Into To Safeguarding Flashcards
What is child abuse?
- Maltreatment of a child (<18y/o)
- Infliction of harm OR
- Failing to act to prevent harm
- ‘Significant harm’ - Ill-treatment or impairment of health or development
Catergories of Child Abuse
- Neglect
- Physical: inc. FII & FGM
- Sexual
- Emotional
Definition of neglect
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.
May occur in pregnancy due to maternal substance abuse
Give examples of what neglect may involve
Failure to:
- Provide adequate food, clothing, shelter (including
exclusion from home or abandonment)
– Protect a child from physical and emotional harm or
danger
– Ensure adequate supervision (including the use of
inadequate care-givers)
– Ensure access to appropriate medical care or
treatment
– It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to,
a child or young person’s basic emotional needs.
How should missed medical appointments be recorded in the case of a child?
Was Not Brought
What features may be present in the history of potential neglect?
• Recurrent non-attendance at appointments/non-adherence to medication
• Missed routine screening/immunisations
• Faltering growth
• Delay in development
• Recurrent infestations/infections/injuries
• Poor school attendance
• History of injury where explanation suggests inappropriate supervision
What signs may be present upon examination of a child suffering from neglect?
• Poor nutritional status/poor growth
• Dental decay
• Signs of recurrent/chronic infection or infestation
• Dirty/unkempt/smelly
What is 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.
What features may be present in the history of someone experiencing physical abuse?
• Lack of or inadequate explanation for injury
• Delay in seeking medical attention / inappropriate response
• Inconsistent accounts
• Presence of multiple risk factors/Child or family known to Social
Care
• Direct disclosure
What features may be present on examination of someone experiencing physical abuse?
• Unexplained bruising in vulnerable child
• Unexplained fractures/burns/scalds/head injury
• Patterns: Implement/sparing/bites
• Injury not consistent with history/developmental age
What is sexual abuse?
Forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in
sexual activities, not necessarily involving high levels of
violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is
happening.
What are key things to remember when considering sexual abuse?
• May involve physical contact (including assault by penetration
or non-penetrative acts)
• May be non-contact activities (involving children looking at or producing sexual images, watching sexual activities,
encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, grooming.
• Can take place online, and technology used to facilitate offline abuse.
• Perpetrators not solely adult males.
What is Child Sexual Exploitation?
When an individual or group takes advantage of power imbalance to coerce, manipulate or deceive a CYP (<18 yrs) into sexual
activity
a) In exchange for something the victim needs / wants, and / or
b) For financial advantage / increased status of the perpetrator.
What features may be present in the history of sexual abuse/CSE?
• Disclosure
• Pregnancy/signs of sexual activity in child under 13yrs
• STIs
• Anogenital injury/unexplained bleeding
• Recurrent vaginal discharge
• Soiling/wetting - differential diagnosis
• Behavioural change
What are the top priorities upon examination of someone experiencing sexual abuse/CSE?
• Immediate health needs are paramount
• Referral to Social Care - Forensic assessment undertaken at specialist Sexual Assault Referral Centre by staff with appropriate skills & expertise
