New sibling sexual abuse service launched

By Emily Robson Brown, Partnerships Development Officer

The NSPCC has launched a new pilot service designed to support families who have experienced sibling sexual harm or abuse. The two-year pilot, which will operate in one chosen London borough, brings together a multi-disciplinary team of social workers, clinicians and family therapists to offer a service called Stepping Stones to help families address trauma, reduce harm and rebuild their lives.

The number of children affected by this hidden harm is far greater than is acknowledged by UK official statistics, policymakers and service providers. Sibling Sexual harm and abuse has been referred to as the ‘last taboo’¹ and is a deeply complex issue that is often misunderstood and underreported.

Yet research suggests it is the most common form of intra-familial sexual harm. Around 1–5% of children have been sexually abused by a sibling (and a further number have experienced other forms of sibling sexual behaviour).² This can have long-lasting emotional, psychological, and social consequences for both the victim and the wider family unit.

The need for a service of this kind has been highlighted by a 2021 report from the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, which also highlights that sibling sexual harm and abuse is likely to be the most common form of intra-familial sexual abuse.³ Many victims feel confused, ashamed or fearful of breaking up the family, leading to underreporting and delayed interventions.

The NSPCC aims to fill a critical gap in existing services by addressing sibling sexual harm and abuse within a broader family context, working with:

• the child or children who have harmed
• the child or children who have experienced harm
• non-harming siblings
• parents and carers.

The development of Stepping Stones started following a commissioned piece of work undertaken by Dr Elly Hanson. Dr Hanson undertook an extensive analytical research review into sibling sexual harm and abuse that included recommendations of what the findings mean for practice.

The review significantly informed the NSPCC’s thinking and approach to forming the Stepping Stones service. It highlighted the prevalence of sibling sexual harm and abuse, the nature and dynamics of this type of harm and the different risk factors for children and families.

Our new Stepping Stones pilot service marks a hopeful step forward in addressing the complex needs of families affected by sibling sexual harm and abuse and we will evaluate its impact. We believe that by offering a multi-disciplinary approach, combining therapeutic care with practical social work, it can set a new standard for how families affected by sibling sexual harm and abuse are responded to and supported.

> Read the research review and analysis of sibling sexual harm and abuse