The grooming process
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The grooming process
2
Favouritism
3
Alienation
4
Secrecy
5
Most commonly associated with sexual abuse, the grooming process can also be applicable to other forms of abuse, most particularly financial abuse.
The video on this screen will show you the typical stages that an abuser or potential abuser goes through when grooming a learner.
Select the Play button to start the video.
After you have watched the video read the question, then type your answer into the text box. Select Save when you have finished.
Think of some other ways in which trust could be gained.
There are many ways for an abuser to gain a learner's trust, such as by keeping promises or carrying out favours. If they are already in a position of trust, this may not be too difficult.
Abusers will often try to gain the trust of carers and parents too - not just that of the learner.
Write down any more thoughts in your Notepad for future reference.
Select tab 2 to watch the next part of the video.
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After you have watched the video read the question, then type your answer into the text box. Select Save when you have finished.
Think of some other ways in which staff may show favouritism to a learner.
A tutor giving a learner particular leeway - for example, extra time for deadlines, or additional help with work - or a member of care staff being more sympathetic to certain disabilities may be examples of favouritism. Examples of favouritism can be very concrete, or more subtle. A learner may feel they owe the abuser something if they have accepted favours.
While it is necessary to treat everyone fairly and equally, there may be particular circumstances where there are legitimate reasons for giving a learner or group of learners extra time with deadlines, or additional assistance with work. There may not be anything sinister in this, but staff need to take account of circumstances and make any decisions with a senior member of staff or line manager, not unilaterally.
Write down any more thoughts in your Notepad for future reference.
Select tab 3 to watch the next part of the video.
Select the Play button to start the video.
After you have watched the video read the question, then type your answer into the text box. Select Save when you have finished.
Think of other ways in which a learner could be alienated from family and friends.
Perhaps the abuser is able to persuade the learner that their friends or family have deceived them or are not acting in their best interests. This then increases the learner's dependency on the abuser as someone they can trust and builds exclusivity in the relationship.
Write down any more thoughts in your Notepad for future reference.
Select tab 4 to watch the next part of the video.
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After you have watched the video read the question, then type your answer into the text box. Select Save when you have finished.
Think of other ways in which secrecy may be used in grooming a learner.
An event or action, such as giving a gift, may be the spark for secrecy. An abuser may try to cross boundaries, or meet a learner outside of the learning environment. They may also tell a learner to keep their abuse a secret from others. Keeping the relationship secret allows the abuser greater control of the learner.
Write down any more thoughts in your Notepad for future reference.
Select tab 5 to watch the next part of the video.
Select the Play button to start the video.
After you have watched the video read the question, then type your answer into the text box. Select Save when you have finished.
Think of other ways in which a learner's boundaries could be violated.
Boundaries can include physical contact, meeting outside the learning environment, or inappropriate conversation. Inappropriate physical contact can often start with boundary violations too.
These characteristics of the grooming process are not isolated and feed into each other.
- Trust.
- Favouritism.
- Alienation.
- Secrecy.
- Boundary violations.
The combination of these elements sets the scene for abuse to occur. Write down any more thoughts in your Notepad for future reference.
To improve safeguarding, you should consider these elements when compiling or reviewing the organisation's code of conduct.