What stops professionals noticing and responding?
While some of the barriers to uncovering abuse relate to individual and societal factors impacting on a child, there are also barriers to professionals identifying the signs of sexual abuse. Sometimes these result from a lack of knowledge or understanding of sexual abuse or the complexities of children talking to them. However, whatever the reason, professionals can miss indicators of concern, or fail to pick up on signals the child is giving. Even if professionals have the knowledge, how busy you are and what support and supervision you get in the workplace can all impact on how able you will be to identify or reflect on what is going on for a child.
It is hard not to be affected by media stereotypes of sexual abuse, such as what those who sexually abuse children look like (in terms of gender, ethnicity and age), their socioeconomic status and how they behave.
While some of the barriers to uncovering abuse relate to individual and societal factors impacting on a child, there are also barriers to professionals identifying the signs of sexual abuse. Sometimes these result from a lack of knowledge or understanding of sexual abuse or the complexities of children talking to them. However, whatever the reason, professionals can miss indicators of concern, or fail to pick up on signals the child is giving. Even if professionals have the knowledge, how busy you are and what support and supervision you get in the workplace can all impact on how able you will be to identify or reflect on what is going on for a child.
It is hard not to be affected by media stereotypes of sexual abuse, such as what those who sexually abuse children look like (in terms of gender, ethnicity and age), their socioeconomic status and how they behave.
Reflection point
Think for a minute or two about the image that comes into your head when asked to think about a person who sexually abuses children – who do you see? What do they look like? This may be based on your own experiences, or it may be based on a stereotype of what abusers look like.
Now think about a victim – who do you see?
How might this affect your practice?
As professionals you may also have formed an idea of who victims of child sexual abuse are and how they may behave. It is important to challenge your own preconceptions and remember that anyone can be a victim of child sexual abuse.
Self-awareness
Self-awareness is important so that you can offer unconditional support to the child and the family. The following questions may help us to reflect on your personal beliefs: -
What messages were communicated to you growing up about sex from your family, community, religious institutions and peers? How has this impacted on your attitudes and beliefs about sex and sexuality? Your experiences of working with child sexual abuse may challenge your core beliefs
What is your own attitude to sex? Do you hold certain views that will make it difficult for you to engage with this child and family?
What are your community, cultural and religious beliefs and values about children? Families? Abuse? Sexual abuse? These will determine your response to child sexual abuse?
Do you hold any prejudice or stereotypical views against those who commit sexual offences against children and will this impact on your professional response?
When working with children who have been sexually abused it is important to explore your own thoughts and feelings that will affect your behavioural and response.
Self-awareness
Self-awareness is important so that you can offer unconditional support to the child and the family. The following questions may help us to reflect on your personal beliefs: -
What messages were communicated to you growing up about sex from your family, community, religious institutions and peers? How has this impacted on your attitudes and beliefs about sex and sexuality? Your experiences of working with child sexual abuse may challenge your core beliefs
What is your own attitude to sex? Do you hold certain views that will make it difficult for you to engage with this child and family?
What are your community, cultural and religious beliefs and values about children? Families? Abuse? Sexual abuse? These will determine your response to child sexual abuse?
Do you hold any prejudice or stereotypical views against those who commit sexual offences against children and will this impact on your professional response?
When working with children who have been sexually abused it is important to explore your own thoughts and feelings that will affect your behavioural and response.