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Signs of Safety Approach to Assessing Children with Sexually Concerning or Harmful Behaviour

NCJ Number
209769
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 2005 Pages: 97-112
Author(s)
Steve Myers
Date Published
March 2005
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article describes the work of The Junction, a children’s service based in northern England that provides assessment and intervention in the lives of children and young people who have sexually concerning or harmful behavior.
Abstract
Since The Junction was first established in 1993, research has shown that children do respond to a variety of interventions to manage and change their behavior and that these interventions are generally effective in preventing the recurrence of such behavior. There has also been an increased awareness that a gap exists between assumptions about adults and those about children regarding sexually concerning or harmful behavior. It is within this context that the need to assess children, young people, and their families where there are concerns about sexual behavior is central to providing appropriate services to ensure that there is no repetition. While this assessment has to understand the behavior and consider the likelihood of repetition and danger to others and what action is required to modify the situation, the assessment is also a process that is influenced by theories, policies, and practices which are often obscured or unclear. The Junction is developing methods of assessment that move towards a process that provides a more transparent and helpful approach. This process is underscored by solution-focused and narrative principles and practices that have been found to be useful in producing a good understanding of young people and their families and the ways in which they can be assisted in developing lives that are free of problematic sexual behavior. The principles and methods of this approach are outlined in more detail in the article, and examples of practice are described. References

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