14.10 Child Sexual Abuse & Pan Merseyside Child Sexual Abuse Pathway

If you have a concern that a child may have been subjected to sexual abuse review the following:

Definition of Child Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing.

They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse.

Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

Contacting Sefton Children's Help & Advice Team (CHAT) 

Professionals in all agencies should use their knowledge and agency resources to contact children's social care or the police about their concerns directly and to make a referral through the Children's Help and Advice Team (CHAT), by calling 0151 934 4013. 

In such circumstances a formal referral to Sefton Children's Social Care, the police or accident and emergency services (for any urgent medical treatment) must not be delayed by the need for consultation with management or the nominated safeguarding children adviser, or the completion of an assessment.

All professionals in agencies with contact with children and members of their families must make a referral to Sefton Children's Social Care if there are signs that a child or an unborn baby:

• Is suffering significant harm through abuse or neglect;
• Is likely to suffer significant harm in the future.

The timing of such referrals should reflect the level of perceived risk of harm, not longer than within one working day of identification or disclosure of harm or risk of harm.

In urgent situations / out of office hours, the referral should be made to the Sefton’s Children's Social Care emergency duty team / out of hour's team (0151 934 3555).

Please find below the current multi-agency pathway. 

Pan Merseyside Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Pathway

CARE PATHWAY: BOOKING an APPOINTMENT at PAEDIATRIC SARC (RAINBOW) ALDER HEY (When a professional has a concern that a child may have been subjected to sexual abuse, concerns must be raised with Police and Children's Social Care before a child can attend the paediatric SARC at Rainbow).

CSA GLOSSARY AND References for Child Sexual Abuse PATHWAY.

For further resources and information on child sexual abuse, including signs, symptoms and direct work tools on how to communicate with children- please see Home | CSA Centre.