Safeguarding Practice Week: Recognising and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse

For Safeguarding Partners

2nd - 6th November 2026

Preventing child sexual abuse is everyone's responsibility.

Early identification and effective intervention are crucial. Every professional who works with children, young people and families has an important role in recognising concerns, responding appropriately, and ensuring children receive the help and protection they need.

Throughout the week, we are offering a range of specialist multi-agency learning events commissioned specifically to strengthen professional knowledge and practice in relation to child sexual abuse. The sessions are designed to:

Increase knowledge and confidence in identifying and responding to child sexual abuse.
Strengthen professional curiosity and safeguarding practice.
Improve multi-agency collaboration and information sharing.
Support better outcomes for children and young people across the Isle of Wight.

Monday 2nd November

9.30am – 10.30am: Sexual Health Service – The Isle of Wight support offer Book here

3.30pm – 5pm: Signs and Indicators of Child Sexual Abuse - An interactive session led by the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse Book here

Tuesday 3rd November

1.30pm – 2.30pm: Child Sexual Abuse and the Online Environment Book here

3.30pm – 4.30pm: Multi-Agency support for Child Protection Meetings Book here

Wednesday 4th November

9.30am – 10.30am: Child Sexual Abuse and the Online Environment Book here

1.30pm – 2.30pm: Learning from Child Abuse Investigations Book here

3.30pm – 4.30pm: Sexual Health - Recognising and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse – A focus session for schools Book here

Thursday 5th November

11:30am – 12.30pm: Multi-Agency support for Child Protection Meetings Book here

3.30pm – 4.30pm: Medical assessments in suspected child sexual abuse with Subject Matter Expert: Dr Helen Daley* Book here

* It is strongly recommended participatants complete the Medical Assessments in Suspected Child Sexual Abuse eLearning before attending this course.

Friday 6th November

9.30am – 10.30am: Learning from Child Abuse Investigations Book here

11.30am – 12.30pm: Sexual Health Service – The IOW support offer Book here

Further resources, information and advice

Child Sexual Abuse Toolkit

This toolkit supports professionals to prevent, identify and respond to child sexual abuse. It provides practical guidance to recognise concerns, understand risk and ensure children and families receive the right support. Use alongside HIPS child sexual abuse procedures.

Child Sexual Abuse Toolkit (hampshirescp.org.uk)

Understanding Unidentified Adults Toolkit

Unidentified adults can significantly affect a child's safety and wellbeing. This toolkit helps practitioners identify, understand and assess adults involved in a child's life, with practical guidance to strengthen safeguarding practice.

Understanding Unidentified Adults Toolkit (hampshirescp.org.uk)

Child-on-Child Abuse Toolkit

Practical tools and guidance to help professionals identify, respond to and safeguard children affected by harmful behaviour from other children, while recognising and addressing the needs and vulnerabilities of all children involved.

Child-on-Child Abuse Toolkit (hampshirescp.org.uk)

Signs and Indicators

The Signs and Indicators Template supports professionals to systematically observe, record and communicate concerns about possible child sexual abuse.

This resource helps practitioners consider a range of indicators, recognising that signs of sexual abuse may be complex, overlap with other forms of harm, and can otherwise be missed or overlooked.

Signs and Indicators template (csacentre.org.uk)

Response Pathway

The Child Sexual Abuse Response Pathway highlights good practice when there are concerns that a child or young person is being or has been sexually abused.

This resource clarifies professional's responsibilities at key stages to support children's safety, wellbeing, and wider needs. Guidance outlines how to meet a child or young person's needs throughout the pathway.

Response pathway (csacentre.org.uk)