What is sex abuse?
- What will happen if I tell Social Services?
- Will they tell my Parents?
- Will I get taken away from home?
- What Will Happen to my Brothers and Sisters?
- If I ‘Tell’ how do I know Social Services
will believe me? - How do I know I will feel better if I tell?
- He/ she said if I tell anyone he/she will hurt other people, what do I do?
- If I tell my teacher will they tell anyone?
- I think my friend is being sexually abused. What should I do?
- Is there any point in telling Social Services and the police if the abuse has stopped?
- If I tell someone will Social Services come to my house even though the abuse has stopped?
- I really wish I had told the police or Social Services because I think he/she could abuse me or someone else again. Do you think I should say something?
- Will the abuser know that it was me who reported them?
- Do Social Services have to tell my parents/carers what happened to me?
- I really need to talk through what happened to me but don’t want my parents to know, what can I do?
- If I rang an agency like ‘Connexions’ and asked to talk it through with them, could they keep it a secret or would they have to tell other people?
Will I get taken away from home?
Some children and young people are abused by members of their own family or people living in their home. Social Services are not allowed to make any decisions about whether or not you are taken away from your home. It is the court which decides such things, not Social Services. However Social Services will tell the court if they think it is unsafe for you to stay at home. Social Services only recommend to the court that children are removed from their homes if they believe they will be still be at risk of abuse and harm if they stay.
Most children stay at home and are not removed. Social Services and the police will do everything they possibly can to ensure that you do not have to leave your home, but sometimes if you are still not safe, you may have to leave until it is safe to return home
If you are being abused by someone who is not a member of your family or doesn’t live in your house it will hopefully be much easier to stop the abuse and you will not have to leave home as long as those who look after you can help protect you and stop the abuse happening.