Introduction
Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) is a sexual behaviour expressed by children and young people under the age of 18 years old that is developmentally inappropriate, may be harmful towards themselves or others, or be abusive towards another child, young person or adult. (Hackett, 2014).
This behaviour needs to be understood within a wider societal culture that can, at times, appear to normalise or trivialise sexual harassment and violence. We all have a role in promoting healthy and consensual relationships, and in identifying and understanding behaviours which are not acceptable.
Possible indicators of 'at risk' or abusive behaviour
Sexual behaviour
This includes behaviours beyond those expected for age, such as:
- vaginal or oral intercourse
- simulating intercourse with clothes off
- sexually explicit proposals
- compulsive masturbation.
These behaviours:
- become repetitive or obsessive
- are planned
- are not isolated events.
Nature of interaction
Possible indicators relating to interaction include the use of:
- Force
Force may be physical or social in nature. It may involve threats, bribes, trickery, persuasion, intimidation, or peer pressure, potentially aimed at preventing the victim from disclosing. - coercion
- secrecy
- a combination of force, coercion, and secrecy
- any sexual acts unwanted by recipient
- any sadistic quality such as humiliation or degradation.
The victim will present as having less power and control. It is likely that there is a disparity in certain attributes such as:
- age
- size
- status
- IQ
- emotional vulnerability
Emotional behaviour
A range of emotional responses are associated with HSB, including:
- anger
- rage
- fear
- loneliness
- a lack of empathy for victims
- excitement or arousal.
HSB may be a maladaptive coping mechanism to regulate emotional states. This is something a person uses to attempt to reduce their stress or anxiety, but in an ineffective, unhealthy way.
Motivation
Young people at risk of abusive behaviour may display a need to reduce negative feelings, such as:
- fear
- anger
- loneliness
- anxiety
- guilt.
They may exhibit a need for power and control. Other motivations could include a need to raise low self-esteem, achieve sexual gratification, or a compulsive re-enactment of their own abuse.
East Riding harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) panel
The HSB panel can offer specialist advice and guidance on assessments, interventions, safety planning, formulations and referrals for specialist support. It is also the gateway to any referral for an AIM assessment, a process used to assess young people who have committed a sexual assault or harmful sexual behaviour.
The AIM Project – visit the website (external website)
The HSB panel is facilitated by a multi-agency team of senior practitioners, who provide a supportive and reflective space for:
- social workers
- youth offending service (YOS) officers
- youth justice service (YJS) officers
- police
- professionals from education and health
- child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) practitioners.
At the panel you can talk about a young person you are currently supporting who is presenting with harmful or inappropriate sexualised behaviours. The young person must be open to social care to enable a clear safety plan.
The HSB panel is chaired by East Riding of Yorkshire Council and is held monthly.
Referral to the HSB Panel
If any worker from any agency is worried about the behaviour of a child or young person which they think is sexually harmful they should consider the Hackett Continuum and the practice guidance in the HSB Toolkit:
Referrals to the HSB Panel should follow the HSB Pathway and be made using the HSB referral form:
HSB Referral Form (word 257kb)
HSB Referral Process for Panel (pdf 134kb)
The ERSCP Effective Support Guidance (Thresholds) applies in all cases. A comparison of the Hackett Continuum and ERYC Threshold is made within the HSB toolkit to support practitioners in their decision making.
ERYC Family Help:
Monday to Friday: 9am - 4.30pm
Tel: (01482) 391700
ERYC Children’s Safeguarding Hub:
Monday to Thursday: 8.30am - 5pm, Friday 8.30am - 4:30pm
Tel: (01482) 395500
ERYC Children’s Emergency Duty Team:
CEDT should only be contacted in an emergency out of hours:
Tel: (01482) 393939
Immediate Abuse:
If a child is suffering abuse and requires urgent attention because of immediate danger, call the police on 999.
HSB training
ERSCP provides a multi-agency training course which aims to raise awareness of Harmful Sexual Behaviour displayed by children, and develop an understanding of appropriate agency responses.
Further information
Sexually Harmful Behaviour - NSPCC research briefing (external website)
Stop It Now - preventing harmful sexual behaviour (external website)
Stop It Now - Are you concerned about child sexual abuse? (pdf) (external website)
Harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people (NICE 2016) (external website)
Working Together to safeguard children (2023)
Statutory guidance on multi-agency working to help, protect and promote the welfare of children.
Statutory guidance - Working together to safeguard children (2023) on GOV.UK
Shore
The shore website, provided by the Lucy Foundation, offers reliable advice and support to young people to prevent harmful sexualised behaviour.
shore – a safe space for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour (external website)
