“But they must have known!”

Source: Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse. First published Wednesday 18 March 2020. Author: Anna Glinski

Deputy Director for Knowledge and Practice Development highlights the importance of effective working with non-abusing parents and carers when there are concerns of intra-familial child sexual abuse.

Imagine for a minute how it would feel to receive a knock on the door from a police officer and social worker, who proceed to inform you that an allegation of sexual abuse has been made against someone close to you, a family member, your partner, a friend – someone you trust – would you believe it?  What if the allegation was made by your son or daughter?  Would you be able to think clearly enough to make some speedy decisions about what needed to happen next?  I suspect not.  More likely, you would be overwhelmed with feelings of shock, anger, confusion and disbelief. 

Read at source: “But they must have known!” Effectively working with non-abusing parents