If you have any non-urgent (i.e. where there is no immediate threat to life) information to share with Dorset Police regarding suspected child sexual abuse please submit this via the Partner Information Sharing and Intelligence form [1]. This is in addition to adhering to the core safeguarding procedures.
Sexual Health Dorset
As a professional working with a child or young person who requires support from Dorset’s sexual health services, please follow the referral pathway below relevant to the young person.
Pathway for a young person aged up to 19 years or 25 if they have an additional vulnerability [2]
Referral Pathway for Victims of Sexual Assault Aged Under 13 Years [3]
Referral Pathway for Victims of Sexual Assault Aged 13-17 Years [4]
Pathway for vulnerable pregnant patients [5]
Acts Fast [6] – We are a group of people who are committed to addressing the injustice from the lack of support shown to the protective parent/carer of sexually abused children.
STARS [7] is a Pan-Dorset charity providing free support and counselling to anyone of any age who has experienced sexual violence; Sexual Trauma and Recovery Services (STARS)
NICE has produced a report on Therapeutic Interventions after Abuse and Neglect. [8]
Somerset Phoenix Projec [9]t – Working alongside professionals and supporting children, young people and families affected by sexual abuse.
The CSA Centre of Expertise is working on developing a multi-agency pathway and you can see the work that has started here through an updated briefing. [10]
This Toolkit will be updated when any new pathways are finalised. The CSA Centre also produced a review on Improving Responses to the Sexual Abuse of Black, Asian and Minority Children. [11] This looks at unconscious bias and overcoming barriers when working with communities and at the impact of failing to recognise and take into account cultural issues and experiences.
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation [12] is the only UK-wide child protection charity
dedicated solely to preventing child sexual abuse. We work closely with frontline workers and professionals such as police officers, social workers and education staff to ensure children are as safe as they can be. We keep children safe in all our work.
We work with entire families that have been affected by sexual abuse including:
young people with inappropriate sexual behaviours, adult male and female sexual abusers, victims of abuse and other family members. Drawing on our expert knowledge, we offer a broad range of services for professionals and members of the public.
Barnardo’s
Barnardo’s [13] is a charity that has been supporting children and young people affected by sexual abuse since 1994. They provide child abuse and exploitation services across the UK, including:
• therapy and counselling
• supporting children and young people through court proceedings when abusers are prosecuted
• supporting the wider family
• increasing public awareness of sexual abuse
NSPCC
Sexual abuse can have both short and long term effects. The impact of sexual abuse can last a lifetime.
Children, young people and adults may live with:
• anxiety and depression
• eating disorders
• post-traumatic stress
• difficulty coping with stress
• self-harm
• suicidal thoughts and suicide
• sexually transmitted infections
• pregnancy
• feelings of shame and guilt
• drug and alcohol problems
• relationship problems with family, friends, and partners.
NSPCC services [14] can support children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse to help them move on and receive the care they need.
Please see HERE [15] for a leaflet that can be provided to young people and parents/carers, which provides further information about what they can expect in a genital examination.
Resources and support for adult survivors of child sexual abuse:
If you are working with a parent or carer who have experienced child sexual abuse, or if you yourself have experienced abuse, please find sources of support provided by National charities and not for profit organisations:
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood NAPAC – Supporting Recovery From Childhood Abuse [16]
Support for Survivors Support for Survivors [17]
Help for Adult Victims of Child Abuse Help for Adult Victims Of Child Abuse – HAVOCA – Help for Adult Victims Of Child Abuse – HAVOCA [18]
Dorset also has a Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service (STARS) which can support adult survivors of sexual abuse. For further information on their service and how to refer please visit Sexual Trauma and Recovery Services (STARS) (starsdorset.org) [7]
Sexual Health Dorset offer a range of sexual health services for adults, as well as young people, and further information on their services can be accessed here [19]
The Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children’s Partnership held a conference in 2022 on child sexual abuse and you can find further information on this via PDSCP Child Sexual Abuse Conference 2022 – Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership [20]. This includes the digital resource pack [21] for those resources referenced in this toolkit, plus additional ones.
To provide feedback on this toolkit please click this link [22]
You can also scan the QR code below to take you to the toolkit:
