[This course will take you about 2 hours to complete.]

It is a sad reality that some children go into care because they have experienced abuse, and in some cases, the abuse they suffered was sexual. There are also ongoing risks of sexual abuse happening after a child has joined your care, which may be heightened because of specific vulnerabilities. This course will cover a wide range of topics, and is designed to give you both a broad picture of the issue, as well as specific risks you need to be aware of, such as online grooming and sexting. Both prevention and support are critical in your role as a foster carer, and will be covered in detail.

In this course, you will learn:
- What child sexual abuse is and how common it is
- The impact it has on children
- How perpetrators groom and target victims, including online risks
- Preventative measures to help safeguard children
- How to respond to disclosures
- Ways to support children who have suffered sexual abuse