The HSB Pathway Service

The Pathway Programme is a harmful and problematic sexual behaviour service funded by Derbyshire County Council Public Health and Children's Services. The service adopts a consultation model, offering up to six consultations per referral.

Join our webinars with guest speaker, Clinical and Forensic Psychologist Dr Ian Burke to learn about harmful and problematic sexual behaviour in children and young adults.

Dr Burke specialises in the treatment and assessment of harmful and problematic sexual behaviour in children and young people. He is the clinical lead of the Pathway Programme Service. In addition to this role he also works in private practice and sits as a specialist psychologist member of the Parole Board for England and Wales.

Each one hour webinar will have a different focus, and you are welcome to join them all.

More about the programme

The Pathway Programme offers expert advice and guidance to professionals supporting a child who is displaying concerning sexual behaviour. Our support is tailor made to meet the needs of each child and can include advice about safety planning, sharing resources to be used by other professionals working with the child, supervision and guidance of direct work, and recommendations and signposting where specialist direct work is indicated. We welcome the involvement of parents and seek to provide them with a safe space to explore their concerns.

Who can be referred?

The Pathway Programme Service is available for children living in Derbyshire who live with birth family or under private care arrangements. There needs to be a key professional involved with the child i.e. educational, health or social care. All referrals require consent from PR holder.

This service is now also available for Children in the Care of Derbyshire social care-living within 25 miles of Derbyshire Boarder. All referrals for CIC need to have the allocated Social Worker's consent.

How can I refer?

If you are concerned about a child's sexual behaviour and wish to make a referral, please contact us at pathwayservice@actionforchildren.org.uk.

Once you have made a referral to the service, this will be screened by the team and if the young person meets the eligibility criteria, you will be sent the next available consultation date, all consultations take place via MS teams.

Feedback from professionals who have accessed the Pathway Programme

"This child's needs are very complex, and we don't have the skills and specialism within our school to navigate this. Having someone explain the meaning behind the child's behaviour to both our team and the child's parents has been extremely helpful. I now feel I have a team behind me supporting this child."

"From a risk and safety planning perspective, I have found this really helpful and feel like we now have a plan for these children."

"We would never have been able to achieve the same outcomes for this child without the help of this service. It really is excellent."

"The clinical oversight has been invaluable for affective and child centred care planning."