Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse Cases

Within a single year, three separate cases of intra-familial child sexual abuse were referred to the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership (SSP) for review. Each case involved children who had experienced significant early trauma, including domestic abuse, parental substance misuse, mental health challenges, neglect, and young carer responsibilities. These children’s lives were marked by family dysfunction and required statutory intervention to support and protect them.

Why This Thematic Learning Was Undertaken

The SSP has a statutory duty to conduct Practice Reviews when abuse or neglect is suspected to be a factor in the death or serious harm of a child or young person. However, when these three cases were reviewed, it became clear that there were overlapping themes in the children’s experiences and in the responses from services. These themes highlighted both examples of good practice and areas where practice could and should have been better.

Rather than conducting separate Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews for each case, the SSP recognised the value in considering these cases together. By doing so, the Partnership aimed to amplify the voices of the children involved and to draw on wider national learning, equipping professionals across Suffolk with the tools and understanding needed to better protect children from intra-familial sexual abuse.

The Approach

Given the sensitivity of these cases and the need to protect the children involved, the SSP agreed that an anonymised summary of learning would be the most appropriate way to share insights and drive improvement. This thematic review draws on information from the children’s Rapid Reviews, an internal Police investigation, and national findings, particularly those presented in the report “I wanted them all to notice” (CSPRP, 2024).

Our Commitment

By sharing this thematic learning, the SSP is committed to fostering a culture of system learning. The aim is to ensure that all professionals working with children in Suffolk are better equipped to recognise, respond to, and prevent intra-familial child sexual abuse. This review is part of a wider programme of work, including multi-agency audits, training, and ongoing practice improvement, to embed a whole-system approach to safeguarding children.