Introduction

Supporting young people, their family, carers and professionals working with children and adolescents whose sexual behaviour causes concern.

Children at any age may display sexual behaviours that cause concerns.

Sometimes these concerns are significant and need to be understood better in the context of other factors (e.g., developmental, social and educational history, family life).

CAHBS can help professionals, families and young people to understand young people’s sexual behaviours that are considered problematic or harmful.

What is CAHBS?

CAHBS is a specialist service within Child and Adolescent Service (CAMHS), Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

CAHBS operates across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and offers largely consultancy-based support to young people their families, and professionals.

Referral Criteria

We accept referrals for young people who:

• Are aged under 18.
• Live in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire.
• Are displaying sexually harmful behaviours that are considered problematic or harmful, based on the Hackett Continuum of Sexual Behaviour.

Referring young people to CAHBS

If you are concerned about young person’s sexually harmful behaviour, you might find it helpful to speak to us.

You can get more information about this via:

Email: CAHBS.Team@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Telephone: 01865 902 613

What happens after a referral?

Following referral, we will meet with you for an initial consultation and based on that, collaboratively decide on the level of support needed.

This might include:

• Offering advice.
• Offering ongoing support through consultation to professionals.
• At the highest level of need we can offer direct assessment of young person and/or intervention around harmful sexual behaviours.

What if the police are involved?

If a young person is involved with the police, we offer risk management support.

On occasions CAHBS is asked whether a young person can be offered intervention, should they receive an out of court disposal.

Interested in more of our work?

If you/your team would like to learn more about sexually harmful behaviours in young people, please get in touch.

We offer:

• In-house discussions to support your team’s understanding of the service and ways that you can support young people.
• Training events through Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Boards (OSCB and BSCB).

Useful resources

NSPCC Learning tools and resources  https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse- and-neglect/harmful-sexual-behaviour

Talk with your kids  – It’s always the right time to communicate openly and honestly https://www.talkwithyourkids.org/talk-with-your-kids-timeline

Thinkuknow resources on keeping children safe on the internet (for parents) https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/