Children's Harmful Sexual Behaviour

Children and young people are most likely to be at risk of sexual abuse within their family and community and at least one third of all sexual offences against children and young people in the UK are committed by other children and young people (Hackett, NSPCC 2016).

The GSCP has produced a multi-agency children’s Harmful Sexual Behaviour Protocol (2024), this will help guide and support all practitioners in Gloucestershire. 

Gloucestershire Local Authority was one of a very small number of Authorities that the Lucy Faithful Foundation (LFF) has chosen to pilot their new set of HSB resources specifically to schools in Gloucestershire. Lucy Faithfull Foundation - Preventing child sexual abuse

Earlier in 2025 the LFF in collaboration with GSCP & GSEP ran a series of webinars to support in managing and preventing HSB in schools.

The first webinar looked at supporting schools and education staff to prevent and respond to harmful sexual behaviours.

The second webinar looked at safety planning for schools, how they can manage harmful sexual behaviours using safety planning, how to speak with parents, asking those awkward questions and holding courageous conversations.

In June 2025 LFF and GSCP & GSEP delivered a successful HSB Conference to schools in Gloucestershire which brought all of this work together.