Abstract

Foundations – What Works Centre for Children and Families has commissioned a systematic review of interventions to support children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA). This includes interventions for the children and young people themselves, and interventions for parents/carers that help them to support their child
following CSA.

There are four key strands to the study – this protocol covers the umbrella review:

1. An umbrella review (this protocol)
2. A realist review
3. A narrative review
4. Consultations with key stakeholders.

The umbrella review has been designed to provide a consolidated summary of what is currently known in existing systematic reviews about interventions to support children and
young people aged 0–25 years who have experienced CSA. Its primary purpose is to assess the effectiveness of these interventions and to identify the practice elements or components that may change the effectiveness of the intervention. This focus is necessary because the existing evidence is fragmented across multiple systematic reviews. Some reviews look at therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, while others consider family-based or broader psychosocial interventions. However, these reviews often differ in scope, population focus, outcomes assessed, and methodological quality. This variation makes it difficult for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to draw reliable conclusions about which interventions are most effective and why.

By using an umbrella review methodology, the study will synthesise findings from across existing reviews, offering a higher-level perspective. This allows for two key contributions.
First, it will provide a clearer answer to the question of which interventions are effective in improving outcomes for children following CSA. Second, it will highlight the intervention
components or practice elements that are consistently associated with more positive results, pointing towards what is likely to make an intervention better or worse.

The value of this approach lies in offering a reliable, single resource that maps the current state of knowledge from existing reviews of interventions. These findings, alongside those of the realist and narrative reviews and stakeholder consultations, will build a more complete and connected understanding of what works, for whom, and why.

The findings of the study will inform a Practice Guide being written by Foundations in 2027, and advisory groups will advise on other appropriate means of dissemination.