This guide is aimed at social workers and other professionals who are involved in child in need or Family Help meetings (England) or care and support meetings (Wales) where concerns have been raised around child sexual abuse.
It is also relevant to any other professionals working with the child at this time, such as police officers, so they can understand what is happening and explain this to the child and their family.
What does it mean to be supported through a Family Help or Care and Support Plan?
A Family Help or Care and Support Plan (called a Plan from here) will be developed in situations where:
- there is no ongoing risk of sexual abuse (or that any risks can be managed without a child protection plan);
- the multi-agency assessment concludes that the child has unmet needs, and;
- they require support to promote their wellbeing and development.
How may the child be feeling?
The child may be feeling a complex range of emotions.
- They may be relieved and reassured that something definite is happening, and start to believe that things will get better.
- They may be worried about what having different professionals involved will mean for them and their family.
- They may feel afraid, under pressure or embarrassed at the thought of having to talk to these professionals .
- They may fear that they or their siblings will be taken into care.
- They may feel vulnerable, especially if the suspected individual has not been arrested or remains under police investigation.
- They may be worried they are in trouble or have done something wrong, particularly if no criminal charges are pursued.
- They may feel responsible for upsetting their family.
“I felt like, when the services got involved, ‘I can speak to these now because my mum and dad are angry with me and these aren’t."
“I just think it’s absolutely stupid that … [the social workers are] always coming round and it’s like we have to revolve all that we do around them and I just don’t like it. It’s horrible.”
“I can chat to [my social worker], like about what I’m not happy about, what I am happy about, what I want to change for the future, how I can get things sorted for the future.”
“They just put it in the report and they don’t even tell our family what they’re going to write, so that’s what I don’t really like about the social [worker].”
How can you best help the child and their family?
The social worker who is responsible for developing and implementing the plan and chairing the meetings can support the family by:
- Co-developing the plan with the family and ensuring the child's views and needs are fully considered.
- Considering any ongoing police investigation or proceedings.
- Identify and respond to the child's support needs.
- Identify and respond to the families support needs, including what support the non-abusing parent and siblings need for themselves.
- Considering the context of the abuse, such as whether it was in the family environment, outside the home or online and how these risks might intersect.
- Considering how to respond if the child has displayed harmful behaviours.
- Supporting and engaging in any police action.
- Co-develop a safety plan with the child and family where safe and appropriate.