Background

Children in state care are one of the most vulnerable group of young people for sexual exploitation in today's society, with those in residential care being particularly vulnerable. The links between being in residential care and sexual exploitation are well recognised but are not well understood.

Objective

This exploratory qualitative case study aimed to reflect the perspective of residential social care workers in Northern Ireland regarding the challenge of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in residential care and to identify strategies to protect these children.

Participants and setting

Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with residential social care workers, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Methods

Data was analysed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-step methodology for reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Six themes were identified: (i) risk; (ii) reasons to engage/agency; (iii) vulnerability; (iv) identifying child sexual exploitation; (v) responding to child sexual exploitation; (vi) the residential social care workers experience.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that sexual exploitation is a common concern amongst residential social care workers in Northern Ireland but that they often feel unable to successfully intervene. Further, current safeguarding procedures may require significant revision as a result of the internet generally and social media in particular increasing predatory access to children in residential care. The study highlights an urgent need for easier access to psychological support for children in residential care, outreach support services, and more clinical psychological input for residential social care workers. Purposely assembled support teams for children in residential care may be necessary.

中文翻译：

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使用定性案例研究设计理解和解决北爱尔兰寄宿照料中的儿童性剥削（CSE）：寄宿社会照护工作者的观点

背景

接受国家照料的儿童是当今社会最容易受到性剥削的年轻人群体之一，而接受寄宿照料的儿童尤其容易受到伤害。接受寄宿照料和性剥削之间的联系已广为人知，但尚不为人所知。

客观的

这个探索性的定性案例研究旨在反映北爱尔兰的住宅社会护理工作者对住宅护理中儿童性剥削 (CSE) 挑战的看法，并确定保护这些儿童的策略。

参与者和设置

对住宅社会护理工作者进行了六次半结构化访谈，录音和逐字转录。

方法

使用 Braun 和 Clarke (2006) 的六步法进行反身主题分析对数据进行分析。

结果

确定了六个主题：(i) 风险；(ii) 参与/代理的理由；㈢ 脆弱性；(iv) 识别儿童性剥削；㈤ 应对儿童性剥削；(vi) 院舍社护工作者的经验。

结论

调查结果表明，性剥削是北爱尔兰住宅社会护理工作者普遍关心的问题，但他们经常感到无法成功干预。此外，由于互联网普遍和社交媒体特别是增加了对寄宿照料儿童的掠夺性访问，当前的保护程序可能需要进行重大修改。该研究强调迫切需要更轻松地为儿童提供住宿护理、外展支持服务和更多的临床心理投入，从而为住院社会护理人员提供心理支持。可能需要专门为寄宿照料的儿童组建支持团队。