A report examined young people's understanding of sexual consent. It said their understanding was characterized by confused thinking, particularly around what constituted rape and the culpability of victims. There were clear differences in attitudes and approaches between and towards the genders. It said that young people needed better information about sex and relationships, co-ordinated within the educational setting.
Source: Maddy Coy, Liz Kelly, Fiona Elvines, Maria Garner, and Ava Kanyeredzi, Sex Without Consent, I Suppose that is Rape : How young people in England understand sexual consent, Office of the Children's Commissioner
Links: Report | OCC press release | 4Children press release | ACPO press release | NSPCC press release
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the concept of vulnerability, as applied to young people in England. It said that there were differences of opinion about what constituted 'vulnerability', yet it underpinned service interventions. It discussed the representation of young people as either 'vulnerable victims' or 'dangerous wrong-doers', and the application of that dichotomy in selective welfare systems and behavioural regulation.
Source: Kate Brown, 'Questioning the vulnerability zeitgeist: care and control practices with vulnerable young people', Social Policy and Society, Online first
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined sexual violence towards, and exploitation of, young people in gang-associated areas in England. It said that there were significant levels of such harm occurring, with young women at particular risk. Victims were often held culpable for the harm they experienced, and attacks were not being reported or adequately identified. The report made recommendations.
Source: Helen Beckett, Isabelle Brodie, Fiona Factor, Margaret Melrose, Jenny Pearce, John Pitts, Lucie Shuker, and Camille Warrington, It s wrong... but you get used to it : A qualitative study of gang-associated sexual violence towards, and exploitation of, young people in England, Office of the Children's Commissioner
Links: Report | OCC press release | University of Bedfordshire press release | 4Children press release | ACPO press release | NSPCC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Nov
The children's watchdog for England said that there was evidence to demonstrate that children were victims of sexual predation in gangs and groups. It said that, although it had found pockets of good practice, there were serious gaps in the knowledge, practice and services required to protect children.
Source: If Only Someone had Listened : Office of the Children s Commissioner s inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups – final report, Office of the Children's Commissioner
Links: Report | OCC press release | 4Children press release | ACPO press release | Children's Society press release | NSPCC press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Nov
The inspectorate for education and children's services began consultation on proposals to review the effectiveness of Local Safeguarding Children Boards. The consultation was targeted at those who had a specific interest in, or expertise relating to, the effectiveness of the Boards. The closing date for the consultation was 23 October 2013.
Source: Review of the Local Safeguarding Children Board: Consultation document, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2013-Oct
The Crown Prosecution Service issued guidelines on the prosecution of cases of child sexual abuse. Alongside this, the CPS also issued a joint protocol, drawn up with a range of connected agencies, on the sharing of information.
Source: Guidelines on Prosecuting Cases of Child Sexual Abuse, Crown Prosecution Service
Links: Guidelines | Protocol | CPS press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report | Victim Support press release
Date: 2013-Oct
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children announced a new collaboration with the Association of Independent Local Safeguarding Children Board Chairs to hold a central repository of all serious case reviews. The repository would be publicly available to facilitate greater learning from severe instances of child abuse in England for the benefit of professionals in the child care sector.
Source: Press release 25 September 2013, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Links: NSPCC press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A report by the children's rights watchdog for England examined young people's perceptions of abuse and neglect, and explored their experiences of telling and getting help. The findings were used to develop a framework to aid understanding of the issues and to help practitioners in their work with children and young people.
Source: Jeanette Cossar, Marian Brandon, Sue Bailey, Pippa Belderson, Laura Biggart, and Darren Sharpe, It takes a lot to build trust : Recognition and telling – developing earlier routes to help for children and young people, Office of the Children s Commissioner
Links: Report | Summary | Children's Commissioner press release | Action for Children press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A new book examined how young people aged 15-21 engaged with education on sex and relationships. It described how a range of socio-economic, cultural, and sexual norms, values, and attitudes shaped young people's decision-making on sex, intimacy, and future pathways.
Source: Sharon Elley, Understanding Sex and Relationship Education, Youth and Class: A youth work-led approach, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Sep
A report provided the first results of a special inquiry into young people facing severe and multiple disadvantage. Although homelessness and drug abuse were not the only components of severe and multiple disadvantage, many of the young people contacted had experienced both.
Source: Rebeca Sandu, Beth Truesdale, and Michael Little, Bringing Everything I Am into One Place: An inquiry into young people facing severe and multiple disadvantage, Social Research Unit at Dartington/Lankelly Chase Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined the role of socio-economic position in adolescent development in the areas of smoking, drinking, and psychiatric distress. Associations were evident in opposing directions or absent depending on the combination and timing of outcomes, suggesting that a disadvantaged socio-economic position was not a simple common cause for all three outcomes.
Source: Michael Green, Alastair Leyland, Helen Sweeting, and Michaela Benzeval, 'Socioeconomic position and adolescent trajectories in smoking, drinking, and psychiatric distress', Journal of Adolescent Health, Volume 53 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Aug
An article examined the findings of a youth-led study into the nature and prevalence of cyberbullying in England. 35-40 per cent of the young people surveyed reported being affected by cyberbullying. The older group experienced higher levels of cyberbullying and aggressive methods, and used peer-to-peer support and independent means (such as internet provider reporting procedures) to address the problem. The younger group faced more discrete and traditional forms of cyberbullying, exhibited less knowledge about self-protection, and were more likely to seek help from parents.
Source: Saima Tarapdar and Mary Kellett, 'Cyberbullying: insights and age-comparison indicators from a youth-led study in England', Child Indicators Research, Volume 6 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Aug
A briefing paper examined how the United Kingdom compared internationally on key indicators of health behaviour and well-being among children. Using a secondary analysis of existing datasets, it focused on associations and predictors of well-being among children aged 7 and young people aged 10-15. It also looked at associations among children under 11 between (on the one hand) the behaviours of healthy eating (including eating breakfast), physical activity, and reducing screen time, and (on the other) concentration, social relationships, truancy, and well-being. It said that children who spent most time in front of televisions and computer screens had lower self-esteem and greater emotional problems.
Source: How Healthy Behaviour Supports Children's Wellbeing, Public Health England
Links: Briefing | PHE press release
Date: 2013-Aug
An article examined how concepts of risk were both generated by, and used to reinforce, a neo-liberal agenda in relation to the health and well-being of young people (drawing on experiences in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia). It considered how risk might be used as a tool to advance ideals such as rational choice and individual responsibility, and how this could further disadvantage young people living within the contexts of structural disadvantage (such as geographic areas of long-term unemployment; and communities that experienced racial discrimination).
Source: Sally Brown, Jeannie Shoveller, Cathy Chabot, and Anthony LaMontagne, 'Risk, resistance and the neoliberal agenda: young people, health and well-being in the UK, Canada and Australia', Health, Risk & Society, Volume 15 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jun
A report summarized key Scottish Government policies designed to support young people's health and well-being.
Source: Supporting Young People s Health & Wellbeing: A summary of Scottish government policy, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Apr
Researchers examined whether engagement in risky behaviour could be reduced by providing young people with information. Previous programmes appeared to have been particularly ineffective, with any impact being short-lived. The later generation of prevention programmes typically used a range of approaches and techniques: but this made it difficult to provide a full assessment of which approaches worked, or which approach worked best.
Source: Haroon Chowdry, Elaine Kelly, and Imran Rasul, Reducing Risky Behaviour through the Provision of Information, Research Report 259, Department for Education
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Mar
A new book examined what could be done to support young people to remain at home; and if this was not possible, how they could be supported while in care and on leaving care. It explored the range of options – foster care, children's homes, and adoption – and how these options interacted.
Source: Julie Shaw and Nick Frost, Young People and the Care Experience: Research, policy and practice, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined the strength of association between key adolescent health outcomes and a range of individual and social factors. Individual factors such as self-esteem were associated with general health, physical activity, and healthy eating. However, the influence of family, peers, school, and local community appeared to be equally important for these outcomes, and more important for smoking, drug use, and healthy weight.
Source: Dougal Hargreaves, Dominic McVey, Agnes Nairn, and Russell Viner, 'Relative importance of individual and social factors in improving adolescent health', Perspectives in Public Health, Volume 133 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
A report examined the implementation of active inclusion policy in European countries for young people with disabilities or health problems. Policy and practice needed to focus more keenly on these young people, to learn from available evidence, and to take a more joined-up approach to service delivery.
Source: Donal McAnaney, Richard Wynne, Edwin DeVos, Femke Reijenga, Claude Delfosse, and Jan Spooren, Active Inclusion of Young People with Disabilities or Health Problems, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Date: 2013-Jan
A new book examined the problems faced by children and young people who had been trafficked, and the way in which child care practitioners responded to them.
Source: Jenny Pearce, Patricia Hynes, and Silvie Bovarnick, Trafficked Young People: Breaking the wall of silence, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Jan
A systematic literature review examined the role and impact of social capital on the health and well-being of children and adolescents. Children and adolescents who experienced a positive relationship with their parent(s) were more likely to report that they had better mental health outcomes and fewer problem behaviours: They also experienced better general health, higher levels of quality of life, and more positive well-being; and had indicators of developmental thriving.
Source: Kerri McPherson, Susan Kerr, Elizabeth McGee, Francine Cheater, and Antony Morgan, The Role and Impact of Social Capital on the Health and Wellbeing of Children and Adolescents: A systematic review, Glasgow Centre for Population Health
Links: Report | Appendices
Date: 2013-Jan
A report examined what action could be taken at a local level in England to improve the health outcomes for children and young people, and how this action could be supported at a national level. It said that the government needed to take action to address the lack of policy co-ordination between different government departments and national bodies.
Source: Children and Young People's Health and Wellbeing in Changing Times: Shaping the future and improving outcomes, NHS Confederation
Links: Report | NHS Confederation press release
Date: 2013-Jan
A paper discussed the domains and measures for children's and young people's well-being, and presented an overview of available sources and measures.
Source: Theodore Joloza, Review of Available Sources and Measures for Children and Young People's Well-Being, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Jan