Working with non-abusing parents and carers: for social workers

Understandably, we often think about the impact on the child when we think about sexual abuse. However, it is important to remember that sexual abuse of a child affects the whole family and parents and carers are likely to feel overwhelmed by shock, anger, confusion and disbelief. Working effectively with non-abusing parents and carers in cases of child sexual abuse is fundamental to the support and protection their children who are at risk of abuse, or have been abused.

Working with non-abusing parents and carers in cases of child sexual abuse is a two day course that equips social workers with an understanding of the issues facing non-abusing parents and carers whose child has been sexually abused within or outside the family, and best practice in engaging them in effective assessment and intervention.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for children’s social workers, and professionals in adult services who may work with clients whose children have been, or are suspect to have been, abused.

Who will run the course?

This course will be led by expert trainers with significant experience in practice, training, and working within cases of intra-familial child sexual abuse.

What can you expect to gain?

This course covers the learning points of our Intra-familial child sexual abuse – an introduction for social workers training, and will also give you:

A greater awareness of:

• The importance of effectively engaging non-abusing parents and carers in cases of child sexual abuse.
• The issues facing non-abusing parents and carers when sexual abuse is suspected.
• Resources that social workers can use in their practice with non-abusing parents and carers.

And a better understanding of:

• The process of denial and how best to work with non-abusing parents to overcome this.
• The key factors to assess a non-abusing parent or carer’s capacity to protect.
• Family dynamics and communication in cases of child sexual abuse.
• Ways to intervene with non-abusing parents and carers in cases of child sexual abuse.

A one-day version of this course, priced at £850 + VAT for 6 to 25 participants, is available for social workers who have already attended our one-day introductory course on intra-familial child sexual abuse.

Consultation Package Extension

For an additional £150 per hour, we now offer dedicated post-training consultation sessions facilitated by qualified professionals. These sessions will support social workers to apply their learning to working with non-abusing parents and carers in cases of child sexual abuse.  In the event that participants do not have a case to discuss, case studies will be provided.

To support this course, we would recommend three or six consultation sessions lasting two hours each, over the course of three to six months.

These sessions will focus on:

• supporting social workers to work effectively with non-abusing parents.
• undertaking assessments of their ability to protect.
• considering appropriate interventions to reduce risk and build strengths.

Email training@csacentre.org.uk for more information.