Operation ACORNE was a large scale and complex multi-agency investigation into child sexual abuse in the Gloucestershire area. It developed over several years and encompassed a number of children and adults, from four families who were within a tightly controlled family network that included family friends. This episode looks at the subsequent findings from the review published by Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership. 
Learning themes include:
-Quality of Risk Assessment & Decision Making
-Giving too much weight to criminal prosecution over safeguarding action
-Including the children's views and experiences in decision making processes
-Quality of partnership working
-The impact of budgetary cuts
-Professional challenge & escalation
-Understanding of Harmful Sexual Behaviour & wider Child Sexual Abuse