InCtrl is a service designed by NSPCC staff, that aims to help protect children and young people from technology-assisted child sexual abuse (TA-CSA). Between January 2019 and February 2020, InCtrl was piloted as a manualized, eight-session, face-to-face service delivered either to groups or as one-to-one sessions. This evaluation report examines the feasibility of the pilot service, whether the theory of change for InCtrl is evidenced, and factors that were barriers and facilitators to service delivery.
Using mixed methods, the evaluation included analysis of case record data for 162 children referred to InCtrl, online surveys completed by practitioners who facilitated the service, and 32 qualitative interviews held with children, parents/carers and NSPCC staff.
InCtrl uses group work to help increase children’s digital resilience, improve children’s emotional wellbeing and ensure they have effective social and family support networks to help keep them safe online. Practitioners also support parents and carers to understand the service and share their concerns and views about the needs of their child.
The pilot of InCtrl has demonstrated that the service can work well, appears to achieve intended intermediate outcomes and merits further development. Clarification of whether the service model should be universal, targeted or determined locally is needed to inform future development.
An adapted one-to-one version of InCtrl is being delivered virtually while children are at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this method of delivery has limitations, it has demonstrated the adaptability of the InCtrl service model and provided useful learning for future development, for example, greater involvement of parents and which elements of the manual are more suited to virtual delivery.