Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
Slough Safeguarding Partnership is committed to protecting children and young people from all forms of abuse. Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) can happen to any child and is often hidden. This page provides clear information on what CSA is, how to recognise it, what to do if you are concerned, and key resources for professionals, parents/carers, and children.
Definition
What is sexual abuse? Sexual abuse is forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities. It doesn’t necessarily involve violence and the child may not be aware that what is happening is abuse. Child sexual abuse can involve contact abuse and non-contact abuse. Contact abuse happens when the abuser makes physical contact with the child.
It includes:
• sexual touching of any part of the body whether the child is wearing clothes or not
• rape or penetration by putting an object or body part inside a child's mouth, vagina or anus
• forcing or encouraging a child to take part in sexual activity
• making a child take their clothes off or touch someone else's genitals.
Non-contact abuse involves non-touching activities. It can happen online or in person and includes:
• encouraging or forcing a child to watch or hear sexual acts
• making a child masturbate while others watch
• not taking proper measures to prevent a child being exposed to sexual activities by others
• showing pornography to a child
• making, viewing or distributing child abuse images
• allowing someone else to make, view or distribute child abuse images.
• meeting a child following online sexual grooming with the intent of abusing them.
Online sexual abuse includes:
• persuading or forcing a child to send or post sexually explicit images of themselves, this is sometimes referred to as sexting
• persuading or forcing a child to take part in sexual activities via a webcam or smartphone
• having sexual conversations with a child by text or online.
Abusers may threaten to send sexually explicit images, video or copies of sexual conversations to the young person's friends and family unless they take part in other sexual activity.
Images or videos may continue to be shared long after the abuse has stopped. Abusers will often try to build an emotional connection with a child in order to gain their trust for the purposes of sexual abuse.
This is known as grooming. Spotting the signs of sexual abuse There may be physical signs that a child has suffered sexual abuse. These include:
• anal or vaginal soreness or itching
• bruising or bleeding near the genital area
• discomfort when walking or sitting down
• an unusual discharge • sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• pregnancy.
Changes in the child’s mood or behaviour may also cause concern. They may want to avoid spending time with specific people. In particular, the child may show sexual behaviour that is inappropriate for their age. For example:
• they could use sexual language or know things about sex that you wouldn't expect them to
• they might become sexually active or pregnant at a young age.
NSPCC - Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) or peer-on-peer sexual abuse | NSPCC Learning
Children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviour | CSA Centre
www.nspcc.org.uk/advice-for-families/pants-underwear-rule/
What to do if you are concerned
Your action could protect a child from further harm. Concerns should never be ignored.
If a child is in immediate danger
Call 999
To Report a Concern in Slough
- Slough Children's Services Referral Hub: 01753 875362
- Out of Hours: 01344 351999
- You can also report concerns online through the local safeguarding referral portal.
Emergencies/Concerns - Slough Children First
Resources for Children & Young People.
Childline
Childline | Free counselling service for kids and young people | Childline
CEOP Education about keeping safe online, with age appropriate interactive materials.
Child sexual abuse | CSA Centre The Child Sexual Abuse Resource Centre provides information about relevant services available to Children and Adults . This includes information about local and national services, including voluntary and community sector organisations offering counselling, peer support, advocacy, advice and peer support.
Here is the link: Find a support service | CSA Centre
Solace Thames Valley - Sexual Assault referral centre (SARC) Slough
Offer a free, confidential, 24/7 health care and compassionate support service to those who have experienced sexual assault including rape.
They offer:
- Trauma informed healthcare
- Forensic medical examinations
- Evidence storage
- Access to independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs)
- Crisis support and follow-up care.
Contact number : 0330 223 0099 or Solace SARC – Sexual Assault Referral Centre
Safe! : independent charity providing support to Children in the Thames Valley who have been victims of crime or abuse.
Support for young people affected by crime | SAFE!
Resources for Parents and Carers.
We Stand support parents and care givers of children who have experiences Sexual abuse. Printable Parent/Care giver guide
CEOP Education about keeping Safe Online for parents/care givers and professionals.
Resources from the CSA Centre:
All CSA Centre Practice resources – CSA Centre Practice resources
Preventing Child Sexual abuse
Safeline - Believe in you - Surviving sexual abuse & rape
Conversations about consent
https://youtu.be/eAekcHWYVZA?si=R-UY8pnWvgBcQ9T3
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) – Slough Borough Council
Female Genital Mutilation - Prevent & Protect | NSPCC
Female genital mutilation: help and advice - GOV.UK
Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence
Domestic abuse and sexual violence - help and support – Slough Borough Council
Cranstoun – Slough Domestic Abuse Support Service (DASS)
Safe! : independent charity providing support to Children in the Thames Valley who have been victims of crime or abuse.
Support for young people affected by crime | SAFE!
Resources for Professionals.
Resources from the CSA Centre:
All CSA Centre Practice resources – CSA Centre Practice resources
NSPCC Learning:
The NSPCC has a useful webpage Protecting children from sexual abuse | NSPCC Learning that describes recognising, responding to and the impact of sexual abuse. Protecting children from sexual abuse | NSPCC Learning
The PANTS resources for schools and teachers: PANTS resources for schools and teachers | NSPCC Learning.
Sexual abuse | NSPCC
Sharing nudes: advice for education settings:
Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people - GOV.UK
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) – Slough Borough Council
Female Genital Mutilation - Prevent & Protect | NSPCC
Female genital mutilation: help and advice - GOV.UK
Sexual Abuse Helplines in Slough
Slough Borough Council – Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Support
Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence
Domestic abuse and sexual violence - help and support – Slough Borough Council
Reducing the Risk
Preventing Child Sexual abuse
Safeline - Believe in you - Surviving sexual abuse & rape
Conversations about consent
https://youtu.be/eAekcHWYVZA?si=R-UY8pnWvgBcQ9T3
Safe! : independent charity providing support to Children in the Thames Valley who have been victims of crime or abuse.
Support for young people affected by crime | SAFE!