Are you a professional looking for advice?

We help professionals working with anyone affected by child sexual abuse, including those who work with people who have engaged or are at risk of engaging in child sexual abuse, family and friends, and children. 

We recognise that professionals who work with children and families are sometimes expected to have all the answers. We know that this isn’t always the case. Talking through your concerns or questions with other professionals can help us all keep children safe from sexual abuse.

You might be a teacher who has spotted inappropriate sexual behaviour in the classroom or a social worker with a particularly difficult case. Or you might be working with people who have sexually harmed children or pose a risk to them, or work in child protection with children and their families where sexual abuse is a concern. This can be very demanding and cause anxiety for the professionals involved.

If you work in the criminal justice system, health service, for children’s services or any field where you are concerned about child sexual abuse and need advice, our trained and experienced professionals can offer guidance and support.

And if you’re a teacher, Scout leader, swimming coach, choir master or anyone who works with children and young people and you have spotted a difficult situation, we can help.

Child safety advice

As professionals, it is our responsibility to keep children safe. We can help you do this. 

Whether you are working with children, or adults, it is important that you understand the signs of harmful behaviours and know how to intervene appropriately. To help protect children from sexual abuse it is important to:

• Understand potential risks

• Recognise the signs of abuse in children

• Recognise the signs of inappropriate and abusive behaviour in adults

• Know where to go for help if you have concerns 

• Know how to have difficult conversations about concerning or abusive behaviours

If we notice signs that might mean that something is wrong, we need to know where we can voice our concerns straight away. If you are unsure of whether the behaviours are concerning, trust your gut and seek further support and advice.

You don’t have to take these steps alone – we can help you.

Call the free and anonymous Stop It Now! Helpline on 1800-01-1800 for advice, support, and information.

If you're not ready to speak to someone on the phone yet, you can also use our live chat.