Working with non-abusing parents and carers in cases of child sexual abuse

Understandably, we often think about the impact on the child when we think about sexual abuse. However, it is important to remember that sexual abuse of a child affects the whole family and parents and carers are likely to feel overwhelmed by shock, anger, confusion and disbelief. Working effectively with non-abusing parents and carers in cases of child sexual abuse is fundamental to the support and protection their children who are at risk of abuse, or have been abused.

Working with non-abusing parents and carers in cases of child sexual abuse is a one day course that equips all professionals working with children and their families with an understanding of the issues facing non-abusing parents and carers, and best practice in engaging them in effective assessment and intervention.

Who is this course for?

This course is for professionals across children’s and adults’ social care, health (primary care, mental health, midwifery, health visiting), prisons, probation, police, adoption services, fostering services and any other relevant services in contact with parent(s) and/or carer(s).
Professionals attending this course should already have completed our one-day introductory course on intra-familial child sexual abuse.

Who will run the course?

This course will be led by expert trainers with significant experience in practice, training, and working within cases of intra-familial child sexual abuse.

What can you expect to gain?

Building on the ‘Intra-familial child sexual abuse – an introduction’ course, this course will give you greater awareness of:

• the importance of effectively engaging non-abusing parents and carers in cases of child sexual abuse
• the issues facing non-abusing parents and carers when sexual abuse is suspected
• resources that you can use in your practice with non-abusing parents and carers.

You will also develop a better understanding of:

• the process of denial and how best to work with non-abusing parents to overcome this
• the key factors to assess a non-abusing parent or carer’s capacity to protect
• family dynamics and communication in cases of child sexual abuse
• ways to intervene with non-abusing parents and carers in cases of child sexual abuse.

All the information has been extremely useful and eased my anxiety of working with non-abusing parents.
 
Newly Qualified Social Worker