Abstract

The scale of the Rotherham child protection scandal has led professionals responsible for safeguarding children in other regions to recognise the extent of child abuse in their area and consider how to respond efficiently. Drawing on lessons learned from key case reviews and independent practice, this book tells the story of Rotherham and shows the consequences of failing to respond to concerns of child sexual exploitation. Using case examples demonstrating both poor and good practice, from Rotherham and elsewhere, the authors are able to present recommendations for improvements at strategic management and frontline practitioner levels.
Adele Gladman and Angie Heal have taken on a daunting task in writing a book about organised sexual abuse and intimate terrorism, with input from survivors, victims and professionals. The result is an extraordinary achievement, full of direct testimony and of real practical use to families, practitioners and managers in sustaining a proactive, community-wide approach to these social evils. The worst of human behaviour is here, and yet to counter this we also see amazing courage, resistance and love, and excellent practice to counter the failures. Anyone can benefit from reading this book, because we all need to understand what makes communities vulnerable to networks of abuse and the continuous steps that are needed to help keep them safe.
Ruth Gardner PhD, FRSA is Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Research on Children and Families at the University of East Anglia
Adele Gladman and Angie Heal were two of the remarkable individuals who understood what was happening in Rotherham long before the world did, and worked tirelessly to support young people and make others take action ... This book is therefore of great significance as the authors, once again, bring the experiences of children and young people themselves to the fore.
Anne Longfield OBE, Children's Commissioner for England
This is a comprehensive work by two practitioners who were at the heart of the Rotherham CSE case. It is without doubt the defining work on sexual exploitation of children in the UK and is a text that all social workers and practitioners in the field should read. It has been important to chart the history of Rotherham. It has enabled the authors to provide much needed guidance for us all on how best to recognise and deal with this scourge of our towns and cities.
David Greenwood, Head of the Child Abuse Department, Switalskis Solicitors
Adele Gladman is an experienced safeguarding children trainer and consultant, and previously ran the research and development pilot funded by the Home Office which was referred to in both the Jay and Casey reports during the Rotherham case. Dr Angie Heal was a strategic analyst working for South Yorkshire police who has since contributed to Panorama documentaries. Both gave evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee for the Rotherham case in 2014 and they continue to assist with ongoing investigation and inquiries.