It is easy to assume that when a child is experiencing harm, someone will notice, speak up, and act. Yet for many children who experience sexual abuse in their family environment, this does not happen.
Despite the efforts of dedicated professionals, too many children remain unheard, unseen, and unprotected.
In the national review of 193 children conducted by the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, the perpetrator was already known to pose a risk of sexual harm in over a third of cases. However, fragmented systems, missed warning signs, and a lack of robust risk assessments meant that many children were left unprotected.
A new report, I wanted them all to notice, by The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel explores how multi-agency safeguarding systems respond to child sexual abuse (CSA).
It brings into sharp focus some of the challenges that make it difficult for professionals to identify and respond to this abuse that include:
- Practitioners without the knowledge, skills and confidence to identify and talk to children and families about abuse.
- Uncertainty about appropriate information sharing or multi-agency working.
- Relying on criminal justice thresholds of evidence for action.
Uncertainty about what practitioners can and cannot say to children has led to worries about hindering criminal investigations and a culture of fear and silence. Practitioners often feel they must wait for a verbal disclosure which is particularly concerning for pre-verbal, non-verbal, disabled, and neurodivergent children whose distress can be misinterpreted or overlooked.
Even when children attempted to communicate their experiences, they often lacked safe, trusted spaces in which to do so. One child mentioned in the report, Ruby, reflected that she wished practitioners had spoken to her alone and away from the family home, as she was always conscious that someone might overhear.
Challenges for practitioners
Practitioners working in social care know these challenges well. Many have faced the discomfort of suspecting abuse but not feeling confident in what to do next. Others have seen how disabled children struggle to have their experiences recognised as abuse, or children from minoritised backgrounds receive less proactive intervention.
The emotional weight of these realities can be heavy, and the fear of getting it wrong can be paralysing. High caseloads, complex multi-agency systems, and a lack of specialist training create additional barriers to effective intervention, leaving professionals feeling underprepared.
Recommendations for change
The report outlines ten key recommendations and calls for a national strategic plan to create a joined-up system where children are protected from intrafamilial child sexual abuse. Among the recommendations is the need for training to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of practitioners to talk to children, identify and respond to abuse.
Taking action together: What can we do?
While no single practitioner or agency can tackle CSA in the family environment alone, by strengthening our skills, increasing our confidence, and ensuring we have access to the right tools, we can help break the silence that has allowed abuse to persist. This is not about individual blame, but about collective action to ensure that every child is noticed, heard, and protected.
Research in Practice is hosting a webinar with Anna Glinski from the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse. In the session we will explore the key findings and recommendations from the report, highlight practical resources, and offer space for practitioners to reflect on how they can strengthen their responses to child sexual abuse in the family environment.
Identifying and strengthening responses to intrafamilial child sexual abuse
In partnership with the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, this webinar will explore key findings from the report, providing an opportunity to discuss the research, reflect on strengths and challenges in practice, and consider how we can act on the recommendations.
Recognising and responding to child sexual abuse in the family environment requires a whole-system approach. It is not just about individual practitioners, but about creating a culture where professionals feel equipped, supported, and empowered to act.
By building knowledge, strengthening multi-agency collaboration, and enabling a practice of professional curiosity, we can help ensure that no child remains unseen or unheard.
The findings from I wanted them all to notice serve as a call to action—one that challenges us all to do better in identifying and addressing this deeply complex issue.
Research in Practice offers a wealth of evidence-informed resources and learning events. Have a look at some of the ideas listed below:
- Work through our new critical reflection and analysis learning pathway to enhance your professional curiosity.
- Listen to this podcast about the importance of reflective supervision on your way to work.
- Join our 60 minute practice pointer session about supporting difficult conversations in social care practice based on this frontline briefing.
- Add Professor Eileen Munro’s film resources on working with uncertainty and risk in children’s social care to your watch list.
