The Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership's 2023-2026 Strategic Plan sets out the partnership's intent to improve the identification and response to Child Sexual Abuse in Bristol.
Child sexual abuse affects children of all backgrounds, genders and ages. It can include (but not exclusive to)
Child sexual abuse can impact all aspects of children's development and wellbeing. However it is often a hidden form of abuse and there are many barriers for children speaking to people about what is happening to them and also barriers to professionals feeling confident to recognise it and respond.
For resources to tackle incidents of sexual abuse that happens outside of the family home, please consider visiting our contextual safeguarding page.
Interpretation of Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance indicates a recommendation of how you may support training and development for your staff groups and workforce:
We encourage professionals to be able to follow their safeguarding policy and procedures. Settings must following their Local Safeguarding Partnerships pathways which includes taking action with statutory agencies when a child is need and or at risk of and/or suffering significant harm.
If you are struggling to consider what action to take, the Center of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse have created the Child Sexual Abuse Response Pathway (below) which highlights good practice when there are concerns that a child or young person is being or has been sexually abused. It aims to bring clarity to professionals’ responsibilities and actions at key points to meet children’s needs for safety and support and address their wider wellbeing.
Information and guidance has been developed which explains how the needs of the child or young person can be met throughout the pathway. You can view this by clicking on the coloured boxes below. Please note that this page covers the initial response to concerns of child sexual abuse.
We are mindful that there may need to be a confidential space depending on the situation the Lucy Faithful Foundation provides confidential advice and guidance to all around the issue of Child Sexual Abuse through the Stop It Now helpline.
call 0808 1000 900 or visit: http://bit.ly/35oIUmz.
The award represents a commitment to safeguarding staff, students and preventing unhealthy behaviours in the next generation.
The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse have produced a number of guides and resources to support you to work with children and families affected by sexual abuse:
Stop It Now | Preventing child sexual abuse- a child protection charity set up by the The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, working to prevent child sexual abuse. We campaign and raise awareness across the UK to help adults to do their part to stop child sexual abuse by addressing personal, family and community concerns. There is a connected site for parents and carers - Parents Protect with films, tips and resources to support with safety planning.
