Child Sexual Abuse

Child exploitation is child abuse.

Any child from any background can be sexually exploited, regardless of their gender or sexuality or their social or ethnic background.

  • Age is also not an indicator of risk – the children you work with are not too young.
  • Offenders are highly manipulative: they can use violence and fear, blackmail or make the child feel guilty, worthless or that they’ve got no choice.
  • Offenders can be any adults or children, male or female, and from any background.
  • The offenders who do this are skilled at targeting and grooming young people.

If you have any concerns that a child or young person you know may be a victim of child sexual exploitation, help is available.

Any practitioner with concerns should speak to their Safeguarding Officer and follow their agency's safeguarding procedures.

View the Wales Safeguarding Procedures' Good Practice Guide on Child Sexual Exploitation.

‘Child sexual abuse prevention – It’s time we talked about it’

Welsh Government has published an action plan on tackling Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), including Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB).

Included in this National Plan are actions for Regional Safeguarding Board partners who have a lead role in the implementation of this Plan.

One action is the promotion of Stop It Now! Wales and its campaign - ‘Child sexual abuse prevention – It’s time we talked about it’.

Please help to support this campaign by promoting it on the communications channels available to you. The materials can be accessed below.
https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/wales/its-time-we-talked-about-it/

Our ‘It’s time we talked about it’ campaign is designed to help parents, carers and professionals working with children and families to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. Please find below useful links and resources.
https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/wales/its-time-we-talked-about-it/

Please find educational resources below.
https://hwb.gov.wales/repository/discovery/resource/4d70707b-5636-466b-b22c-40eccae431be/en?sort=recent&strict=1

Please click below to view a short video on child safety.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOjq3Ihl-sE

CSA Centre are a multi-disciplinary team, funded by the Home Office, hosted by Barnardo’s and work closely with key partners from academic institutions, local authorities, health, education, police and the voluntary sector.
https://www.csacentre.org.uk/