Research has highlighted a shortfall in specialist services for children who have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA), and a lack of confidence amongst professionals in preventing, recognising and responding to CSA1.
We wanted to develop an innovative system-wide approach that would improve the quality and coherence of CSA support to children and families.
With funding from a Home Office CSA Support Services Transformation Fund grant, we delivered the Child Sexual Abuse Recovery Project to develop:
References
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) et al (2020) The multi-agency response to child sexual abuse in the family environment: prevention, identification, protection and support. Manchester: Ofsted.The snapshots highlighted best practice, gaps and barriers in local provision. They also helped strategic leads to prioritise local effort and facilitated multi-agency discussions.
Professionals who completed the training reported improved understanding of best practice and of the support children and the families affected by CSA need, as well as the impact on communities.
75% of participants who completed the training completed a questionnaire. Of these, 83% of respondents reported improved or greatly improved understanding of best practice in improving the outcomes for children and families affected by CSA.
Following the successful pilot of this innovative system wide approach, we are delighted to have been awarded funding from the Home Office Support for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (SVSCSA) fund towards delivering services and training partner organisations across England and Wales.
This means that limited funding is available for the NSPCC to provide the CSA system snapshot, Developing an understanding of CSA training and LTFI service to regions who may be interested.
If you would like to hear more about taking up this limited funded opportunity and helping strengthen your CSA response, please email CSAawareness@nspcc.org.uk.
Please cite as: NSPCC (2022) LTFI and Child Sexual Abuse Recovery Project: briefing. London: NSPCC.
Find out more about how our LTFI service helps children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse rebuild their lives.
Our service helps local areas improve their child sexual abuse (CSA) services for children and families.
Use our information and resources to help you recognise child sexual abuse when working or volunteering with children. Includes what signs to look out for and how to respond to concerns.
