Embedded Files
The Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA Centre) is funded by the Home Office and hosted by Barnardo’s. The team collates and analyses existing research, policy, practice, and the experiences of survivors, to fill the gaps with new research, insights and analysis. The evidence and insight is used to develop new approaches and apply learning in practice through training and resources.
The Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA Centre) is funded by the Home Office and hosted by Barnardo’s. The team collates and analyses existing research, policy, practice, and the experiences of survivors, to fill the gaps with new research, insights and analysis. The evidence and insight is used to develop new approaches and apply learning in practice through training and resources.
Child Sexual Abuse Response Pathway
Child Sexual Abuse Response Pathway
The CSA Centre has developed an interactive online resource to guide professionals through how they can protect and support children and their families when there are concerns of sexual abuse.
It is designed to support professionals in identifying and responding to child sexual abuse, and empower them to learn more about the role they, and their colleagues, can play to best protect and support children.
The Response Pathway sets out how to respond to concerns of child sexual abuse at key points: from first concerns and early help safeguarding through to child protection and criminal justice responses. Throughout, it focuses on meeting the needs of children and their families.
Sutton LSCP has agreed to fully implement the pathway in Sutton. A child sexual abuse strategy is currently in development to implement the pathway, with the aim for this to go live from 1 April 2026.
A guide for local partnerships can be found here: https://www.csacentre.org.uk/app/uploads/2023/12/Starting-out-on-the-Child-Sexual-Abuse-Response-Pathway.pdf
E-learning
E-learning
The CSA Centre has developed a free, accessible course for all professionals working with children on identifying and responding to intra-familial child sexual abuse.
The course can be accessed here: https://www.csacentre.org.uk/training-events/elearning/
New guidance
New guidance
'What police professionals need to know about child sexual abuse'
The Centre for Expertise have released a new resource called 'What police professionals need to know about child sexual abuse'. The new version of the accessible, quick read summary of the key facts from research, practice and policy now contains new insights for policing to help professionals build an informed understanding of child sexual abuse. It is useful for all professionals in policing: whether you’re the attending officer responding to a call or the officer assigned to a case.
Access the resource here: https://www.csacentre.org.uk/research-resources/need-to-know-child-sexual-abuse/policing/
Reports
Reports
Child sexual abuse in 2023/24: New Trends in official data report
The Centre for Expertise has released their 2023-24 annual report which collates the latest data across local authorities, policing, criminal justice and sexual assault referral centres explores how child sexual abuse is being identified in England and Wales
The latest analysis of official data reveals concerning trends in the identification of child sexual abuse, including the number of child protection plans for sexual abuse falling to a record low. Children's services in England recorded just 2,160 plans of this kind - the lowest number in the 30 years that this data has been collected and accounting for just 3.5% of all new child protection plans in the same year.
While police forces in England and Wales recorded more charges against suspects of child sexual abuse in 2023/24 than ever before, almost two thirds of investigations still closed with no further action due to evidential difficulties in the same year.
The annual Trends in official data report explores important new findings from local authority and policing data, the courts, health services, and for the first time, data on what happens to people after they are convicted of child sexual abuse offences. Discover all the latest trends, view updated infographics, and download the report on the CSA Centre website: https://www.csacentre.org.uk/research-resources/research-evidence/scale-nature-of-abuse/trends-in-official-data/
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