The Use of Tools and Checklists to Assess the Risk of Child Sexual Exploitation: Lessons from UK Practice

Area of Science:

• Child protection
• Forensic psychology
• Social work

Background:

• Child sexual exploitation (CSE) risk assessment tools in the UK are practitioner-developed.
• These tools often lack robust evidence, validation, and evaluation.
• Limited understanding exists regarding their practical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review factors influencing vulnerability to CSE.
• To assess existing CSE risk assessment tools used in the UK.
• To explore how multi-agency professionals utilize these tools in practice.

Main Methods:

• A rapid review identified CSE risk factors and evaluated 10 UK-based tools.
• Interviews and an online survey gathered insights from multi-agency professionals.
• Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed to understand tool usage.

Main Results:

• The review identified key risk and protective factors for CSE vulnerability.
• Assessment of 10 tools highlighted a lack of empirical support and validation.
• Professional interviews and surveys revealed varied contexts and processes of tool implementation.
• Concerns were raised about the tools' efficacy in identifying and safeguarding children.

Conclusions:

• Practitioner-developed CSE risk assessment tools require further evidence-based development and validation.
• Understanding the practical application of these tools is crucial for improving child protection strategies.
• The current utility of these tools in identifying and protecting children from CSE is questionable.