E-Learning Course: Understanding Prostitution and the Sex Trade for ISVAs

This session is for anyone who has completed, or is currently completing, an ISVA qualification and is looking for additional information on understanding and supporting women who are in prostitution or the sex trade.

Understand the political and ideological debates and language used

• know a definition of prostitution  

• understand the main debates around language used (that of exploitations and that of work) 

• evaluate types of language appropriate to different settings and apply understanding of appropriate language to a case study  

• recognise relevant information and assess need and risk using that information 

• evaluate your own views on prostitution and the sex trade 

Have an overview of the spectrum of activities covered by the terms ‘prostitution’ and the ‘sex trade’

• know the types of behaviours and activities that are considered to be prostitution and part of the sex trade 

• be able to differentiate between activities and behaviours that involve varying types of physical, sexual and personal contact 

• recognise the various types of activities and behaviours in a case study 

• recognise relevant information and assess need and risk using that information 

• evaluate the relevance of types of activities and behaviours in the sex trade in ISVA work 

Know the legal context of prostitution and the sex trade in England and Wales

• know the definition of consent in The Sexual Offences Act 2003 

• apply definition of consent to a case study and evaluate the impact of various factors on consent 

• know the aspects of The Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the Street Offences Act 1959 relevant to prostitution  

• recognise how the law might affect women in prostitution and have considered appropriate responses as an ISVA 

• recognise relevant information and assess need and risk using that information 

• evaluate the relevance of types of activities and behaviours in the sex trade in ISVA work 

Recognise the factors that lead to involvement in prostitution and the barriers to leaving prostitution

• identify experiences and incidents that might contribute to involvement in prostitution 

• identify barrier to leaving prostitution  

• recognise relevant information and assess need and risk using that information 

Consider appropriate ways to support women who report sexual violence they have been subjected to in prostitution

• evaluate services in your organisation and other organisations and their appropriateness for women in prostitution 

• recognise relevant information and assess need and risk using that information 

• evaluate the appropriateness of services and the gaps in service