Sexual Abuse

Child Sexual Abuse

Please find guidance from the CSA Centre and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation regarding Safeguarding in the Whole Family when there are concerns for sexual offending in the family network:

https://www.csacentre.org.uk/documents/managing-risk-and-trauma-after-online-sexual-offending/

As a Partnership, one of our current priorities is developing our multi-agency practice in relation to Child Sexual Abuse (CSA).

CSA in the family and friendship environment is a really hard form of abuse for us to face, as it means thinking the unthinkable.

What is child sexual abuse?

• Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
• The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet).
• Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

(HM Government, 2015)