The development of a risk assessment tool for under 18-year-olds who display harmful sexual behaviour, both offline and online

Around a third of sexual abuse is perpetrated by children and young people.

However, current assessment tools have primarily been informed by what is known about the treatment needs of adult sexual offenders, and there is a lack of research involving young people and their families.

Employing a participatory action research approach through a multi-perspective design, the PhD research project will develop a strengths- and needs-based assessment framework, underpinned by the Good Lives Model, for children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviours (HSB).

The evidence-based assessment tool will be co-produced by the PhD student (under supervision), practitioners working with young people at The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF), and young people with lived experience.

It will enable the design of interventions that are holistic, solution-focused, and will bolster protective factors as much as addressing areas of concern.

It will enable practitioners to develop motivational intervention plans and robust safety plans to empower children and young people to utilise their strengths, and develop additional skills to live a positive future.

It will take a holistic approach to assessing a young person's needs, ensuring that their voices, and that of their families and key professionals, are heard.

It will further improve the quality of assessments undertaken by the clinical team at LFF, who get commissioned for assessments by local authorities, family courts and other referrers in relation to children and young people under 18-years who have displayed HSB both offline and online, and ultimately contribute to more positive outcomes for them.