How do I decide when unauthorised contact is grooming?
Sexual misconduct includes ‘grooming behaviour’, or patterns of behaviour aimed at engaging or ‘grooming’ a child as a precursor to sexual abuse. However, such abuse need not have happened for grooming to have occurred. The grooming process can include: • persuading a child that a ‘special’ relationship exists – spending inappropriate special time with the child, inappropriately giving gifts, showing special favours to them but not other children, allowing the child to overstep rules, etc.; • testing of boundaries – undressing in front of the child, allowing the child to sit on the lap, talking about sex, ‘accidental’ touching of genitals, etc.; • establishing relationships outside the employment relationship – grooming should not be assumed where such relationships are the result of a relationship established before employment; and/or • inappropriate personal correspondence, including electronic communication, with a child. These behaviours may not indicate risk if they occur in isola
