Understanding the dynamics of child sexual abuse

SPECIAL 1-DAY COURSE

Understanding the Dynamics of Child Sexual Abuse

During a time of heightened awareness due to the National Historical investigations, including its coverage in the media, there are many more adults (including professional practitioners), in our communities who are coming to recognise that what happened to them in childhood and adolescence is called sexual abuse. These are the grand-parents, parents, aunties, uncles and cousins in our communities; including all of those who were harmed and exploited during their journey into the UK.

"...there is more child sexual abuse happening than we are detecting and reporting on."Catherine Rushforth

In this highly sensitised environment there is a great deal unsaid. It’s a fact, there is more child sexual abuse happening than we are detecting and reporting on.

This informative one day course has been designed to assist Practitioners and Managers to:

  • Consider the possibility that children in their care are being sexually abused.
  • Recognise the reasons that we 'filter out' this possibility.
  • Sensitively dispel some of the myths surrounding child sexual abuse.

In addition to sexual abuse within the family context the course will focus on key lessons from the Rotherham (right), Plymouth and Birmingham Serious Case Reviews. These cases involved the sexual abuse of adolescent girls and young children in nursery settings by Practitioners who held positions of trust and respected business men in their respective communities.

NB. This course is only suitable for Practitioners and Managers who have attended Safeguarding, including Child Protection training within the last 2 years, i.e. it is not suitable for those who do not have a clear understanding of their legal obligations and professional duties.

Next date to be arranged soon.
from 9.30am to 3.30pm 
12 places availables

Venue: tba

Cost: tbc

The training is led by Catherine Rushforth along with Detective Sergeant Lewis Chapman.

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"In this most complex of areas, Catherine Rushforth & Associates courses are always relevant, interesting and tailor made so they represent the best fit for the needs of the target audience."
- Susie West, Head of School, St Christopher's School, Hampstead

What we'll cover

The intention of the course is to make a deep exploration into the possible dynamics of the victim/perpetrator relationship. The course will assist practitioners in building professional confidence to intervene in an appropriate way.

  • Unpick the kind of behaviours in adults that might cause concern and to understand why this might be so.
  • To deepen understanding of the ways that young children may indicate that they are being, or, have been, sexually abused - Including by a Practitioner who holds a professional position of trust.
  • Explore the nature of the grooming process, including how apparently trustworthy and plausible perpetrators may ‘appear’.
  • Gain a theoretical understanding of the dynamics surrounding child sexual abuse, including what this means in practical terms.
  • Establish Practitioner core responsibilities to observe and act on observations, including what they should do and not do.
  • Clarify the procedure for responding to a concern that a professional in a position of trust may be harming children and/or vulnerable adults.

“...She [Catherine] demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter and delivered it in a way that was creative and matched our needs, …… As a line manager, I found her detailed feedback invaluable and have used this as a reference point for staff personal development plans.”
- Lorraine Shorey, Senior Practitioner, Gravesham Adolescent Resource Centre

Applications are invited from Practitioners and Managers who work in any professional context with children and their families including within faith organisations, early years’ settings, Children's Centres, children's clubs and activities (such as Gymnastics, Cubs, Woodcraft Folk), primary schools, school health etc.

Practitioners and Managers must also have attended Safeguarding, including Child Protection training within the last 2 years. It is not suitable for those who do not have a clear understanding of their legal obligations and professional duties.

This course will primarily focus on working with children from babyhood to the end of the Primary School age.

"CR&A provides us with an exceptional level of training and consultancy. We have been working with them for over 10 years and team members across all of Nelly's Nurseries have benefited from their excellent training. They offer an approach which builds on each practitioner's knowledge, understanding and experience. This means that everyone gains valuable, relevant knowledge from each training session."
- Sarah Hill, Owner/Proprietor, Nellys group of Nurseries in Dulwich and Norwood

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