Position of trust and how power can be abused

Question 1

What does the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 2000 state?

Answer 1

It is an offence for someone over 18 to engage in sexual activity with someone under that age when they are in a position of trust.
All adults who work with children and young people should be aware that they are in this position.

Question 2

Who are adults who work with children responsible for?

Answer 2

• Children who are in a care home, are in residential care or are fostered.
• full-time education in which the older person is involved in caring for them
• A hospital, children’s home or residential establishment that cares for children with physical or learning disabilities, mental illness or behavioural problems

Question 3

How may adults use their position in a negative way? and what might this involve?

Answer 3

1. Taking advantage of an individual - Those in a position of trust may use their influence to exploit a child or young person for their own benefit.
2. Gaining unauthorised access to private or sensitive information for their own or others’ advantage - Adults may look at sensitive information which they are not entitled to do, in order to find out more about the child or young person for their own advantage.
3. Manipulating an individual - Those in a position of power may try to manipulate a child or young person by controlling them and using their position to get what they want.
4. Using a position of trust to bully, humiliate or undermine - Adults may use their position to use verbal abuse in ways which make the child or
   young person feel humiliated or bullied.
5. Threatening punishment for non-compliance with unreasonable demands - Adults may threaten a child or young person by telling them that they will punish them if they do not do what they have asked them to.