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Most professionals shy away from conversations about child sexual abuse because they fear doing harm or making mistakes — but what if confidence and simple, compassionate communication tools could change everything?

In this episode, we dive deep into the updated practical resources from the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, designed to empower everyone—from teachers and coaches to healthcare assistants—to have meaningful, trauma-informed conversations with children.

Our guest, Dr. Natasha Sabin, Practice Improvement Advisor at CSA Centre, shares insights from their recent resource updates. She explains how their "Communicating with Children" guide supports a broad range of professionals to notice subtle signs of distress, create safe spaces for disclosures, and respond confidently—even when verbal communication is limited. 

You'll discover the importance of meeting children where they are in terms of communication, how to build trust without leading, and why understanding trauma’s impact on memory is crucial for effective listening.

We also break down how everyday conversations — like noticing mood changes or asking gentle open-ended questions — can act as vital proactive steps in safeguarding. 

Natasha emphasizes that most disclosures happen gradually, through a process of noticing non-verbal cues and providing children with control and reassurance. This episode underscores why response is everything: ignoring quiet signals or relying on children to tell only when they're ready can leave children at greater risk—and why empowering every adult to be a confident, trustworthy listener makes a measurable difference in safeguarding practice.

Perfect for teachers, healthcare workers, social workers, sports coaches, and anyone who works with children, this conversation highlights how simple shifts in approach and mindset can transform safeguarding efforts. Whether you're new to child protection or looking to refresh your skills, this episode offers practical, evidence-based strategies to foster confidence and turn everyday interactions into protective opportunities. 

Dr. Natasha Sabin is the Practice Improvement Advisor at the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, bringing expert insights on trauma-informed communication and safeguarding best practices.

Reflective Questions for Team Discussions:

1) How can we create a more supportive environment for children to express their feelings and concerns?

2) What strategies can we implement to better recognize non-verbal cues of distress in children?

 3) How can we ensure that our communication approach is trauma-informed and empowers children to feel safe and heard?

Check out the CSA Centre Website, including the resources discussed in this episode HERE

Further details of topics discussed can be found on the SSCP Website: somersetsafeguardingchildren.org.uk

If you have any comments or questions from this podcast, or would like to be involved in a future episode please get in touch at ThePPod@somerset.gov.uk

To access the transcript for this episode go to The P Pod (somersetsafeguardingchildren.org.uk) and click on the episode for details.