Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service

The Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service, run by SWGfL in partnership with the Marie Collins Foundation, is now available to safeguarding professionals across England and provides the tools to equip and empower practitioners to address the alarming normalisation of harmful sexual behaviour in children and young people.

The telephone and email support, which is funded by the Home Office and developed in collaboration with the Department for Education, is available Monday – Friday, 8am to 8pm.

Call: 0344 255 0623                  Email: hsbs@swgfl.org.uk

How will it support you?

The Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service is for education and safeguarding professionals and will provide:

1. Advice on individual cases or incidents of harmful sexual behaviour, to ensure an appropriate response both for children displaying this behaviour and others affected by it

2. Guidance on policy development on tackling harmful sexual behaviour

3. Relevant resources, best practice and contacts around harmful sexual behaviour, both locally and nationally

What is Harmful Sexual Behaviour?

Developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour which is displayed by children and young people (under the age of 18) and which may be harmful or abusive. It can be displayed towards younger children, peers, older children or adults. It can be harmful to the children and young people who display it, as well as those it is directed towards.

Find out more about the service

Why act now?

The service has been established in response to the 2021 Ofsted review, which revealed a prevalence of child-on-child sexual harassment and abuse so widespread that, for some children, incidents are ‘so commonplace that they see no point in reporting them’ and ‘consider them normal’. 

Get in touch today

Appropriate Language Guide 2022 - The Children's Society

The Children's Society has revised their Appropriate Language guide in relation to Child Exploitation. It  includes some significant updates including spotlight sections on child financial exploitation and children forced or coerced to carry drugs internally. CLICK HERE to read more.

GSCP multi-agency training update

Child Protection Inter-agency (CPIA Level 3) - Dates now available up to the end of March 2022.   

**NEW** Saturday dates available 5th and 26th March 2022.

Child Neglect and the Neglect Toolkit - Spaces now available for various dates up to 29th March 2022.

Child Exploitation (CCE, CSE and Missing) - a few spaces still available for 8th March 2022.

Training can be booked via the MeLearning training portal.

GSCP multi-agency training is open to organisations that purchase a membership package. For more information please email gscetraining@gloucestershire.gov.uk