The framework helps commissioners, strategic leads and lead safeguarding professionals from any sector to improve their local area response to harmful sexual behaviour (HSB).

To get the most out of the framework we advise a multi-agency approach involving:

• staff with a strategic role in coordinating child protection and local HSB responses from different agencies
• commissioners of local child protection and HSB services
• those with a wider safeguarding remit and audit responsibility.

The framework is split into five domains that cover the essential elements of developing and delivering an integrated and effective HSB service for children, young people and their families:

• a continuum of responses to children and young people displaying HSB
• prevention, identification and early assessment
• effective assessment and referral pathways
• interventions
• workforce development.

Each domain includes:

• a summary of the latest evidence to back up practice and local decision making
• an audit checklist to help assess your HSB offer and service response
• key principles to consider when improving HSB service delivery, with practical examples.

Each domain of the Framework includes an audit checklist. We've also provided a separate downloadable audit tool (PDF) that brings all the checklists together in one place. This will help you record the results of your audit and gain an overall picture of your local area’s strengths and weaknesses.

You can also input the findings from your audit into our star tool (XLSX) which produces a visual representation of your audit scores.

If you work in the health sector, we've produced specific guidance to help you use the audit tool (PDF).