Appendix 1

Draft Sex and Relationships Education Policy of Hampshire County Youth Service June 2005.

Contents

1 The Context 2

2 What is Sex and Relationships Education? 4

3 Values 6

4 Legal background and good practice guidance 7

· Provision of condoms 8

· Confidentiality 8

· Working with Parents 9

5 Support and training for staff 10

References 12

1. Context

1.1 Teenage Pregnancy Strategy

1.1.1 In 1999, the Government launched a report from the Social Exclusion Unit on teenage pregnancy that set two goals:

· To halve the rate of conceptions among under 18s in England by 2010 and to set a firmly established downward trend in conceptions among under 16s

· To reduce the risk of long term social exclusion for teenage parents and their children by supporting teenage parents in education, training and employment.

1.1.2 To achieve the goals, a comprehensive, cross Government Teenage Pregnancy Strategy was launched. The strategy is implemented nationally by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit and locally through Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinators, who are jointly nominated by Local and Health Authorities. Each top tier local authority is required to have a multi-agency Teenage Pregnancy Partnership responsible for developing a local strategy and action plan fitting under the national strategy.

1.2 Why is the strategy necessary?

1.2.1 The UK has the highest teenage birth rate in Western Europe - three times as high as France and six times the rate in the Netherlands. Whilst other countries have achieved dramatic reductions in teenage pregnancy rates during the 1980s and 1990s, the UK rates have remained static; although recently there has been a slight decrease in these figures.

1.2.2 Many young parents manage extremely well, teenage births carry increased health risks for the young women and their babies. Teenage parents are more likely than their peers to live in poverty and to be unemployed. Of all teenagers who conceive, 50% of under 16s and more than a third of 16-17 year olds have abortions.

1.3 National Sexual Health & HIV Strategy.

1.3.1 In addition to high conception rates, at least 10% of sexually active teenagers are

estimated to have a sexually transmitted infection. Chlamydia rates are increasing fastest among 16-19 year old women. The Government's Sexual Health and HIV Strategy for England, published in July 2001, seeks to reduce these rates.

1.4 How the strategy aims to prevent unwanted teenage conceptions?

1.4.1 Around three-quarters of teenage births and the vast majority of teenage pregnancies that end in abortion are unplanned. Half of under 16s and a third of 16-19 year olds in the UK use no contraception the first time they have sex and many carry on not using or using contraception erratically. The proportions not using contraception at first sex are up to double the rates in other countries.

1.4.2 The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy aims to help young people resist peer pressure to have early sex and to use contraception if and when they decide to become sexually active. This is being done through a combination of a national media campaign in teenage magazines and local radio, improved sex and relationship education in schools and other agencies, the provision of effective contraception and advice services which are trusted by young people and support for parents in talking to their children about sex.

1.4.3 Hampshire County Youth Service has a role in the delivery of sex and relationships education (SRE). The voluntary nature of the relationship between youth workers and young people puts them in an ideal position to offer young people, when they are ready, the information and support they need to develop safe and responsible sexual relationships.

1.4.4 This policy provides:

· context and definition

· a clear framework for youth workers and young people to ensure good practice

· training, information and support contacts.

2. What is Sex and Relationships Education ?

Sex and Relationships Education is lifelong learning about sex, sexuality, emotions, relationships and sexual health.

SRE involves young people;

· acquiring information

· developing skills

· clarifying their attitudes and values

SRE helps to:

· develop a positive view of sexuality and sex

· support sexual self-acceptance

2.1 SRE in Youth Work settings

2.1.1 Young people have a right to receive accurate information on matters that affect them.

2.1.2 Research evidence shows comprehensive SRE which includes organisations and individuals in community settings, working alongside schools and sexual health services can:

· reduce the negative outcomes of sexual activity including unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections

· delay the age at which young people first have sexual intercourse

· lead to clarification of attitudes and values

· improve the quality of the relationships with partners, family and friends.

2.1.3 SRE, undertaken in youth projects:

· complements school-based learning

· enables issues to be discussed in a more informal setting where young people have chosen to participate.

2.1.4 Youth workers often work with marginalised groups of young people who may not be able or willing to access other services. Youth workers also work with groups of young people with specific needs, e.g. gay, lesbian and bisexual young people, single sex groups, young people with disabilities, black or minority ethnic groups and are well-placed to provide SRE opportunities to these groups.

Young people participating in SRE :

· develop positive values and a moral framework that will guide their decisions, judgements and behaviour

· are aware of their sexuality and understand human sexuality

· understand the argument for delaying sexual activity

· understand the reasons for having protected sex

· understand the consequences of their actions and behave responsibly within sexual and pastoral relationships

· have the confidence and self-esteem to value themselves and others

· have respect for individual conscience and the skills to judge what kind of relationship they want

· communicate effectively

· avoid being exploited or exploiting others

· avoid being pressured into unwanted or unprotected sex

· access confidential sexual health advice, support and if necessary, treatment

· know how the law applies to sexual relationships

· have sufficient information and skills to protect themselves and, where they have one, their partner from unintended or unwanted conceptions and sexually transmitted infections including HIV

(taken from Sex and Relationships Education Guidance DfEE 2000)

3. Values

3.1 Creating a supportive, inclusive environment

3.1.1 Young people need SRE to be delivered in a secure, trusting environment where they feel comfortable expressing their views and where individual experiences and differences are treated sensitively. This environment is created by:

· establishing a set of ground rules for group-based activities reinforcing the youth work ethos

· offering targeted provision, for example, single gender groups, specific groups such as gay, lesbian or bisexual young people

· ensuring working methods and resources reflect inclusiveness and embrace the needs of all young people

· challenging racism, sexism, homophobia and other prejudices

3.1.2 Youth workers should note recent changes in legislation has equalised the age of consent to sixteen for both homosexual and heterosexual sex. Section 28 of the Local Government Act (1988) has also been removed from the Statute Book. There is nothing which prohibits sensible discussion of same sex relationship issues with young people.

4. Legal Background and Good Practice Guidance

4.1 Youth workers can provide young people, including those who are under 16 years old, with general information about contraceptive methods and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This can include the importance of using condoms to prevent STIs.

4.2 Youth workers can:

· give young people details of where to access local services offering contraception

· take groups of young people to visit local services which offer contraception

· help a young person to make contact with services offering contraception

· accompany a young person to a clinic if they are worried about visiting on their own

· provide condoms to young people (see Provision of Condoms).

4.3 Giving young people advice on the suitability of a particular contraceptive method is not part of the youth worker's remit. In this case the young person should be encouraged to visit a local sexual health service.

4.4 If a young person is under 16, the youth worker should encourage them to seek support from their family or someone else they can trust. However, parental advice is not needed if a young person can understand the issues and appreciate the consequences. The Fraser Guidelines were developed for doctors but offer a good practice framework for anyone working in this area.

4.5 When working in schools, youth workers must adhere to the individual school's policy for SRE.

4.6 SRE will take place within practical and focused input as part of the youth work curriculum to enhance:

· skills that promote respectful and assertive dialogue between young people in potentially intimate relationships

· understanding about the different types of relationships

· understanding of the many personal needs we seek to fulfill via relationships

· understanding and belief in everyone's right to reflect on how best to meet their personal needs and make decisions right for themselves.

4.7 Provision of Condoms

4.7.1 Youth workers who have undergone specific training (e.g. Get It On course) may provide young people, including those under 16, with condoms. The supply of condoms is not seen as promoting sexual activity, but as providing the means to engage in it more safely.

4.8 Confidentiality (Link to Child Protection Policy & Confidentiality Policy)

4.8.1 Confidentiality is crucial for building the trust necessary for effective youth work and should be respected. Young people need to know what is meant by confidentiality in the project's setting. Youth workers need to be clear about exceptional situations when information needs to be disclosed. If a youth worker is concerned that a young person is at risk, they should apply the Child Protection procedures.

4.9 Working with parents

4.9.1 The teaching of some aspects of sex and relationships education may be of concern to some parents. Theses concerns may be addressed by being clear about what youth workers will be delivering when covering this area, by sharing policy and being transparent. The primary focus of the Youth Service is young people but at times, in order to support young people appropriately, it may be necessary to offer parents short-term support.

5. Support and Training for staff

5.1 Youth workers involved in SRE need to work in a supportive environment. Youth workers, working within the good practice guidelines of this policy can expect the full support of their managers. Youth workers need to regularly update their knowledge and consolidate their skills.

5.2 There is a range of organisations offering training, information and resources, some are listed below. There are additional blank boxes for you to register your local contacts and sources of support.

References

Dicenso, A and others. (2002) Interventions to reduce unintended pregnancies among adolescents: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. British Medical Journal: 324, 1426-1435.

Health Education Authority (1998) Reducing teenage pregnancies: An overview of the effectiveness of interventions and programmes aimed at reducing unintended conceptions in young people. HEA

Sex Education Forum (2002) Delivering sex and relationships education within the youth service. National Children's Bureau Enterprise Ltd.

Sex and Relationship Education Guidance (2000) DfEE. Ref: 0116/2000

Teenage Pregnancy Unit (2001) Guidance for youth workers on providing information and referring young people to contraceptive and sexual health services. Department of Health

Enabling young people to access contraceptive and sexual health advice - guidance for youth support workers. Department for Education and Skills 2005