12. Caring for young people (10+) who display sexually harmful behaviours: an introductory course for foster carers

Course overview

This is an introductory course for foster carers who have responsibility for looking after young people (10+) where there are concerns about their harmful sexual behaviours. It is designed to help carers' understand and consider the needs of young people who display such behaviours. It will consider what the research tells us about young people who sexually abuse, how and why children develop these behaviours and aims to help carers distinguish between 'normal' and 'abusive' behaviours. It will help participants consider the different ways young people abuse and will focus on areas such as targeting, grooming, cognitive distortions (thinking errors) and issues around denial. Importantly the course will highlight the key care and therapeutic needs of such young people and how to balance the need for risk management with meeting their underlying needs. This will involve identifying some of the key areas for positive change, support, safe care and risk management. The course will involve a mixture of presentation, exercises, video and discussion and each participant will receive a handout pack.

Course aims

• To provide participants with a basic knowledge of the main issues raised by young people with harmful sexual behaviours
  
  
• To highlight the myths and realities around this area
  
  
• To provide knowledge of how young people can develop such behaviours
  
  
• To enable participants to distinguish between 'normal' and abusive behaviour
  
  
• To provide an understanding of the needs that underlie such behaviour
  
  
• To identify the key care and therapeutic needs of such young people
  
  
• To have ideas for ways to support young people with their difficulties
  
  
• To consider carers feelings, values and personal issues which arise in this work
  
  
• To help participants identify and evaluate risk
  
  
• To consider the requirements of child protection
  
  
• To identify key issues and strategies for safe care and risk management
  

For further information and to discuss your individual needs please contact the Training Co-ordinator on 01527 591922 or email: training@lucyfaithfull.org.uk