Intra-familial Child Sexual Abuse - An introduction for Multi-agency Staff (FF)

All professionals working with children need to be able to identify and respond to concerns of child sexual abuse, especially in a home setting. Whilst it is possible for all victims and survivors of intra-familial child sexual abuse to recover from their abuse, research suggests that abuse by a family member can be serious and chronic. Evidence suggests the impact of this is best mitigated when supported by professionals who show care and compassion, facilitate choice, control and safety, and are trained to best support them and their wider families.

An introduction to intra-familial child sexual abuse is a one-day course designed for all professionals working in collaboration with other agencies, to provide an overview of the key issues to support them in identifying and responding to cases of intra familial child sexual abuse.

This course is for all professionals working with children, young people and/or their parents or carers. This may include roles across education, health, children’s social care, youth offending, prisons, probation, police, adoption services, fostering services who work as part of a multi-agency arrangement or safeguarding partnership.

• Introduction and context
• Understanding the scale of child sexual abuse
• The challenges, myths and obstacles
• A multi-agency response
• Understanding the child’s context: Impact, signs and indicators
• Children’s disclosures and the professional role
• How sexual abuse takes place in families
• Wider resources