DISCLOSURES
Never agree to secrets.
- Never promise to keep the information secret.
- Reassure the child that it’s okay for them to tell secrets.
- Remove the threat
- Remind of the secrets rule
- If children disclose that they have a secret, or who has asked them to keep a secret, or they are scared to tell the secret – then you must report this.
Tip No 7 - No secrets
In the Level 2 - Building a Protective Environment for Children course, you will learn new strategies to teach children about secrets – and how to use the word “surprise” instead.
But if secrecy becomes an issue in a disclosure, you should try and deal with that. Secrecy is a big part of all kinds of child abuse – particularly sexual abuse. You should never tell a child you will keep what they’ve told you a secret. If they are concerned about telling you a secret, you should reassure them that it’s always okay to tell secrets – that it’s not right for someone to ask them to keep a secret.
Remove the threat – reassure them that nobody gets in trouble for telling secrets and if somebody told them that then that was wrong.
Reassure them that there are no secrets and nobody should ever ask them to keep a secret. That’s the rule!!!!
They may tell you who has asked them to keep a secret but be too scared to tell you the secret. You can try and remove the threat – and reassure them that they will not be in trouble for telling the secret. Unless a Parent is the one asking them to keep a secret, you should let them know they can always tell Parents about secrets. You should also then advise Parents of that conversation.
If a child tells you they have a secret, or they tell you who asked them to keep the secret, or they tell you why they’re scared to tell the secret – then even if they don’t tell you what the secret is you need to report this.