Policy Press Making sense of child sexual exploitation: Exchange, Abuse and Young People

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is now high on the social care agenda, but what is it? How is it different from other forms of child sexual abuse? This important book puts forward the rarely heard voices of children and young people who have experienced CSE and the professionals who have worked with them to answer these questions. Taking a critical perspective, Hallett also addresses the possibility that further problems might arise from the framing of child sexual exploitation, which can have serious implications for the ways that society responds to CSE and to the children and young people caught up in it. Central to the discussion are themes such as youth, childhood, care and power, making for an important sociological contribution to this under-researched field. The book challenges the dominant way of thinking about CSE and, with new and valuable practice and policy relevant insights, is also essential reading for those working or training to work with children and young people. Review "This excellent book provides vital new insights into the nature of child sexual exploitation, its impact, how to prevent it and promote recovery. It is essential reading for all concerned about this major problem."--Harry Ferguson, University of Nottingham "This is a 'go-to' book for those concerned with child sexual exploitation, raising critical questions about definition and appropriate responses."--Jenny Pearce, OBE, director of the International Centre Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking, University of Bedfordshire About the Author Dr Sophie Hallett is a lecturer in social policy in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University. Her research interests focus on young people and social care.