Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an area of safeguarding where we feel it is important to provide dedicated information and reassurance for the public. While safeguarding covers many different types of harm, CSA remains a significant and consistent concern both nationally and across the communities served by Mersey Care.
Our services support not only children and young people who may be at risk now, but also many adults who disclose abuse they experienced in childhood, often for the first time - sometimes many years later. We refer to this as non-recent child sexual abuse, and it highlights how the impact of abuse can continue across a person’s life.
Because CSA frequently sits among the most common reasons our safeguarding teams are contacted by staff across both children’s and adults’ services, we believe it is important to have a dedicated space that explains the support available, what people can expect from us, and where they can find further help.
If you’re worried about child sexual abuse or you’re an adult affected by abuse now or in the past—support is available.
You deserve to be listened to and helped to access the right care.
Help after sexual assault or abuse (SARCs)
Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) provide free specialist support to people who have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. They can offer immediate emotional support, medical help and practical advice.
Support may include medical examinations, emergency contraception, testing and assessment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV, and referrals to sexual health and mental health services.
On 2 February 2026, the NHS in England launched a national campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs), to mark the beginning of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2026. A range of digital resources are available on the campaign resource centre, including previous video content, staff posters and supporting social media assets, as well as new social and digital media assets.
Adults can access help whether or not they want to involve the police.
Find out more and locate services via the NHS:
The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA Centre) is a national organisation that brings together research, professional knowledge and the lived experiences of those affected by abuse to improve how child sexual abuse is understood, prevented and responded to. While the Centre develops evidence-informed guidance, training and resources to support professionals across health, social care, education and policing, it also provides accessible information and practical support for children, adults who have experienced abuse, and for parents, carers, friends and family members who may be worried about a child. Through its website, the CSA Centre offers clear information about child sexual abuse, advice on recognising concerns, and a directory of specialist services to help people find appropriate support.
Latest UK child sexual abuse research and evidence:
This guide provides clear, easy-to-understand information about what child sexual abuse is, how it happens, the impact it can have, and how adults can recognise concerns and respond appropriately. It is helpful for parents, carers, families, and anyone who wants to better understand the issue and know how they can help keep children safe.
Support matters: An overview of services for adult victims and survivors of child sexual abuse
This document explains the range of support services available across England and Wales for adults who experienced sexual abuse in childhood, including counselling, therapy and advocacy services. It is useful for survivors, families, and professionals who want to understand what support exists and the challenges many people face when trying to access help
Child sexual abuse of African, Asian and Caribbean heritage children: A knowledge review
This research review brings together evidence about how child sexual abuse affects children from African, Asian and Caribbean heritage communities, including barriers to disclosure and access to support. It is particularly helpful for anyone wanting to understand how culture, community and inequality can influence experiences of abuse and how services can respond more effectively.
Barnardo’s – The Barnardo’s child sexual abuse and exploitation: support for parents and carers page provides practical, trusted information to help adults understand what child sexual abuse and exploitation are, recognise possible warning signs, and know what steps to take if they are worried about a child. It also explains how Barnardo’s supports children, young people and families through specialist services, emotional and therapeutic support, and guidance through safeguarding and criminal justice processes. This resource is particularly useful for parents, carers, and anyone with concerns, as it offers clear advice, reassurance that they are not alone, and direct links to reporting routes and further sources of help.
If you share a concern or tell us that you, or someone else, may have experienced child sexual abuse - whether this is happening now or happened in the past - our staff are trained to respond in a safe, supportive and respectful way.
We will listen and take your concerns seriously
We understand that speaking about abuse can be very difficult. Our staff will:
- Listen carefully and without judgement
- Take what you tell us seriously
- Treat you with dignity, respect and sensitivity
- Work at your pace wherever possible
We recognise that abuse can have long lasting effects across a person’s life, including for adults who disclose experiences from childhood. We will help you understand your options
If you raise a concern, we will talk with you about the support available and what may happen next. This may include:
- Access to health, emotional wellbeing or specialist support services
- Information about Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs)
- Support to report concerns to the police, if you choose.
If you disclose non-recent child sexual abuse, we will respect your wishes wherever possible. However, we may need to share some information if there is a risk to other people, particularly children or adults who may be vulnerable. If this is the case, we will explain clearly why information needs to be shared.
We have a responsibility to help keep people safe. All staff working within Mersey Care have a duty to safeguard children and adults from harm.
If we believe someone may be at risk, we will:
- Seek advice from our Safeguarding Team
- Share relevant information with appropriate partner agencies such as Children’s Social Care, Adult Social Care or the Police
- Only share the information necessary to protect safety.
Safeguarding is a shared responsibility across health, social care and partner organisations. Mersey Care works closely with local safeguarding partnerships across the communities we serve.
Where concerns meet local safeguarding thresholds, we may:
- Make a referral so that risks can be assessed
- Take part in multi agency discussions
- Work with other services to ensure the right support is provided.
This helps make sure children, young people and adults receive coordinated and effective support. You will be involved in decisions wherever possible
We aim to involve you in decisions about what happens next. This includes:
- Listening to your views and wishes
- Supporting choice and control wherever it is safe to do so
- Taking a person centred and trauma informed approach.
Our goal is to work alongside you to improve safety, wellbeing and access to support. We will handle information sensitively, Record concerns accurately, keep information confidential and explain if we need to share information to protect someone from harm. You will always be treated with respect and your wellbeing will remain central to our response.