Young people often think that they have already communicated their distress through their behaviour or by ‘testing out’ a response from a professional by only telling them part of their story. This is part of the help-seeking behaviour that children develop from babyhood. It is crucial that professionals respond to this help-seeking behaviour, and especially where it raises safeguarding concerns. Where young people ‘test out’ the response of professionals, by telling them part of their experiences or something that is concerning them, professionals should follow this up with the young person by asking questions such as:
What would you like help with?
What would you like to happen now that you have told me this?
Stop and think; analyse the information shared by the child with professionals who know the child and family, and if you believe that the child may be at risk of significant harm, make a referral [1]. Never say you will keep information that the child has shared confidential, but do assure them that you will help them to be safe.
You should also go back to the young person once safeguarding action has been taken to ask them whether this was the response they were hoping for, or if they hoped for something different.
This was highlighted within the Dorset LCSPR report ‘The Siblings’ (August 2022) [2]. This review reinforces the fact that anyone who works with children and young people should be able to respond effectively if a young person says that they have been sexually abused , or ‘tests out’ the professional’s response by sharing some of their concerns or worries, or by displaying behaviour which could indicate that they are being sexually abused.
To provide feedback on this toolkit please click this link [3]
You can also scan the QR code below to access the survey:
