Who is Letting the Future In for?
The service is for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse, are happy to be referred to the programme and are aged from 4 to 17 years, or up to 19 for children and young people with mild or moderate learning disabilities.
The child or young person should ideally also be:
- living with a carer who has been identified as safe, or
- not living with the alleged adult perpetrator, or
- in a foster home with no planned moves.
If they are living with another child or young person who has abused them, then a safety plan must be in place. This should include the views of the child who has been sexually abused.
If the child or young person has a learning disability there are additional criteria they must meet.
- The child or young person should be living with a carer who has been assessed as safe and not living with the alleged perpetrator who might be an adult or another child or young person.
- If the child or young person is in a placement, this has been assessed as stable, there are no planned moves and a significant carer is identified to work with the child.
- Consent of at least one parent or carer and the informed consent or assent of the child or young person is required.
The child or young person may have additional support needs such as autism or a physical disability. In exceptional circumstances, referrals for children with severe learning disabilities may be approved.
There must be an investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse, unless:
- the child is of sufficient age and understanding to withhold a formal statement to the police
- children’s social care are aware of the allegation
- protective action has been taken (such as the alleged abuser agreeing to leave the home or an agreement to move the child to a safer place).
At the point that the investigation begins and is known to children’s services, we are able to engage with the child or young person. In rare circumstances, this might happen post-conviction.
Making a referral
To make a referral to LTFI, get in touch with one of the service centres offering this service, as listed under the Locations tab.
Service centres that are delivering the programme to children with learning disabilities are indicated with an asterisk.
Help us reach more children and young people
Are you interested in helping children or young people in your local area recover from sexual abuse? We are training and supporting organisations to adopt, implement and deliver the LTFI programme.
> Learn more about the opportunity