Recognition and Response
Definitions and Risk Indicators
The following definitions are taken from Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2006, which states “abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional setting, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children.” The indicators listed below are included for guidance only and are not meant to represent a definitive list.
Physical abuse
“Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child.”
The physical signs of abuse may include:
- unexplained bruising, marks or injuries on any part of the body
- bruises which reflect hand marks or fingertips (from slapping, gripping or pinching)
- cigarette burns
- bite marks
- broken bones
- scalds
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate physical abuse:
- fear of parents being approached for an explanation
- aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts
- flinching when approached or touched
- reluctance to get changed, for example in hot weather or at P.E. lessons
- depression
- withdrawn behaviour
- running away from home
Neglect
“Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development.”
The physical signs of neglect may include:
- constant hunger, sometimes stealing food from other children
- constantly dirty or ‘smelly’
- loss of weight, or being constantly underweight
- inappropriate dress for the conditions
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate neglect may include:
- complaining of being tired all the time
- not requesting medical assistance and/or failing to attend appointments
- having few friends
- mentioning their being left alone or unsupervised
Sexual abuse
“Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape, buggery or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual online images, watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.”
The physical signs of sexual abuse may include:
- pain or itching in the genital area
- bruising or bleeding near genital area
- sexually transmitted disease
- vaginal discharge or infection
- stomach pains
- discomfort when walking or sitting down
- pregnancy
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate sexual abuse include:
- sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour e.g. becoming aggressive or withdrawn
- fear of being left with a specific person or group of people
- having nightmares
- running away from home
- sexual knowledge which is beyond their age, or developmental level
- sexual drawings or language
- bedwetting
- eating problems such as overeating or anorexia
Emotional abuse
“Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying, causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.”
The physical signs of emotional abuse may include:
- a failure to thrive or grow, particularly if the child puts on weight in other circumstances e.g. in hospital or away from their parents care
- sudden speech disorders
- developmental delay, either in terms of physical or emotional progress
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate emotional abuse include:
- neurotic behaviour e.g. sulking, hair twisting, rocking
- being unable to play
- fear of making mistakes
- self harm
- fear of parent being approached regarding their behaviour
Recognition and Response
Definitions and Risk Indicators
The following definitions are taken from Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2006, which states “abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional setting, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children.” The indicators listed below are included for guidance only and are not meant to represent a definitive list.
Physical abuse
“Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child.”
The physical signs of abuse may include:
- unexplained bruising, marks or injuries on any part of the body
- bruises which reflect hand marks or fingertips (from slapping, gripping or pinching)
- cigarette burns
- bite marks
- broken bones
- scalds
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate physical abuse:
- fear of parents being approached for an explanation
- aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts
- flinching when approached or touched
- reluctance to get changed, for example in hot weather or at P.E. lessons
- depression
- withdrawn behaviour
- running away from home
Neglect
“Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development.”
The physical signs of neglect may include:
- constant hunger, sometimes stealing food from other children
- constantly dirty or ‘smelly’
- loss of weight, or being constantly underweight
- inappropriate dress for the conditions
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate neglect may include:
- complaining of being tired all the time
- not requesting medical assistance and/or failing to attend appointments
- having few friends
- mentioning their being left alone or unsupervised
Sexual abuse
“Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape, buggery or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual online images, watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.”
The physical signs of sexual abuse may include:
- pain or itching in the genital area
- bruising or bleeding near genital area
- sexually transmitted disease
- vaginal discharge or infection
- stomach pains
- discomfort when walking or sitting down
- pregnancy
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate sexual abuse include:
- sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour e.g. becoming aggressive or withdrawn
- fear of being left with a specific person or group of people
- having nightmares
- running away from home
- sexual knowledge which is beyond their age, or developmental level
- sexual drawings or language
- bedwetting
- eating problems such as overeating or anorexia
Emotional abuse
“Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying, causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.”
The physical signs of emotional abuse may include:
- a failure to thrive or grow, particularly if the child puts on weight in other circumstances e.g. in hospital or away from their parents care
- sudden speech disorders
- developmental delay, either in terms of physical or emotional progress
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate emotional abuse include:
- neurotic behaviour e.g. sulking, hair twisting, rocking
- being unable to play
- fear of making mistakes
- self harm
- fear of parent being approached regarding their behaviour
