Mandatory Reporting: Why wider reform is crucial for tackling CSEA

The Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse’s final report’s publication after seven years of work has received an underwhelming response from sector commentators, stemming from a misdirected scope that has ultimately weakened recommendations.

Sector experts commonly identify application of the Department for Education’s family ‘neglect’ model in institutional settings as a core issue. Whistleblowers have repeatedly raised concerns about the poor application of a model not designed for use in these settings and a common flaw in the prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). However this does not appear to have been considered by the report, despite having one of the largest evidence bases for a report of its kind.

The report also recommends Governments establish new laws requiring the reporting of CSA by people within certain defined roles, entitled ‘mandated reporters’ championed by survivors groups. If a child or an abuser tells a mandated reporter about abuse, or the reporter witnesses it, or can see signs, the proposed law would apply.

We fully support these recommendations and the importance of Mandatory Reporting in the protection of children and across all vulnerable groups. It is our belief that these proposals would be more effective if the government adopts the proposals within the Whistleblowing Bill brought forward by Mary Robinson MP Chair of the APPG for Whistleblowing for reporting to be truly successful. Whistleblowers need to be heard, protected and respected. Under this proposed law and without further reform potential whistleblowers are likely to fear being punished for not reporting and punished vicariously by speaking out. The lack of reporting of CSA does not stem from a lack of motivation to report in order to protect children, it comes from fear of the treatment whistleblowers receive. The Whistleblowing Bill would not only protect workers but everyone across the sector who might have concerns about the welfare of children and risks posed by others.

Jayne Senior, Director of Safeguarding at WhistleblowersUK, had this to say of the report;

“After a week of political turmoil, it would be easy to overlook the damning reports exposing the failure by every possible authority to protect Children and the most vulnerable in our society and the Whistleblowers who have selflessly spoken up only to become targets and subsequently victims themselves. WhistleblowersUK have developed and led the campaign that will deliver an Independent Office of the Whistleblower but we need your help to ensure that commitments made by the government are not ignored. Please download our letter to your MP and help us ensure that no other child or family has to ensure the pain of CSE or loss because whistleblowers were too afraid or didn’t know how to speak up.”

You can read the full report here on the Inquiries’ website

You can see the full report from the BBC here