Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service

A support service for professionals in tackling harmful sexual behaviours.

Access Harmful Sexual Behaviour Resources Download Infographic

Please note that the Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service has now closed. In response to this closure, ourselves and the Marie Collins Foundation are providing guidance and resources, and an online video training package, which will continue to provide support to professionals. If you have any queries please contact media@swgfl.org.uk

In June 2021 Ofsted concluded that the prevalence of child-on-child sexual harassment and abuse was so widespread that, for some, incidents are ‘so commonplace that they see no point in reporting them’ and ‘consider them normal’. In response to this, SWGfL and The Marie Collins Foundation created a support service for professionals working with children and young people in tackling harmful sexual behaviours, funded by the Home Office and in collaboration with the Department for Education.

Harmful sexual behaviour is 'sexual behaviours expressed by children and young people under the age of 18 years old that are developmentally inappropriate, may be harmful towards self or others, or abusive towards another child, young person or adult' (Hackett, 2014).

Supporting Professionals with Harmful Sexual Behaviour Issues

The support service was there to support with changing the culture that Ofsted highlighted in their report around sexual abuse in schools. The service, run by trained professionals, provided the tools to equip and empower adults through:

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Advice on individual cases or incidents of harmful sexual behaviour

Guidance on policy development on tackling harmful sexual behaviour

Sharing relevant resources, best practice and contacts around harmful sexual behaviour

Access Harmful Sexual Behaviour Video Training

You can also access our downloadable Harmful Sexual Behaviour Resources

Harmful Sexual Behaviour Advice

Want more comprehesive Harmful Sexual Behaviour Training?

Our video training programme is now available for your organisation, this training will provide you with a good overview of harmful sexual behaviour, what it is, how schools can appropriately respond and what else is out there to help.

Access Harmful Sexual Behaviour Video Training

Harmful Sexual Behaviour Resources

Harmful Sexual Behaviour Online Video Training

We have created this training module drawing on the expertise gained from operating the Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support service. This training looks at what harmful sexual behaviour is and how schools can appropriately respond to it.

Online Safety Policy Templates for Schools

Our free Online Safety Polcy Templates enable you to create your very own Online Safety Policy for your school that whilst built on our expertise, includes content that makes it unique and relevant for your school or organisation.

Harmful Sexual Behaviour in Schools Resources

A set of resources for handling Harmful Sexual Behaviour within a school setting

Online Safety Bill Written Evidence

Read this document from SWGfL around written evidence for the Online Safety Bill

Recognising Harmful Sexual Behaviour

Get guidance around recognising harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people in this resource

About the Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service

The support service was available for anyone in England working with children and young people, particularly, designated safeguarding leads within primary and secondary schools and alternative provision.

Support was also available to early years provision, colleges and wider safeguarding professionals (including police, social workers and health care professionals). The support service was available to provide initial support and signpost to further resources and advice.

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