Child sexual abuse prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Whether you are a childcare professional, a parent, or a concerned member of the public, we all play a crucial role in protecting children from harm. However, working with this sensitive subject can be emotionally challenging and demanding, especially for those directly involved.
This is designed to support professionals working in the field of child sexual abuse, offering advice on self-care, managing emotional impacts, and maintaining professional boundaries.
The impact of working with child sexual abuse
If your work involves supporting children or adults who have experienced sexual abuse, or working with individuals who have offended, it’s natural that this can affect your well-being.
The trauma experienced by those you support can have emotional and psychological impacts on you as a professional.
- Reduced interest in sexual activities
- Distraction or avoidance during intimate moments
- Intrusive sexual imagery or discomfort
It’s important to remember that negative feelings are not constant and can vary over time. With the right support, most professionals working in challenging environments can recover and continue to manage the emotional impacts of their work effectively.
Setting personal boundaries
Maintaining clear personal boundaries is essential when working with offenders or survivors of abuse. While sharing personal experiences can sometimes illustrate a point or model appropriate behaviour, it’s crucial to be intentional about what you disclose.
Self-care in the workplace
Your employer should provide training and support to help manage the challenges of working in this field. If your work is negatively impacting you, explore what additional support your organization can offer, such as:
- Further training
- Counselling services
- Adjustments to workload or work content
Managing stress and emotional well-being
Visit our family safety plan pages for information and advice on the things to think about and to keep your children safe.
If you are concerned about how a parent, cousin, sibling, friend, or neighbour behaves around children, you can talk through your concerns with experienced advisors on the confidential Stop It Now! helpline, or if you’re not ready to speak to someone you can use our live chat or send a secure message.
Want to know more?
Don’t wait for ‘proof’ of child sexual abuse – if you think a child is in immediate danger then call 999 to speak to the police.
If you’re worried about how an adult or young person you know behaves around children, you can get confidential support from the Stop It Now! helpline: 0808 1000 900. If you’re not ready to speak to someone yet, you can use our live chat or send a secure message.
