Swindon LSCB - News
New Service for Children & Young People Who Exhibit Sexually Harmful Behaviour
The pilot of a new service for children and young people who exhibit sexually harmful behaviour will be launched in Swindon on 1st June 2007.
The new service is an assessment tool called AIM. This stands for the Assessment Intervention and Moving-on. AIM was originally set up in Manchester to improve the way professionals from a variety of organisations respond to children and young people who display sexually harmful behaviour. This way of working has now been developed in many areas of the UK. A pilot project using the AIM assessment will start in Swindon in 1 June 2007. This will involve multi-agency staff who have been trained to use the assessment model.
What is sexually harmful behaviour?
This refers to a situation where sexual contact is sought with a child (up to 18 years) or an adult, where the other person has not agreed to it happening or is unable to give that agreement.
Who is likely to be assessed?
For the purpose of the pilot, children and young people between the age of 10 and 18 who have committed sexually harmful behaviour against a child, young person or adult will be assessed. This may have taken place in or outside the family. It includes the following range of young people:
- Where sexually harmful behaviour has been identified as a cause of concern.
- Where incidents of sexual offending have been reported to the police.
- Where young people have admitted sexual offending.
- Where young people have been convicted of sexual offending.
Why will an assessment take place?
The AIM assessment provides a model to help professionals in Children Services, Education, Youth Offending Team (the YOT) and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) to carry out an initial assessment of sexually harmful behaviour. The purpose is to:
- Identify risk of repeated sexually harmful behaviour.
- Identify risk to either the child/young person or their actual/potential victim(s) (child protection).
- Identify the child/young person’s needs.
- Assess the child/young person’s motivation and capacity to engage in services and plans.
- Identify the capacity of parents/carers to manage and support the child/young person.
- Suggest the priorities for an initial plan.
Pilot period
The pilot will run for a 6 month period and will be fully evaluated.
Related Information Within This Website
Resources - Sexually Harmful Behaviour
Protocol 3 - Children and Young People Who Sexually Abuse Other Children
May 2007
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