Harmful Sexual Behaviours Course

This course helps you understand the difference between healthy and harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people. It explores why these behaviours occur, the impact they can have, and provides guidance on how to respond appropriately and support those displaying such behaviours. The course aims to equip staff with the knowledge and confidence to recognise concerns early and promote safe, respectful behaviour.

Harmful sexual behaviours can be defined as sexual behaviours expressed by children and young people under the age of 18 that are developmentally inappropriate, may be harmful to themselves or others, and/or may be abusive towards another child, young person or adult (National Children’s Bureau).

One of the consequences of sexual abuse can be that children and young people do not understand the boundaries of appropriate behaviours, and therefore may behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

This course is available in education, children’s services and residential childcare bundle.

This course will cover:

• Introduction
• What is harmful sexual behaviour?
• Exploring harmful sexual behaviours
• Why children display sexual behaviours
• Impact
• How can you help?
• Additional Resources
• Summary

By the end of this course, you will learn:

• What is healthy and what is harmful sexual behaviour?
• Why do children and young people display sexualised behaviour?
• The impacts that harmful sexual behaviour can have on a young person.
• How to help a child or young person displaying these behaviours.

This Harmful Sexual Behaviours course is anyone who work with children and young people and want to understand, identify, and appropriately respond to harmful sexual behaviours to ensure safety and wellbeing for all.

This course is suitable for people working in education, children’s services or residential childcare.