Sexual Health | Sexual assault/abuse and medicolegal issues | Safeguarding in Practice

Safeguarding in Practice
Session Overview
Description
The session will enable the practitioner to undertake a risk assessment on sexually active young people. It will consider the practical issues of balancing confidentiality with safeguarding in sexual health services.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Undertake a risk assessment on sexually active young people
• Consider and balance safeguarding with provision of confidential sexual health services
• Recognise the importance of team working / sharing information appropriately
• Document relevant information regarding safeguarding

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should complete:

• Module 8/Consent, Competence and Confidentiality for Under 18s (260-0092)
• Module 8/Indicators of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (260-0093)
• Module 8/Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) (260-0091)

The following key issues must be considered in all young people (under the age of 18) who are engaged in, or planning to engage in sexual activity:

• A routine child safeguarding risk assessment must be conducted
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, contraception and health promotion as appropriate
   

It is essential that the service is confidential in order for young people to feel comfortable to attend and to facilitate disclosure of consensual and non-consensual sexual activity.

If there are concerns about the safety of any young person, however, information should be shared with appropriate professionals and this should be explained to all attendees at sexual health services before information is gathered.

Although many young people may be involved in consensual sexual activity, they may also be the victims of sexual abuse or exploitation. They may not recognise that their relationship is abusive, that they may have been groomed, or they may be afraid to disclose or acknowledge it.