Why study this course?
The course will extend your knowledge in relation to the sexual exploitation of children and young people including an exploration of definitions, prevalence, intervention and protection, perpetrators and policy and legislation.
Historical continuities in the form and nature of sexual exploitation will be examined in a national and international context, as well as the role of digital technologies.
More about this course
This course will explore the research evidence about sexual exploitation of children, the range of forms of exploitation and the contexts in which it occurs. You'll examine the history of sexual exploitation in a national and international context and the current policy focus. The impact of sexual exploitation and promising practices responding to young people will be explored, as well as what research tells us about the motivations of those who abuse and exploit.
This course is important if you're a professional or practitioner working in social care or at a policy level in charities and other related fields, and you want to increase your knowledge of the evidence base on sexual exploitation.
This course will cover:
- definitions of sexual exploitation
- a gender analysis of sexual exploitation and debates about the sex industry
- sexualisation of children in popular culture
- policy and practice responses including criminal justice and safeguarding frameworks
In particular, the course will cover the following topics in detail:
- forms of sexual exploitation eg trafficking, abusive images of children and online grooming
- perpetrators of sexual exploitation
By the end of the course you'll understand and be able to critically evaluate perspectives on sexual exploitation and the sex industry, including to what extent global research evidence supports them. You'll also be able to define, identify and explain various forms of sexual exploitation of children and young people.
Assessment
This course is accredited at an MA level as part of the Woman and Child Abuse MA. If you're taking this course as a short course, assessment is not compulsory.
To gain the 20 credits for the course, the assessment consists of two items - an annotated bibliography and an essay. Full guidance and support sessions are built into teaching time.
Fees and key information
Who's this course for?
Our courses are aimed at professionals currently working in the statutory or voluntary sector who wish to:
- conduct internal evaluation, monitoring and small-scale research projects
- develop and extend specialist services dealing with child and/or woman abuse
- undertake policy development at a local, regional or national level where you have responsibility for delivering support and advocacy services, coordinating multi-agency forums and/or improving the response of the criminal justice and/or health sectors
- deliver government and/or agency policy commitments for safeguarding children, addressing domestic violence, rape, female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage, sexual exploitation and other forms of violence against women and children.
Course structure
This course will be delivered in class over six days from 10am to 5pm.
Three blocks of two days will be spread over a few weeks. A structured programme of formal lectures, exercises and small group discussions will provide the framework for teaching and learning.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to critically assess explanatory frameworks and contemporary policy. During the first three days of the course, you'll focus on critical analysis of theories, definitions and research methods, including a historical overview. More detailed attention will then be paid to:
By the end of the module students will be able to:
- Define child sexual exploitation and understand the range of perspectives on sexual exploitation and the sex industry.
- Identify the various forms of sexual exploitation of children and young people
- Describe the contexts for sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse more generally.
- Understand methodological and ethical issues for conducting research in this area
- Draw on the research evidence to evaluate different perspectives on sexual exploitation.
- Apply an intersectional lens to draw out the specificities for minoritised and marginalised children and young people.
- Learn about legal frameworks and approaches to prevention.
The teaching methods will include group work, lectures, guest lectures, workshops and audio-visual material. Case study material will be supplied as well as recommended reading to support each session.
What our students say
"The course exceeded my original hopes and expectations. The knowledge of the staff within the unit was not only academic but was also informed by frontline work in the violence against women sector. This experience gave a depth and a passion to the lectures and course materials."
"The course has been rigorous and thorough and very enlightening. It strengthened my academic reading and writing and vastly improved my knowledge of the subject. The quality of the teaching is excellent."
"It has really shaped my way of working and given me so much important knowledge and awareness, and a conviction that we can all make a difference."
Where this course can take you
Former students have gone on to:
- work in specialist support services for women and children who have experienced violence
- jobs in research on women, children and violence against women
- work in social care settings, ie mental health and social work
- lead on policy on violence against women and/or child abuse
- set up non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in their country of origin to support women's rights
- undertake PhDs
How to apply
Please email schooladmin@londonmet.ac.uk for further details on how to apply to the course
The cost for this course is £885. Please pay online through our eShop.
For more information on course content, please contact the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit on email to s.dhaliwal1@londonmet.ac.uk
When to apply
There is no official closing date for this course, but you are advised to apply as early as possible as we will only consider your application if there are places available on the course.