Problematic & Harmful Sexual Behaviour
in Children and Young People
Purple Leaf provide advice, risk assessment and interventions for children and young people (aged five to eighteen) who have exhibited or are at risk of exhibiting harmful sexual behaviour.
Harmful Sexual Behaviours
Harmful sexual behaviour can be defined as :
“Sexual behaviours expressed by children and young people under the age of 18 years old that are developmentally inappropriate, may be harmful towards self or others, or be abusive towards another child, young person or adult” (Hackett, 2010)
Our Approach
Pre-Assessment
All children and young people (CYP) referred into the services are pre-assessed to ensure an accurate assessment of their risk and needs can be completed.
This will involve discussions with the CYP’s parent / carer, social worker, school and any other relevant professionals. The pre assessment process ensures that the risk and needs of the children and young people are identified and ensures that the most appropriate support, assessment, or intervention being put in place.
AIM Assessment (Children and Young People aged 12 and above)
One outcome of the pre-assessment may be a recommendation that a specialist assessment (AIM 3) is completed to provide a structed framework to assist in the analysis of Harmful Sexual Behaviour in the overall context of the young person.
The AIM 3 assessment process considers five domains for the Child or Young Person:
- Sexual Behaviour
- Non-sexual behaviour
- The developmental influences on these wider ranging behaviours
- The effect of the environment/social and family context in which they live
- The young person’s ability to self-regulate and understand the impact of their behaviour
The AIM3 assessment is designed for use with older, more cognitively developed CYP with problematic or harmful sexual behaviours. By engaging with the CYP, those around them, and the required multiagency partners, we can:
- Conduct an AIM3 risk assessment of the Child or Young Person
- Identify therapeutic, supervision and support needs
- Provide tailored intervention programmes for the Child and those around them
AIM Assessment (Children and young people under 12 years)
The AIM Under 12’s is a dynamic assessment framework with children 8 – 12 years old with either problematic or harmful sexual behaviours.
The model recognises that children should not be assessed on just their sexual behaviours and focuses on a trauma formed approach and holistic overview of several domains in their life. The 5 five domains that are covered within the Aim Model includes:
- Sexual Behaviour
- Non-sexual behaviour
- The developmental influences on these wider ranging behaviours
- The effect of the environment/social and family context in which they live
- The young person’s ability to self-regulate and understand the impact of their behaviour
Pattern mapping is utilised for younger children (particularly for those under 7 years). This is a visual framework focusing on patterns and meaning of sexual behaviours.
Purple Leaf can offer:
- An AIM under 12’s assessment of the Child
- Identify therapeutic, supervision and support needs
- Provide tailored intervention programmes for the Child and those around them
Intervention and Education Programme
Purple Leaf can provide specific, tailored intervention programmes to CYP that have exhibited or are at risk of exhibiting inappropriate, problematic or harmful sexual behaviours. This programme is tailored to the needs of the individual child or young person.
Purple Leaf is Trading name of West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (WMRSASC)
WMRSASC is a charitable company limited by guarantee in England & Wales - Charity Registration 1136677, Company Registration 07083844.
Registered office: Kendall Wadley Chartered Accountants, 71 Graham Road, Malvern, WR14 2JS (not part of WMRSASC premises)