National Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service (NCATS)
Sexually Harmful Behaviours Project
The National Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service (NCATS) was formerly known as the NSPCC Young Abusers Project (YAP) .
Our primary client group is children and young people who have perpetrated sexual harm. We offer assessment, treatment and consultation services for them.
Our work with
sexually harmful behaviour (SHB) provides a direct input into establishing best practice. NCATS is one of a number of NSPCC teams working with SHB but is unique in having a national catchment and staff members from psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy and social work backgrounds.
Our multi-disciplinary team provides assessments and treatment services for children and young people up to the age of 21 (there is no lower age group), where concerns exist about
sexually harmful or
sexually abusive behaviour. This is also extended to children who have displayed
dangerous behaviour (serious assault or murder).
Our work at Fresh Start includes:
risk assessments
psychiatric and specialist reports
individual psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy
attendance at court as expert witnesses
consultation and training
expert advice in complex forensic cases
NCATS Research - we investigate a diversity of forensic issues in children and young people, with a particular focus on sexually harmful behaviour and early maltreatment.
Our research informs best practice and our publications cover topics such as:
- the early onset of sexually harmful behaviour in childhood
- developmental trajectories linking early onset SHB and subsequent antisocial behaviour
- individual psychotherapy for children and young people with SHB, including juvenile sex offenders
- assessment of pre-pubescent and adolescent sexual abusers
- review of the research literature on child and adolescent sex abuse perpetrators
- manualised treatment programme for male adolescents with SHB.
The
National Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service (NCATS) information pack 2009 (PDF, 188KB)
provides further details about our work, as well as referral forms. Please note that we can only accept referrals from qualified professionals; please view the
NCATS information pack disclaimer (PDF, 13KB)
This project is managed jointly by the NSPCC and Islington Primary Care Trust, NHS.
Copyright © 2009 NSPCC - All rights reserved. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Weston House, 42
Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered charity number 216401. NSPCC, charity registered in Scotland, charity number SC037717.