An Inter-agency Assessment Framework for Young People Who Sexually Abuse: Principles, Processes and Practicalities

Abstract

This article draws on the work undertaken by the authors on behalf of an inter-agency Pathway project across Greater Manchester known as AIM (Assessment, Intervention and Management). The project was funded by the National Youth Justice Board to develop policies, and practices and services for young people who sexually abuse others. We will describe in particular the development of a multi-disciplinary assessment framework. The model produced is intended for use as part of an initial assessment after either a child protection investigation under Section 47 of the 1989 Children Act and/or a criminal investigation has established that a young person (10-18 years) has committed a sexual assault. The framework has been implemented throughout the Greater Manchester area since May 2001. Its development included extensive consultation with local practitioners, both to increase their commitment to the eventual model and to demonstrate the philosophy of partnership and engagement that we considered being central to an effective assessment process with young people and their families. Context: Establishing an Inter-agency Project in Greater ManchesterIn 1992 the National Children's Homes' (NCH) report Children and Young People Who Sexually Abuse Other Children represented a turning point in the identi cation of the scope and needs of young people who sexually abuse others. The report con rmed that approximately a third of all child sexual assault was carried out by young people and children under 18 years of age. However, agency responses were found to be uncoordinated, with services sporadic and inadequate so that decision making in these cases became a virtual lottery. Practitioners reported that there was little or no support, policy or training. The NCH report was followed by central government guidance (DoH, 1991) in which the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to these cases was recognised. At about the same time a number of small-scale projects were established but the progress of a systematic response remained piecemeal and patchy. This was re ected in one of the principle ndings of the Thematic Inspection of the Work of the Probation Service with Sex Offenders (HMIP, 1998) which stated that there was an absence of any strategic framework for the management of young sex offenders.

A compendium of risk and needs tools for assessing male youths at-risk to and/or who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviors

“…The Assessment, Intervention, Moving On -Version 3 (AIM3) assessment framework consists of 25 items intended to assess the risk of recidivism, the required level of supervision, and factors to target in treatment (Henniker et al, 2002). The instrument is primarily intended for use with male youths between the ages of 12 and 18 years old with a history of sexual abuse perpetration.…”