Child Protection Guidance 2021

Part 4: Specific support needs and concerns 158 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Version 1.0 September 2021 Familial and extra-familial child sex abuse Institutional sexual abuse Harmful sexual behaviour by children Child sexual exploitation and trafficking Figure 4: Intersecting forms of sexual abuse (Barnardo’s) 4.169 Children rarely come forward to disclose sexual abuse , especially when it occurs within the family network. Identification of sexually abused children by child protection systems in Scotland and the UK remains very low (NSPCC, 2021). This makes it critical that professionals and the public are aware of potential signs of child sexual abuse. This includes recognising indications of abusive relationships between an adult and a child, or between two children. Sexual abuse in the family may be perpetrated by a family member (including a member of the extended family) or by a person close to, or known to, the family, such as a neighbour, family friend, partner of a parent, or another trusted adult. Children under the age of 18 may also sexually abuse others within the family (as indicated below). 4.170 Abuse of power and trust , secrecy, trauma, a realistic or an imagined fear of the consequences, may all paralyse the ability of many victims to speak out, or cause subsequent retraction. Some children may be unable to seek help because of their age, understanding or disabilities. There may be under-reporting in some communities if dynamics such as obedience to paternal authority, shame and family honour act as isolating factors. It is common for survivors not to talk about the process of abuse until adulthood and when a child or adult feels able to speak, this is rarely a single event. For some, feelings of fear and shame are a permanent block to sharing, even if the abuse happened a long time ago. 4.171 The person that may first hear, realise or suspect that a child is being abused may be a non-abusing parent, sibling, friend, carer or keyworker. This could be at an unexpected moment, in a moment of high stress, or in a moment of sufficient safety. Third Sector organisations may be crucial intermediaries and sources of support. The response of those to whom a child signals alarm may determine what the child then shares. Sometimes children try to tell or signal their anxiety and this is not heard. Some ‘telling’ happens indirectly through presentation, and sometimes the telling happens gradually.