Avon & Somerset: An Introduction to intra-familial child sexual abuse

The national report, “I Wanted Them All To Notice”, published in 2024, highlighted all professionals working with children need to be able to identify and respond to concerns of child sexual abuse, especially in a home setting.

An introduction to intra-familial child sexual abuse is a one-day CPD-certified introductory course designed for all professionals working in collaboration with other agencies, to provide an overview of the key issues to support them in identifying and responding to cases of intra familial child sexual abuse.

Who is this course for?

This course is for all professionals working with children and/or their parents or carers in Avon & Somerset. This may include roles across education, health, children’s social care, youth justice, prisons, probation, police, adoption services, fostering carers and services, adult services, the voluntary sector and more.

Who will run the course?

This course is being provided by the five children's partnerships in Avon & Somerset and will be led by two expert trainers with experience in practice, training, and working within multi-agency safeguarding arrangements and have been trained to deliver the course by the Country’s leading experts, the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse.

What can you expect to gain?

Following the course, you can expect to have a better understanding of:

• The scale and nature of child sexual abuse.
• How the impact of child sexual abuse presents in children and young people.
• How children may communicate their experiences of sexual abuse and the professional role in helping them do this.
• How and why sexual abuse happens in families.

This course will give you a greater confidence in responding to concerns of intra-familial child sexual abuse and will also improve your ability to identify the potential signs and indicators of sexual abuse.