Behind Closed Doors: Shining a Light on Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA)

Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire was commissioned by the Safeguarding Adults Board for Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough to to investigate the experiences of parents affected by Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse.  They undertook a survey to which 46 people responded.

An overwhelming 98% of respondents (45 out of 46) reported experiencing abuse and/or violence from their child. This stark statistic reinforces the urgent need for accessible, consistent, and wellpublicised support, particularly for families facing complex behavioural and emotional challenges.

The duration of abuse ranged from less than one year to over a decade, reflecting both recent and longstanding cases. Notably, nine respondents reported abuse lasting 10 years or more, and others indicated abuse over a period of five to nine years. These findings emphasise the importance of early identification and long-term recovery support, as many families endure years of harm without adequate intervention.

28% of respondents identified as single parents, indicating a heightened level of stress and reduced support within the home environment. 80% of the children involved were under the age of 18, confirming that CAPVA is not restricted to adult children and often begins in early adolescence. Over half (52%) reported that siblings were also subjected to abuse, underscoring CAPVA as a broader family safety and safeguarding issue.

While some parents were aware of general services such as: SEND; Counselling; Parent/Carer Support or Mental Health/Wellbeing, awareness was much lower for more targeted services, including: Vulnerabilities (drugs, alcohol, exploitation) or Intervention and Diversion programmes. 11 respondents selected ‘None of the above’, suggesting no awareness of any of the listed services. These figures demonstrate a clear disconnect between the availability of relevant services and public awareness of them, particularly those that could support early or specialist intervention.

Respondents frequently cited PEGS, CAMHS, and Newbold Hope as known services, but the majority still reported feeling unsupported or let down. Formal services such as schools, social care, and police were frequently described as inadequate, judgemental, or inaccessible. Common experiences included being blamed, having concerns dismissed, or not being believed, all of which discourage seeking further help.

Key deterrents included: 

• Fear of blame or judgement
• Uncertainty about where to go for help
• Previous negative experiences with services 

Parents also described feeling trapped between protecting siblings and managing violent outbursts, often doing so without any professional or emotional support.

Parents consistently expressed the need for non-judgemental, trauma-informed support that addresses the whole family, not just the child displaying the abusive behaviour. 

Key unmet needs included: Respite care; Therapeutic interventions; Peer support networks; Real-time crisis response. In the absence of formal help, parents shared practical strategies such as deescalation, emotional regulation, and prioritising safety, often learned through personal trial-and-error or peer groups.

Deeper analysis of the data revealed important relationships between responses: 

• Many parents who experienced long-term abuse also reported limited awareness of targeted services, suggesting missed opportunities for early intervention.
• While awareness of general services like SEND and counselling was relatively high, knowledge of specialist behavioural or safeguarding pathways remained low, indicating a gap in tailored service signposting for families facing CAPVA.
• Despite almost all respondents experiencing abuse, 11 had no awareness of any support services, illustrating a serious disconnection between need and access