This guide is for professionals who are concerned that a child is being, has been, or may be at risk of being sexually harmed by an adult or another child. It is also intended for designated professionals who are responsible for making referrals to children’s social care or contacting the police.
You may come into contact with a child through your role, for example as a youth worker, teacher or early years practitioner, healthcare professional, youth justice worker, voluntary‑sector worker, sports coach, social worker, or health visitor.
The guide provides guidance on how a child may be feeling, the actions you should take, and how to make an effective referral to children’s social care or report concerns to the police.
The context
This guide may be helpful if:
- you have concerns about possible child sexual abuse.
- a child has told you they are being, or have been, sexually abused.
- another person has told you that the child has told them something, or.
- images of children or online harms may have been discovered.
When planning your response, think about the context(s) in which the child may have been sexually abused. Consider:
- whether the abuse has taken place inside and/or outside the family environment.
- who may have abused them.
- whether the child has been sexually abused in more than one context, including online harms.
The protection and support that they are likely to require will depend on these factors. Every child is different and requires an individual response.
Remember, that practitioners can and should talk directly to children and families about concerns of sexual abuse.
If you have concerns a child is being or has been sexually abused and is in immediate danger, it is important to contact the police straight away.
How may the child be feeling?
A child who knows that a referral is being made to children’s social care may be feeling a complex mix of emotions:
- Fearful of navigating the situation alone while at home.
- Fearful of being blamed for the abuse.
- Worried about the stigma associated with children’s social care involvement.
- Scared about what might happen to themselves and their family, particularly if threatened by the person of concern.
- Experiencing continuous uncertainty and stress throughout the referral and assessment process.
- Heightened anxiety during referral and assessment, especially if still living at home.
- Conflicted loyalties and a heavy sense of responsibility for the situation.
- Relieved that adults are now aware and can take action.
- Hopeful for support and positive change.
Before you make a referral or contact the police
At this point, you may not have much information about what is happening to the child.
- Remember, that practitioners can and should talk directly to children and families about concerns of sexual abuse.
- Record your what the child has said and your observations in a contemporaneous note.
Deciding what actions to take
Talk to your safeguarding lead to decide what actions to take. The action you take will depend on your level of concern based on what the child has told you and/or what you have observed:
- If you have concerns about the child's welfare, make a referral to children's social care (using your local guidance).
- Where there is a concern that the child is suffering significant harm or is likely to do so, an immediate referral should be made.
- If the child is at imminent risk of harm, contact the police on 999.
Typically, your safeguarding lead has the responsibility to make a referral and/or contact the police. If they decide not to do so and you disagree with their decision:
- Check their understanding and whether you have made your concerns clear.
- If there is still disagreement about next steps, you may wish to pursue this via your organisation’s escalation procedures for resolving professional disagreements.
Talking to the child and their parent(s) before you make a referral
It is good practice to tell the child’s parent(s) as well as the child that you will be making a referral, provided that:
- the parent(s) are not suspected of the abuse.
- there are no concerns that they will fail to safeguard the child effectively.
- there are no concerns that they will threaten the child in any way, which might lead to the child feeling unable to talk to professionals.
If there are concerns that the child might be abused or silenced, or that a delay might compromise their safety, you must contact children’s social care/the police without informing them and their parent(s) first.
Making a referral
When making a referral:
- Clearly state your concerns.
- Use straightforward language.
- Write down what the child has said, in their own words.
- List and describe any signs and indicators of abuse you have observed.
- Describe the impact on the child – what have you seen in their behaviour and presentation?
- Describe any other concerns you have about the child, including child neglect, emotional abuse, domestic abuse and other forms of abuse, and any other information that you feel is concerning.
- Make clear what actions you expect children’s social care to take.
- Explain whether you have told the child and/or their non-abusing parent(s).
- Consider any other children or vulnerable adults who may be at risk.