Child sexual abuse is a complex health issue. This study sought the views of health visitors involved in this work. In addition to focussing on the needs of children through child protection responsibilities, some health visitors worked with adults in attempting to resolve the sadnesses of child sexual abuse. The literature provided an evidence base to the concept of an ‘unseen’ loss of childhood protection and of the health visitors who worked to aid resolution, bereavement counselling principles appeared to provide an effective approach. Health visitor inhibitions were identified and for some health visitors, personal life had altered as a result of the work. The need for a confidante was identified to support practitioners affected by the work. Supervision was considered to offer a necessary structure and accountability for the exploration of complex health issues.
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Linda Scott (1997) studied this question.