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This update provides information on the changes made to the Named Person policy, including the role and responsibilities of the Named Person in supporting children and young people. It also addresses the issue of under age sexual activity, outlining guidelines and measures to protect children and young people.
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Welcome & Update • Changes to MORs • Named Person Update • Sexual Development • Under Age sexual activity • Social Work Referral • Open Forum
Background • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) • National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2014) • Getting It Right for Every Child • national approach to improving the wellbeing of children and young people • single planning across all services • Children and Young People Act 2014 new systems to identify wellbeing concerns early on before a child reaches crisis point • Definition of wellbeing • SHANARRI • Named Person aims to strengthen the rights of children and young people • Scottish Ministers must keep under consideration if there are any steps they could take to further improve on children’s rights
SGB involvement Working Group (5) Pilot (10) Scottish Gymnastics Scottish Football Association Scottish Swimming The Royal Caledonian Curling Club Tennis Scotland Scottish Fencing Camanachd Association Scottish Rowing Scottish Golf Scottish Athletics • Scottish Gymnastics • Scottish Football Association • Waterskiand Wakeboard Scotland • Scottish Canoe Association • Scottish Swimming
Timescales • SGBs: July – Dec 16 • Affiliated Clubs: Dec 16 – Mar 17 • Provisional launch with SGBs: July 2017
Named Person • Most cyp get support from parents and family • Named Person means there is someone responsible to help them get the support they need • Every cyp under 18 will have a Named Person • Named Person is a clear point of contact if the cyp or parents want information or advice, or want to talk about any worries and seek support • Will provide direct support to cyp and their parents or help them access other services
Named Person • Provides a point of contact for other services if they have any concerns about a cyp’s well being • Anyone working with cyp in any capacity can feed concerns in by contacting a Named Person
Named Person A Named Person will carefully consider the situation by asking the following five questions: • What is getting in the way of this cyp well being? • Do I have all the information I need to help this cyp? • What can I do now to help this cyp? • What can my organisation do to help this cyp? • What additional help, if any, may be needed from others?
Named Person • Named Person will then discuss this with the cyp and parents, and where appropriate, other professionals, to get the help the child needs • A Named Person will only offer advice or support in response to a request from a child or parent, or when a well being concern has been identified
Current Status • Challenged in Supreme Court • Upheld • Benign policy but concerns around information sharing and consent • Scottish Government period of consultation • Intend to launch in summer 2017, though 2018 more likely • Local authority provision varies • Still advise clubs to contact school with well being concerns where appropriate
Under Age Sexual Activity • National Guidance specifies that child protection measures must be instigated: - if the child is, or is believed to be, sexually active and is 12 or under; - if the young person is currently 13 or over but sexual activity took place when they were 12 or under - where the "other person” involved is in a position of trust in relation to the young person
Under Age Sexual Activity • Increasing numbers of under 16 engaging in a range of sexual activity • consensual • peer pressure • abuse or exploitation • Young people who are sexually active will, therefore, have differing needs, and require different responses
Under Age Sexual Activity • Risk assess to determine level of response • The response, and level of information shared, will be different depending on whether there is a child protection concern or whether there are other concerns for the well-being of the young person • The overriding principle should be that the rights to confidentiality of children and young people should be respected unless there is a child protection concern
The Child or Young Person • Is the child under the age of 13 or did the sexual activity take place when the young person was under 13? • Did the young person understand and agree to the sexual behaviour at the time? • Did the young person’s own behaviour – e.g. use of alcohol or other substances – place them in a position where their ability to make an informed choice about the sexual activity was compromised? • Was the young person able to give informed consent? (e.g. mental health issues, learning disability etc.)
The relationship • Could there be coercing power or any other relevant imbalance present in the relationship? (e.g. differences in size, age, maturity, competitive level). It should not automatically be assumed that power imbalances do not exist for two young people similar in age • Were manipulation, bribery, threats, aggression and / or coercion, involved? (e.g. was the young person isolated from their peer group or was the young person given alcohol or other substances as a dis-inhibitor etc.)
The other person • Did the other person use ‘grooming’ methods to gain the trust and friendship of the young person? (e.g. by indulging or coercing the young person with gifts, treats, money etcby befriending the young person’s family) • Did the other person attempt to secure secrecy beyond what would be considered usual in teenage sexual activity? • Was the other person in a position of trust?
Social Work Referrals What is a social work referral? Why might I need to make a social work referral? Why would I make a social work referral rather than contacting the Named Person? When can I contact social work to make a referral (i.e. times/days)? How should I contact social work to make a referral? Who will answer my initial call?
Social Work Referrals What sort of questions will I be asked? What if I don’t know the answers to all of the questions I’m asked? Will my referral still be taken? Do I have to notify the child’s parents or carers that I am making / have made a referral? What will happen after that initial phone call? Who might be told I made a referral? Who else might be contacted for information following a referral?
Social Work Referrals Will I be asked to attend any meetings following a referral? Will I get any feedback on the outcome of the referral? Can I request any? What if I call and social work don’t believe the issue to require a referral? Is there anything else I should know about making a SW referral?
Sexual Development Harry, aged 9, whilst standing on the sideline, puts his hand in and out of his underpants when there are other people present. Jack, aged 13, spends a lot of time alone in his bedroom with the door shut. When his mum knocks on the door he tells her to go away. Lately he is putting his sheets and pyjamas into the washing basket to be washed every morning.
Sexual Development Gayle, aged 12, often tries to sit on the lap of boys from the Under 18 squad. When she does, she will talk about their bodies and say that it is OK for them to kiss her. Sometimes she likes to dance for them and says she is being a pop star. Alex, aged 15, spends lots of time chatting to friends on the internet. Recently, Alex has made a new friend, ‘Sexy Boy’, online. The more they chat, the more Alex feels attracted to ‘Sexy Boy’ and thinks about making a time to meet him in person. Alex talks to a friend about it who comes to you as his coach.
Sexual Development Fiona, aged 16, is overheard telling her close friends about having intercourse and oral sex with her boyfriend. He is a 17 year old at the same school. She tells them that she enjoys it. Susan and Amy, both aged 4, are playing in the cubby house and have both taken their underpants off. They are looking at and touching each other’s genitals. Harper aged,7 tells her coach that she has seen Lucas, aged 13, touching her best friend Cindi’s vagina.
Sexual Development Susan and Amy, both aged 4, are playing in the cubby house and have both taken their underpants off. They are looking at and touching each other’s genitals. During outdoor playtime at a summer sports camp Peter, 9 year old boy, asks two girls aged 5 and 6 years old if they would ‘sex’ with him and show their ‘boobs’ to him. Chloe, a 10 year old girl, prevents an 8 year old girl from leaving the changing room, pulls down her knickers and also shows her private parts to her. The younger girl is frightened. The 10 year old has been heard using sexual language.