CSA Reflective Practice (Think Space)
The NW has been supported by the Centre for Expertise for CSA and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, to enhance our identification and response to known or suspected CSA.
This includes the sharing of local practice, which has lead to the NW adapting guidance to support reflective practice.
The aim of this guidance is to support local areas in providing space for single and multi-agency partners to:
Pause and reflect on concerns, observations, or emerging indicators of child sexual abuse (CSA) in a structured and supportive environment.
Strengthen professional curiosity, enabling practitioners to explore uncertainties and consider alternative hypotheses about what might be happening in a child’s life.
Share information openly and safely across agencies to identify patterns, risks, or vulnerabilities that may not be visible to a single practitioner or service.
Develop a shared understanding of CSA risk indicators, trauma responses, grooming processes, and contextual safeguarding factors.
Consider next steps collaboratively, ensuring decision-making is robust, transparent, defensible, and centred on the child’s lived experience.
Improve consistency in practice, aligning local responses with national best practice, research insights, and statutory responsibilities.
Promote confidence among practitioners by creating a supportive culture where concerns about CSA can be raised without judgment, and where learning is valued.
Embed reflective practice as routine, not reactive, ensuring that CSA identification and response are proactive, thoughtful, and continuously improving.
Please see the below guidance for your NW areas to adapt and utilise