Navigating Institutional Tensions in Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure Practice: A Qualitative Study of Practitioners' Experiences

While research has examined barriers and facilitators to child sexual abuse disclosure, less is known about how practitioners navigate the complexities surrounding disclosure. This study explored how practitioners understand and navigate factors shaping child sexual abuse disclosure. Twenty‐three practitioners participated in six group Yarns. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three interconnected themes were identified. First, practitioners understood disclosure as a relational process shaped by trauma‐informed discourses that emphasised trust and children's agency. Second, organisational procedures, mandatory reporting, documentation practices and fragmented interagency responses were described as institutional arrangements that constrained these principles. Third, practitioners responded to these tensions through ethical mindfulness, engaging in ongoing reflection and judgement to balance children's well‐being and safety within institutional constraints. The findings contribute to understanding disclosure practice as a site of tension between child‐centred ideals and institutional requirements. Practices responding to the disclosure of child sexual abuse are not only shaped by individual practitioners but also by broader contextual and institutional arrangements. Strengthening child‐centred and coordinated responses requires attention to the systemic conditions that enable practitioners to support children's agency during disclosure.