Educating Young People about Vulnerability to Sexual Exploitation: Safeguarding Practitioners' Standpoints at the Intersections of Gender, Sexuality and Risk

This article discusses findings from a qualitative study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) awareness-raising programme targeted at young people. Drawing on data from in-depth interviews with practitioners involved in a multi-agency team established to reduce vulnerability to CSE, we elucidate that, in addition to being directed by professional codes, practitioners' perceptions and judgements were also influenced by gendered assumptions and underlying anxieties about childhood sexuality. The empirical data presented suggest that attitudes towards young people and intervention decisions are partially steered by cultural values that connect not only to personal morals but also influence decisions made in conjunction with professional risk analytic frameworks. Our analysis indicates that broader investigation of the commingling of personal and professional values in safeguarding contexts is required, alongside the creation of protected spaces for professional reflection and dialogue amongst practitioners to support decision-making. Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) has been identified as a key concern in the UK. In recent years, cases of organised CSE have been identified within an increasing number of towns and cities, including Derby, Rochdale, Rotherham, Oxford, Swansea and Telford. The extent and the widespread nature of such abuse have caused public anger and concern, with Special Case Reviews revealing institutional neglect by social workers, local councils and the police service. In a context of increasing political and media focus on the failings in these cases-and consideration of which measures might have been deployed to prevent harm-this article seeks to illuminate the work conducted by a team of CSE safeguarding practitioners involved in the delivery of a CSE education awareness programme to young people. In particular, we show how both perceptions and decisions made by practitioners are influenced by both professional guidelines and more subjective cultural values.