Working with families affected by sibling sexual abuse 24/25

Target group

This training is targeted at:

• Professionals in direct contact with children who undertake or contribute to risk assessments and multi-agency meetings including social workers, family support workers, health professionals, schools, police and others who work with children at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation who work for the London Borough of Sutton. 

Competency level: 

• Group Level 2 (regular contact with children, young people and/or parent/carer) or Level 3 (predominantly working with children) or above (including strategic leads), and NHS Inter-Collegiate Standards 2 and above for health professionals.

Aims 

The aims of this session are:  

• To provide a ‘road map’ for those supporting families that is collaborative and tackles concerns in proportionate, child centred and evidence-based ways, promoting safety and healing for everyone in the family when it is most needed. 
• To find key findings from up-to date research into sibling sexual abuse differentiating between normative sibling sexual interactions and behaviours that are problematic or abusive
• To consider the factors when responding to sibling sexual behaviour
• To understand the key considerations when constructing robust family safety plans and completing comprehensive assessments
• To understand best practice in therapeutic intervention with children and families affected by sibling sexual abuse
• To understand the principles of family reunification and key steps in helping families move on.

Learning objectives

By attending this course, participants will have:

• An increased knowledge of the prevalence, causes and impact of sibling sexual abuse
• An improved knowledge in identifying harmful sibling sexual behaviour and responding proportionately
• A improved knowledge and practical skills to contribute to or complete comprehensive safety planning and assessments with families affected by sibling sexual abuse
• An improved knowledge of best practice in therapeutic intervention with children and families where sibling sexual abuse has occurred
• An improved knowledge of the importance of family reunification and how this can be prioritised in our work

An improved knowledge of the importance of survivor centred perspectives in working with families affected by sibling sexual abuse.