This e-learning module focuses on working with children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour. It provides an opportunity for us to share some of our knowledge and expertise on this subject and to help build skills and knowledge among practitioners in Scotland. This resource will point you to ways of working, ideas and resources that you can integrate into your practice to ensure that the approach that you and your agency take for this issue are in line with principles, up to date and in line with current good practice . By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Reflect on your experiences of working with children who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour (HSB)
• Be better able to identify HSB
• Understand using non-stigmatising language when working with children who display HSB
• Understand healthy sexual development in childhood
• Place children’s sexual behaviour on a continuum that can help inform a proportionate response
• Appreciate the role of context when working with HSB
• Recognise how your own values and feelings inform practice when working with children who have displayed HSB
• Develop a deeper understanding of why children might display HSB
• Consider the function of denial for both children and parents/carers
• Recognise the importance of using GIRFEC principles when working with children who have displayed HSB
• Plan proportionate responses when working with children who display HSB
• Understand your role and what skills and knowledge you bring in the context of your role to supporting children across Hackett’s continuum
• Recognise HSB as a preventable public health issue
• Be aware of prevention activities that you can implement in different settings to reduce the emergence of HSB
• Have access to resources to prevent HSB in the first place or to prevent it continuing if it has already been identified.

This fully online course can be undertaken at the flexible pace of the learner when suitable, taking approximately 4 hours.

This e-learning is suitable for those who respond to the needs of children currently in, or on the cusp of being involved in conflict with the law.

Contact Joanne Lee at cycj@strath.ac.uk for further information regarding this course.