Rabbits in Headlights: Professional Responses to Children’s Help-Seeking Practices When They Are Victims of Domestic abuse

Abstract The Victim and Prisoners Act 2024 has legislated the responsibility of professionals to respond when they are aware children and young people (CYP) are experiencing domestic abuse. However, CYP are often concerned about what adult responses to their help-seeking may be, frequently encountering adults who freeze, like rabbits in headlights, unclear on how to respond appropriately. Thus, CYP may engage in help-seeking at different levels, at different times, for different purposes. By aiming to improve CYP’s experiences of domestic abuse disclosures, this paper explores how creative resources can support and promote CYP’s help-seeking practices at three different levels: (1) facilitating open dialogue, (2) through the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) curriculum, (3) holding space when disclosures occurred. We argue that policy and guidance contrast the experiences of CYP and professionals who highlight challenges during the pilot of these co-produced resources. Future work needs to explore how teachers and youth workers can engage in reflexive practice when exploring issues of harm with CYP.