InCtrl is our service that aims to help protect children and young people from technology-assisted child sexual abuse (TA-CSA). We piloted the service between January 2019 and February 2020.
InCtrl uses group work to help increase children’s digital resilience, improve children’s emotional wellbeing and ensure they have effective social and family support networks to help keep them safe online. Practitioners also support parents and carers to understand the service and share their concerns and views about the needs of their child.
This evaluation report looks at factors that were barriers and facilitators to delivering the InCtrl service.
Authors: Nicola McConnell, Elizabeth Thomas, Sophie Johnson, Elena Zambartas, Ellie Pirrie, Chloe Pritchard and Emma Belton
Published: 2020
InCtrl was well-received by the young people attending and practitioners facilitating the groups. Practitioners could tailor session content to suit different ages, abilities and learning styles. Children’s relationships with the practitioners were very positive.
Children, parents and practitioners provided evidence of increased digital resilience, emotional resilience, and wellbeing for children who completed the pilot service.
Involvement of parents and carers within InCtrl is currently variable, so finding ways to increase the number of caregivers receiving advice and guidance will strengthen the support provided to children.
The pilot demonstrated a clear rationale for continuing to work with primary school aged children. Ages of children referred during the pilot ranged from 7 to 16 years, which was a wider age range than the target age group, but included children who found the materials accessible and would benefit from the service.
Boys who were referred to the service were more likely to be involved in gaming, while people referring girls were more concerned about their use of social media. Other reoccurring reasons for referrals include mental health, previous safeguarding incidents, bullying and professionals having concerns about a child’s online behaviour.
McConnell, N. et al. (2020) Increasing safety and the resilience of children at risk of technology-assisted child sexual abuse: implementation evaluation for InCtrl. London: NSPCC.
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.
See all our information, guidance and resources to help you create safer online spaces for children and young people.
Access guidance, resources and training to help you respond to and prevent incidents of problematic sexual behaviour and harmful sexual behaviour, including child-on-child and peer-on-peer sexual abuse.
