The British Psychological Society
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    Professional Practice, Violence and trauma

    Revised guidance on responding to disclosures of non-recent abuse

    Written by Dr Khadj Rouf, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and member of the BPS Safeguarding Advisory Group.

    21 July 2023

    This updated document aims to provide psychologically informed guidance for responding to disclosures of non recent child sexual abuse which may arise during the course of work as applied psychologists.

    Although the document has been influenced by clinical psychology settings in adult mental health, it is recognised that psychologists working in a variety of settings, such as academic research, health, education, sports and occupational psychology, may hear disclosures about past child sexual abuse.

    At the heart of this document, is the need to respond to people's non recent disclosures of child sexual abuse. This means understanding that other children and young people may potentially be at risk of abuse, and it also means responding in victim/survivor centred ways.

    Read the full guidance on responding to disclosures of non-recent abuse

    The increased public conversation and the impact of inquiries into sexual abuse across the four nations of the United Kingdom, means that victims and survivors may now feel more confident to disclose past abuse.

    We are living in a context of changed, more accurate and improved public perceptions and understandings about child abuse. However, we must recognise that there remain multiple barriers to disclosure for many, and that disclosure can be a nuanced and complicated process as a result.

    It is also important to note that too many people have had the experience of disclosing, and they are not heard, believed or responded to in victim/ survivor centred ways. This situation has to improve.

    People who have been victims of past abuse need to receive access to proportionate help, support and justice.

    Trauma informed care means a shift in service focus from 'symptoms to story' and to contextualise the impacts of experience on mental health.

    This should mean that victims and survivors can expect better in terms of their healthcare.

    It is important that psychologists take disclosures seriously, foster a culture of belief and that clinicians, survivors and commissioners work together to design high quality, relevant, evidence based interventions that offer phase based and proportionate care.

    The document also takes a person focused approach, which considers appraising victims of their rights to report. It should also consider whether other children are also at potential risk.

    Where we are concerned, we may need to share information with other agencies for the protection of other potential victims. This is a complicated and sensitive issue, and the document aspires to hold the needs of both victim-survivors and the safety of children in mind.

    The need for healthy inter-agency working is crucial. We  have much to learn from each other and from the voices of people who have been abused. Our key relationships working across Health, Education, Social Services and the Police are vital.

    We are conscious of the context that this current document into which it is being published. There are superb examples of psychologically informed and victim centred practice taking place.

    However, there are very real concerns about the wider context and its potential impact on safeguarding children's wellbeing.

    Firstly, we are in a period of huge strain on the economy, which has plunged many into precarious financial circumstances and this will impact on wellbeing and safety more widely.

    For instance, Barnardo's report, At What Cost? (2022) highlighted that 1 in 4 children are now living in poverty, and a quarter of parents reporting a worsening in their children's mental health.

    Secondly, chronic underfunding of public services, with a drive to outsource key areas of national services, has led to a void in workforce investment; this has led to a vacancy rate in key professions which is extremely concerning.

    Safeguarding is complex and layered, and as the BPS document on Safeguarding Children and Young People (2018) has previously highlighted, safety is rooted within and impacted by the wider context.

    Thirdly, there has been significant and high profile coverage about the reputation of policing, with poor press about rates of prosecution in sexual abuse and rape cases (BBC, 2022).

    There have also been high profile discussions about misogyny and institutional racism within the police. Shocking stories such as the details surrounding the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer (BaMaung, 2021), the treatment of Child Q (Gamble & McCallum, 2022), the treatment of the bodies of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, have rightly caused outcry (BBC, 2021).

    There are concerns about the use of police force and state violence, such as the use of tasers, which has been shown to be disproportionately high against children from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups (Gayle, 2019), and there are major concerns about new police powers which could be used in the criminalisation of civil rights to protest.

    Such disturbing stories have understandably shaken public confidence, particularly within minoritised communities. Victims and survivors of sexual, and other forms of abuse, need to trust that they can come forward to report and be assured that they will be treated with dignity and respect.

    Mammoth efforts are needed to restore the contextual safety of services designed to safeguard the wellbeing of children and young people. It is vital that policing addresses embedded prejudice and discrimination, in order to build confidence and trust with the public.

    These are challenging times, with much to be done. More than ever, it is key for us to work together.

    The British Psychological Society hopes that this second edition of guidance, might go some way to centralising the needs of victims and also helping to prevent further abuse of children.

    • Dr Khadj Rouf
      Consultant Clinical Psychologist and member of the BPS Safeguarding Advisory Group

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