Harmful sexual behaviours – advice for practitioners

Harmful sexual behaviour includes:

• using sexually explicit words and phrases
• inappropriate touching
• using sexual violence or threats
• full penetrative sex with other children or adults.

Children and young people who develop harmful sexual behaviour can harm themselves and others.

Where concerns exist it requires professionals from all agencies to work together at an early stage so that all information available can be evaluated and an understanding of the needs of the child assessed.

MSB follows the Greater Manchester Protocol for Harmful Sexual Behaviours presented by children and young people which can be found in the relevant chapters of the greatermanchesterscb.proceduresonline.com

This policy seeks to identify when sexual behaviour by children and young people should be considered harmful, or when it can be considered in the context of normal behaviours.

Resources
NSPCC
The NSPCC  has a wide range of resources on this topic available from their website  www.nspcc.org.uk/harmful-sexual-behaviour

Healthy sexual behaviour in children and young people – a guide to keeping children safe, spotting warning signs and what to do if you’re worried can be found on the NSPCC website  www.nspcc.org.uk/healthy-sexual-behaviour

Barnardo’s
The report – What works for children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours? can be found on the Barnardo’s website www.barnardos.org.uk