Sexualised Behaviour | Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board

Article: Sexualised Behaviour

Sexualised behaviour is an issue relevant to everyone, particularly those working with children and young people. However it is a changing picture with a wide debate about norms, cultural differences and values, with different views about what is healthy and unhealthy.

This guidance will help professionals and practitioners to understand healthy behaviour and to assess and respond in an appropriate way to children and young people.

Policies and Procedures

The Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures Manual contains the following guidance about policies and protocols:

• Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation
• Allegations of Harm Arising from Under Age Sexual Activity

Guidance Documents for education and other childcare settings

• Checklist evaluating sexual behaviour in children with special needs
• Checklist evaluating sexual behaviour in nursery and primary age children

• Checklist evaluating sexual behaviour in secondary age young people 

Training

The following multi agency training courses are available to help practitioners in their professional response to this issue.  All courses can be accessed through the multi-agency training programme

These Traffic Light Tools produced by Brook provide guidance on a range of behaviours which may cause concern at different age groups:

• Sexual Behaviours Traffic Light Tool 0-5 years
• Sexual Behaviours Traffic Light Tool 5-9 years 
• Sexual Behaviours Traffic Light Tool 9-13 years
• Sexual Behaviours Traffic Light tool 13-17 years

Further Information can be obtained from the following resources

Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board Policies and Procedures are available here