Keeping safe? An analysis of the outcomes of work with sexually exploited young people in Wales

The aim of this research is to conduct an original empirical investigation into outcomes for children and young people ?at risk? of sexual exploitation, in order to meet vital gaps in knowledge on effective prevention, early intervention and work with young people experiencing this form of abuse. This research is positioned within the developing area of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) policy, practice and understanding. CSE is a problem with clear contemporary relevance and urgency. Whilst awareness of the extent of CSE has grown rapidly in recent years, research and high profile public reports have established that professional awareness and knowledge of how to respond to CSE is still limited. The relatively recent introduction of CSE to social care policy and practice (in 2009) means that there has been little opportunity to consider the effectiveness of assessment tools, new interventions and service responses, and the outcomes for young people experiencing these harms. As a result there is no published evidence on the outcomes for young people who have been referred for concerns regarding CSE. As a result, there are vital gaps in knowledge about the effectiveness of responses employed to prevent and intervene in the problem; about the factors that might have a role in protecting young people against increased risk, and of the significance of these factors in reducing risk and vulnerability to CSE.

This research proposes an empirical, multi-disciplinary, case-study inquiry into the outcomes for children and young people ?at risk? of sexual exploitation. We have a unique opportunity to draw on a set of local authority casefiles which were sampled in 2006 as one of only two original data sets from which the sexual exploitation risk assessment process was first trialled in Wales. The data consists of 367 case files of all young people aged between 9 and 18 years old who were involved with a local authority in that year - 177 of which identified concerns related to CSE. The research methodology combines thematic case file analysis, quantitative coding to result in a comparatively large and rich longitudinal dataset for analysis, and qualitative research with service users and practitioners, to track the outcomes for these young people - some of whom are still involved with the local authority as young parents. The research will develop a profile of 'protective' factors; examine the interplay of risk, protective and resilience factors over time; map services and interventions provided to young people assessed as being at risk of CSE and consider their key components; and analyse the effectiveness of services by outcomes and protective factors. This will produce vital knowledge on this under-researched area of social care concern.

Findings will have important implications for prevention, resource allocation, service priorities, methods and interventions; leading to better overall support for 'at risk' young people more generally; increasing prevention and providing more effective and appropriate responses to the issue. The study will be of particular importance for developing effective and evidence informed responses to CSE in Wales, but is likely to be of international significance in developing an evidence base in this under-researched area. An essential part of the project will be to build on our existing strong networks to ensure a wide dissemination of findings in order to realise impact, in Wales and internationally.