies. 
• Access to a multi-disciplinary team who can assist in strategic and operational developments, problem-solving, case support and much more. 
• A suite of training, incorporating the latest trends and challenges informed by research, practice, policy and of course our own network members. We can develop bespoke training to meet individual needs too.