Book Review: Children and Young People Who Sexually Abuse Others – Current Developments and Practice Responses

Children and Young People Who Sexually Abuse Others – Current Developments and Practice Responses
Edited by Marcus Erooga and Helen
Masson, Routledge
ISBN: 0415354129, £24.99

STAR RATING: 4/5

This is a second edition of a volume reasonably well known in this professional field, with eight of the 17 chapters newly written, while the others have been updated, writes Andrew Durham.

The book is divided into four sections: context and systems, assessment and planning, interventions, and practitioner issues. In comparison to some other edited volumes in this field, more thought has been given to how the chapters relate to each other,
avoiding repeated introductions and major variations in terminology.

The new chapters include: the law and organisational contexts, interagency assessment and intervention systems; managing
sexual behaviour issues in schools; resilience; abuse through new technologies and family assessment.

I did feel that the absence of a chapter on ethnicity and diversity issues was an opportunity lost.

The book demonstrates professional consensus on the value of taking a holistic approach to working with these children and young people. It was also good to see a strong focus on intervention, including a chapter on younger children and another on group
work.

Overall, this volume will be of great benefit to practitioners.

Dr Andrew Durham is Sexualised Inappropriate Behaviour Services Consultant, Warwickshire Council