Child Sexual Exploitation and Girls: An Interactive Training Tool for Child Protection Professionals

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This project will undertake a collaborative knowledge exchange between the Centre for Child Protection (CCP) and Kent Police (KP). They will create, apply, and evaluate a pilot training tool to support police officers in applying a trauma informed approach (TIA) to work with girls who have experience of child sexual exploitation (CSE). Training simulations are used to enhance the facilitation of learning and are valuable in developing practice wisdom through immersive and more readily retained 'experiences.' They allow participants a safe setting to practice complex or challenging risk-taking and decision-making experiences - such as decisions made when confronted with CSE of girls, which is a subcategory of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). CSE is when a child is taken advantage of by an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive them into sexual activity. This often involves an exchange for something the young person wants or needs or it may be for the advantage of the perpetrator. Girls who have a lived experience of CSE require a TIA from professionals. This includes an understanding of how trauma is manifested through the young person's beliefs, feelings, and behaviours - to ensure they are not retraumatised and that they feel able to engage with services to disrupt exploitation. There are indications that police are not trained in TIAs and girls who have experienced CSE may experience police as blaming and insensitive. The creation of this pilot training tool will be undertaken in 3 separate work packages (WP). The first WP is being funded by the University of Kent's Impact Fund. In summary, this package will involve a literature review and professional knowledge exchange between KP and CCP. These undertakings will explore current knowledge and expertise around good practice, what works and challenges to TIA to police-support with girls who have lived experiences of CSE. The second WP is the basis of this proposal to the ESRC and involves three key phases. The first phase (October 2022-January 2023) is a 'collaborative design' between CCP and KP via the facilitation of 3 workshops aimed at sharing knowledge to create a package of key developmental outputs to inform the creation of the pilot training simulation (e.g., learning outcomes, key narrative, effective interactive elements, character design & sketches, a script and training strategies). The second phase (February 2023-May 2023) is the actual creation of the pilot training tool via Articulate Software as well as the creation of complementary training materials (e.g., instructions, refined learning outcomes, activities, worksheets, academic overview of essential concepts) which will continue to be developed in partnership between CCP and KP. The third phase (June 2023-September 2023) will include application of the training pilot. KP and CCP will co-facilitate 6-8 training sessions with around 10-15 KP delegates each (approximately 60-120 delegates). Evaluations following training will be collected and analysed to inform adaptations to the pilot training tool and training regime - with the aim of improving the training experience and impact of facilitating a stronger TIA by police. The third WP includes dissemination of findings (e.g., journal publication, webinars, conference attendance) as well as ongoing use of the pilot training tool by KP and CCP. KP will continue to utilise the tool to train officers in TIA and CCP will integrate the tool within their multi-disciplinary postgraduate teaching programmes on 'Advanced Child Protection.' WP3 also includes visions for future funding potential to create a full-scale simulation from the pilot training tool.Findings will contribution to tackling VAWG by supporting police to develop a TIA to support with girls who have a lived experience of CSE. It will also contribute to developing knowledge on the facilitation of learning and application of TIA within child protection settings.