An investigation into child sexual exploitation in Cardiff has found a number of issues in the way the issue is dealt with.
A council committee have prepared a report after speaking to experts from across the field
A report has found that UK-wide problems of reports of child sexual exploitation (CSE) being ignored, passed over, or “dysfunctional inter-agency working” have all been seen in Cardiff both “in the recent past and currently”.
While the report has said that there have not yet been any “major cases” of exploitation in the city “CSE does happen in Cardiff” and the report warns against complacency.
The report also warns that “it may be that we are missing some cases or not intervening early enough”.
Members of the council’s children and young people’s scrutiny committee completed a report in May this year and presented it to cabinet earlier this week.
'Safeguarding needs'
The report said there had been 81 CSE referrals in Cardiff made in 2015 by family or friends, social services, the police or schools among others.
It came after criminal cases in Rochdale, Rotherham, Leeds, and Bradford.
Committee chairman Richard Cook said: “In the reviews and inquiries into these cases it was clear that people in authority knew that the CSE was happening, they either ignored it; thought it was a one-off problem; assumed ‘another agency’ was dealing with the issue; were unable to progress cases because of inter-agency data protection protocols; failed because of dysfunctional inter-agency working; or focused on the behaviour and lifestyle expectations of the young people and not their safeguarding needs.
“This task and finish inquiry found elements of all of these behaviours has been present in Cardiff in the recent past and currently.
“Child sexual exploitation is everybody’s concern.”
The report made a number of key findings, including that there was a need to tackle CSE at a “higher level” in the council.
It says they found no evidence that a set pathway was in place to show support and rehabilitation for those affected.
While there is a Cardiff and Vale local safeguarding children board that was found to be a “reactive” body.
Concerns were also raised that both the chair and vice chair of the body are directors of social services, which could affect objectivity.
There were “anomalies” between evidence given to the committee about data sharing and a “mismatch” between what was expected between the referrer and the service.
It found that attending school was a major factor in minimising CSE and concern about home learning, reduced timetables, and non-attendance.
The report also calls for more awareness from those working in the night-time economy.
'Training is important'
“People know what hotels, night clubs and areas of the city where adults associate with children.
“People need to know where to refer any concerns they may have – currently they do not”.
The group have made 13 recommendations – including that there should be ongoing training for social workers, a co-ordinated campaign, risk assessments for children not in mainstream education.
Cabinet member Sue Lent responded to the report saying that many of the recommendations put forward were already being worked on.
She praised some members of a city cinema for requesting training, which had been carried out.
“Training is important and we’re hoping to roll out training to all councillors on this.”
She also said that improvements had been made through the multi-agency safeguarding hub.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/child-sexual-exploitation-does-happen-11676794
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