Support for professionals.
We are introducing a new service to help professionals build their confidence and skills in working with children, young people and their families, who have experienced sexual abuse.
This includes advice, resources, and space to think with a trauma-informed lens about recovery after child sexual abuse.
Options to choose from:
-
Pre-referral Enquiry: talk with a specialist practitioner about a potential referral or ask some general questions about supporting a child (this can be anonymous if you don’t have consent from the person to share their details at this stage)
-
Consultation: have up to 4 consultation sessions to help you support a child, young person or family (consent from the YP/parent needed)
Why professional consultation?
Up to 4 sessions with one of our Specialist Practitioners may be helpful if:
- You are a professional already providing therapy/support to a child or young person who has experienced sexual abuse and you would like specialist consultation from us to support your work.
- Sessions are generally 1:1 unless you would like us to attend a multi-agency meeting alongside you.
- You can also invite us to attend your organisation’s team meeting to offer a brief overview of our services and the key themes.
What you might gain?
- A space to think about your work with a child or family in relation to sexual trauma
- Trauma informed resources, approaches and signposting to support your work
- Confidence in thinking and talking about sexual abuse with children and families
- Stronger working relationships and trust with children and their families to support recovery
- Advice and resources from our Bluestar project establishing best practice for pre-trial therapy and support services
What we can’t offer
- Support around an individual child or young person where consent has not been gained from the family or child or young person (16+) (unless it is an anonymous one-off session)
- Guidance and consultation purely around safeguarding processes where this needs to be discussed with social care first
- Support where the primary focus is on Harmful Sexual Behaviour or Child Sexual Exploitation (although signposting may be offered in these cases)
Testimonials
“I am conscious that there is a gap in my knowledge when it comes to sexual abuse and that is why my initial contact was looking for training. The links and literature that you have provided are useful and helps me to gain more knowledge around the subject and provides sources to go to for information.”
“… the whole process from when i made the first contact felt supportive and I had a clear sense that there was a real person listening and trying to offer personalised support at the other end.” (Dance Movement Psychotherapist)
“This is a brilliant service and provides a window into specialist practice that is invaluable for those working with these complex, sensitive cases… Most importantly, I was given advice on how to make therapeutic interaction trauma-informed. This involved paying attention to power dynamics within the room in close detail.” (Associate Clinical Psychologist)
It was a helpful space to discuss the family with a focus on trauma and themes of sexual harm. (Social Worker)
I feel less alone; I hold so much and it's such a relief to talk to people who understand. Thank you. (Special Educational Need Coordinator)
This was so helpful, thank you. It'll be really good to call with referral enquiries again in the future - Getting Advice Team
This has been an invaluable service, the resources and knowledge I received have been of great gain to my professional practice - School Thrive Worker