Guidance on distinguishing between sexually healthy, inappropriate and abusive behaviours in children and young people

The sexual behaviour of children and young people can be very difficult for those who work with or care for them to interpret and where appropriate respond to in a timely and appropriate manner. This is of course particularly significant when trying to determine whether a particular behaviour may be considered healthy, inappropriate/problematic or even abusive.

Home Office figures for 2003 show that 25% of all sexual offences were committed by those aged 10 to 24; the Stop it Now! Campaign estimates that 30% to 40% of people who sexually abuse are under the age of 18.

In 2005 15% of the registered sex offenders in Solihull were juveniles. All of these young people had a background of incidents that gave cause for concern before they entered the criminal justice system..

The booklet below is an interpretative tool, the purpose of which is to aid the interpretation of sexualised behaviours. It outlines some norms' for differentiating sexualised behaviours and offers some initial response suggestions; contains tables to guide consideration of the behaviour and its context; offers three categories of behaviour: Healthy, Problematic and Abusive.

This document is NOT a specialist assessment tool but a support to those who work with or care for children and young people in determining how worried they should be if presented with information about the sexualised behaviour of a child or young person.

The aim is to identify inappropriate or problematic behaviour and to intervene before the behaviour becomes entrenched. A specialist assessment and intervention team is under development and it is hoped will be in place within the year. It is hoped earlier intervention will not only reduce the number of victims but also the number of children and young people entering the criminal justice system because of the abusive nature of their behaviour.

Read the Sexually Abusive or Healthy Behaviour? document.

This document is based on research carried out in Greater Manchester and has been prepared by representatives of the local authority, Police and schools.

The NSPCC have published a factsheet to help parents, carers and adults working with children, understand when to be concerned about a child's sexual behaviour, and what to do if they are concerned.