Working with children who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour: A critical exploration of the factors that influence social work practice in one English Local Authority

Hunt, Gemma Louise

Abstract

Research indicates that approximately a third of all child sexual abuse in the UK is initiated by children and young people; and despite an increasing awareness around the prevalence of harmful sexual behaviour (HSB), there are still no official statistics about the actual number of children and young people that have displayed HSB. Recent reports do, however, record a rise in the number of children arrested for sexual offences in England and Wales between years ending March 2021 to 2022. When incidents of HSB arise, Children’s Services are typically informed, and this often prompts support and intervention from a social worker. As the lead professional, social workers are frequently charged with entering the lives of children and families and are often seen as the expert when it comes to making decisions about safeguarding. However, to date, there has been limited research to explore what factors influence social workers’ practice and decision making in response to children and young people who have displayed HSB.

This study explores social workers’ experiences of working with children who have displayed HSB and considers how professionals understand and respond to this particular group of children. Interviews were carried out with sixteen social workers from one local authority. The data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, and three key themes were generated. The first two themes draw on social workers’ understanding of HSB and how this is shaped by societal values and beliefs about sex and childhood. The final theme is concerned with how these beliefs and values potentially impact social workers’ responses to children and young people that display HSB. The empirical data presented suggest that populist discourses are framing social workers’ understanding and responses to children that display HSB. I have coined this response Populist Safeguarding, a practice whereby social workers respond to children and young people that display HSB from a position of risk management (public protection), under the auspices of child protection.

Citation

Hunt, G. L. (2025). Working with children who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour: A critical exploration of the factors that influence social work practice in one English Local Authority. (Thesis). Keele University. Retrieved from https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1109691

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Mar 21, 2025
• Keywords: Harmful sexual behaviour; professional experiences; children and young people; sexual abuse; child protection; youth offending; social worker; populist
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1109691
• Additional Information: Embargo on access until 1 January 2027 - The thesis is due for publication, or the author is actively seeking to publish this material.
• Award Date: 2025-03