Protective Parenting: Protecting Children from Sexual Harm

Breaking the Cycle

Breaking The Cycle is a structured intervention that aims to develop participants’ safeguarding skills. The programme can be delivered to adults such as partners, ex partners, other family members and carers who are involved in protecting children in a living situation where there are either allegations of harmful sexual behaviour; or where there is an individual convicted of a sexual offence; or where a person of concern has been identified. The risk may be to a specific child or children in general.

The programme aims to:

Inform – Share with participants information relating to professional understanding of child sexual abuse and to help them begin to relate that information to their own particular circumstances.
Empower – Facilitate participants’ ability to contextualise the person of concern’s offending behaviour thereby ensuring that any future decisions they may make relating to their relationship and / or their children’s relationship with a person of concern, is an informed decision.
Support – Decrease the isolation felt by participants and to consider and facilitate support networks to strengthen the individual’s ability to protect.

Breaking The Cycle explores the following areas:

Educating participants as to the reasons why individuals sexually abuse and how sexual abuse is carried out (grooming).
Examining the role denial plays in coming to terms with sexual abuse.
Helping participants to recognise any signs or symptoms of abuse in the children in their care, and signs of grooming behaviours in adults.
Helping participants to develop strategies for discussing abuse with children.
Helping participants identify strategies, including sources of appropriate support, to increase their confidence, enhancing their ability to protect.

The programme culminates in the production of a Keep Safe Plan developed by participants stating what measures they can take to protect the children in their care.

Delivery

Breaking The Cycle is completed over 12 weeks. We can deliver sessions online (offering the service nationally), or in person where feasible.

Once the work is completed, we produce a Response To Intervention Report with recommendations for further work where appropriate. These reports can be used in Child Protection proceedings, Child in Need proceedings and Family Court hearings contributing to safeguarding decisions.

Facilitators can also attend Child Protection Conferences, Core Groups and Family Court hearings.

Breaking The Cycle can be delivered on an individual basis or in a group setting depending on a participant’s needs and circumstances.

Referrals

We accept referrals from statutory agencies and Local Authorities, Family Courts and legal representatives.

We do accept self-referrals which must be privately funded.

Our assessments, programmes and interventions can be purchased individually, or we can include them in a contract of support. For more information on any of the interventions listed above call us on 01235 816050 or email hub@circlessoutheast.org.uk