Breaking the Silence: Voices from Families Facing Child-to-Parent Abuse

In February 2025, the Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) for Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough commissioned Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire (HWCB) to investigate the experiences of parents affected by Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA).

Phase Two of the project comprised a follow-up focus group and an individual case study interview with participants from the initial survey.  They spoke to 7 people.

The findings highlight a consistent pattern of early-onset behaviours, escalating challenges, and significant gaps in support from education, health, and social care services. Parents reported facing a persistent culture of blame, a lack of understanding from professionals, and inconsistent, short-term interventions that fail to address the complexity of CAPVA. Despite these challenges, families demonstrated resilience, developing their own coping strategies and seeking peer support. The evidence underscores the urgent need for specialist, sustained, and empathetic services that recognise CAPVA as a distinct and pressing issue. A direct outcome of the focus group was the participants’ agreement to establish a WhatsApp group, creating a peer support network to maintain ongoing connection and mutual support.