Safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect policy and procedure

Types and signs of abuse - children

It is generally accepted that there are these types of abuse:

  • physical abuse
  • emotional (or psychological) abuse
  • sexual abuse
  • neglect

Physical abuse

Examples:

  • Shaking
  • Pinching
  • Slapping
  • Force-feeding
  • Biting
  • Burning or scalding
  • Causing needless physical discomfort
  • Inappropriate restraint
  • Locking someone in a room

Signs

  • Unexplained bruising, marks or injuries on any part of the body
  • Frequent visits to the GP or A&E
  • An injury inconsistent with the explanation offered
  • Fear of parents or carers being approached for an explanation
  • Aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts
  • Flinching when approached
  • Reluctance to get changed or wearing long sleeves in hot weather
  • Depression
  • Withdrawn behaviour or other behaviour change
  • Running away from home or residential care
  • Distrust of adults, particularly those with whom a close relationship would normally be expected

Emotional/psychological abuse

Examples:

  • Intimidation and/or threats
  • Bullying
  • Rejection
  • Shouting
  • Indifference and the withdrawal of approval
  • Denial of choice
  • Deprivation of dignity or privacy
  • The denial of human and civil rights
  • Harassment
  • Being made to fear for one's well being

Signs

  • A failure to thrive or grow
  • Sudden speech disorders
  • Developmental delay, either in terms of physical or emotional progress
  • Behaviour change
  • Being unable to play or socialise with others
  • Fear of making mistakes
  • Self harm
  • Fear of parent or carer being approached regarding their behaviour
  • Confusion

Sexual abuse

Examples

  • Rape and other sexual offences
  • For adults, sexual activity including sexual contact and non-sexual contact that the person does not want, to which they have not consented, could not consent, or were pressured into consenting to
  • Being encouraged or enticed to touch the abuser
  • Coercing the victim into watching or participating in pornographic videos, photographs, or internet images
  • Any sexual relationship that develops where one is in a position of trust, power or authority

Signs

  • Pain or itching in the genital/anal areas
  • Bruising or bleeding near genital/anal areas
  • Sexually transmitted disease
  • Vaginal discharge or infection
  • Stomach pains
  • Discomfort when walking or sitting down
  • Pregnancy
  • Sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour, e.g. becoming aggressive or withdrawn
  • Fear of being left with a specific person or group of people
  • Nightmares
  • Leaving home
  • Sexual knowledge which is beyond their age or development age
  • Sexual drawings or language
  • Bedwetting
  • Saying they have secrets they cannot tell anyone about
  • Self harm or mutilation, sometimes leading to suicide attempts
  • Eating problems such as overeating or anorexia

Neglect

Examples

  • Withholding help or support necessary to carry out daily living tasks
  • Ignoring medical and physical care needs
  • Failing to provide access to health, social or educational support
  • The withholding of medication, nutrition and heating
  • Keeping someone in isolation
  • Failure to intervene in situations that are dangerous to the person
  • Inadequate supervision and guidance – leaving the child to cope alone, abandoning them or leaving them with inappropriate carers and failing to provide appropriate boundaries about behaviours such as under age sex or alcohol

Signs

  • Constant hunger, sometimes stealing food from others
  • Dirty or 'smelly'
  • Loss of weight, or being constantly underweight
  • Inappropriate dress for the weather
  • Complaining of being tired all the time
  • Not requesting medical assistance and/or failing to attend appointments
  • Having few friends
  • Worsening of health conditions
  • Pressure sores
  • Mentioning their being left alone or unsupervised
  • Sore or extreme nappy rash
  • Skin infections
  • Lack of response to stimuli or contact
  • Poor skin condition(s)
  • Frozen watchfulness
  • Anxiety
  • Distressed
  • Child moves away from parent under stress
  • Little or no distress when separated from primary carer
  • Inappropriate emotional responses
  • Language delay