If you have concerns that a young person is being sexually abused these should be sensitively raised with their parents/carers (if they are not suspected of involvement). The Engaging Families Toolkit may be helpful here.

Also useful is “But they must have known!” Effectively working with non-abusing parents  by Anna Glinski on the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse website.  She highlights the importance of this multi-agency work, noting the depth and complexity of feelings that may arise for parents when they learn that their child has been abused by a family member.

Glinski highlights the fact that social inequality can heighten the impact for the non-abusing parent:

‘For those from Black, Asian and minoritized communities, or with English as a second language, or whose residence in this country is threatened, there may be additional and significant consequences for what has happened.’

This will be just as true for disabled parents.

The Centre of Expertise for CSA has also developed a helpful guide for supporting non-abusing parents and carers here Supporting-Parents-and-Carers-A-guide-for-those-working-with-families-affected-by-child-sexual-abuse-compressed.pdf (pdscp.co.uk). The Centre has also published Managing risk and trauma – CSA Centre.

Parents who are disabled, or who have learning disabilities, may encounter disadvantage and discrimination when involved in child protection proceedings.  Dorset Council has developed protocols for working with parents with a physical or a learning disability to ensure that proceedings are inclusive and fair:

Multi Agency Protocol for work with Parents who are Disabled

Multi-Agency Protocol for work with Parents who have a Learning Disability

Other links to sources of support for families:

HOME | ACTS FAST

We Stand (previously known as MOSAC) offer support for the whole family, including siblings of the child that has been sexually abused, who have been impacted by sexual abuse.

To provide feedback on this toolkit please click this link

You can also scan the QR code below to take you to the survey: