Maria Langham, Head of Research, Policy and Communication at Parents Against Child Exploitation (Pace), talks about research Pace is conducting on the social care impact of families affected by CSE.
This blog was written by Maria Langham, Head of Research, Policy and Communication at Parents Against Child Exploitation (Pace)
At Pace, we value working alongside partners to create positive change for children and families affected by all forms of child exploitation. Our knowledge, approach, services and training is based on more than 23 years’ experience of working directly alongside affected parents. They are at the heart of what we do, shape our services, drive our work and lead our campaigns.
Our parent forum meetings held in February this year reminded us yet again of both the resilience and drive of the parents that we support. Despite their stories, the parents were determined to make their voices heard and instigate change.
These forums marked the start an important piece of research that has been requested by both parents and staff at Pace. Thanks to support from DMSS Research, we have started to conduct a landmark investigation into the impact of social care response on families affected by CSE.
The day involved two focus groups with affected parents, where we discussed the impact of social care responses on both family dynamics and the safeguarding of children. The discussions were varied, given the wide variety of experiences in the room. However, there was an overriding message of the current system not fitting them or their circumstances, and a strong desire to make it work better for other families affected by child sexual exploitation.
We have a long way to go to with this research. We are currently carrying out extensive interviews with affected parents, and expect to publish results in the autumn. But for the moment, one thing remains clear: lived experience, even when it comes from the darkest of places, has the power to influence, change and ignite. Those were the origins of Pace and remain at our core.
Parents are also creating a parent-led publication on the impact of CSE on the family, and the responses they receive when they seek help. This will be published later this month, for CSE Awareness Day.
Pace firmly believes we need an alternative approach for exploitation by perpetrators from outside of the family home, to work alongside the child protection system. At present, our system is focused on abuse and neglect within the home. Therefore, when we apply this model to child exploitation, we put responsibility in the wrong place. Families are not responsible; the blame lies solely with the perpetrator. Also, by failing to recognise parents’ vital lead role in safeguarding planning and arrangements, we miss vital opportunities to maximise how we work together to safeguard children, and disrupt and convict those responsible.
Parents are part of the solution and not the problem; their ultimate goal is to protect their child.
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To learn about our national training programme based on our relational safeguarding model, visit our training pages.