1. WHAT IS ABUSE? A1

3. DEFINITION & RECOGNITION OF CHILD ABUSE
“child” means a person under the age of 18 years who has not married
NEGLECT
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
PHYSICAL ABUSE
SEXUAL ABUSE
CONSIDER POSSIBILITY
OBSERVE SIGNS OF ABUSE
RECORD INFORMATION A3

4. “Reasonable Grounds for Concern”
specific indication from the child that (s)he was abused;
an account by a person who saw the child being abused;
evidence, such as an injury or behaviour which is consistent with abuse and unlikely to be caused another way;
an injury or behaviour which is consistent both with abuse and with an innocent explanation but where there are corroborative indicators supporting the concern that it may be a case of abuse. An example of this would be a pattern of injuries, an implausible explanation, other indications of abuse e.g. dysfunctional behaviour;
consistent indication, over a period of time, that a child is suffering from emotional or physical neglect
Aspects of the child’s behaviour
Consistent signs of neglect over a period of time
Children First: A4

5. Neglect
“An omission, where the child suffers significant harm or impairment of development by being deprived of food clothing, warmth, hygiene, intellectual stimulation, supervision and safety, attachment to affection from adults, medical care”.
Children First: A5

6. Emotional Abuse
“When a child’s need for affection, approval, consistency and security are not met. Emotional abuse is normally to be found in the relationship between a care-giver and a child”.
Children First: A6

7. Physical abuse
Any form of non-accidental injury or injury which results from wilful or neglectful failure to protect a child.
Children First A7

8. Sexual Abuse
“When a child is used by another person for his/her gratification or sexual arousal or for that of others”.
Children First: A8

9. Threshold of Significant Harm
“Harm can be defined as the ill treatment or the impairment of the health or development of the child. Whether it is significant is determined by his/her health and development as compared to that which could reasonably be expected of a child of a similar age”.
Children First: A9

11. Neglect Physical Indicators Behavioural Indicators
Exposed to danger; lack of age appropriate supervision
Over protection- extreme control
Low self esteem
Child as parent(parentified)
Caring for younger siblings
Accident prone
Poor hygiene - lack of self care
Untreated illnesses
A11
Physical Indicators
Tiredness, listlessness
Hunger
Dental issues
Dirty/smelly
Bed wetting/soiled
Failure to thrive
Learning difficulties
Lack of provision of health care
Age inappropriate appearance - dress/style

12. Emotional Abuse Physical Indicators Behavioural Indicators
Sudden speech disorders
Eating disorders
Self harm
Wetting and soiling
Signs of mutilation
Attention seeking behaviour
Frequent vomiting
A12
Behavioural Indicators
Mood change e.g.depression, failure to communicate
Rocking, thumb sucking
Fear of change
Chronic runaway
Poor peer relationships/isolation
Truancy
Delinquency

13. Physical Abuse Physical Indicators Behavioural Indicators Scratches
Bite marks or welts
Bruises in places difficult to mark e.g. behind ears, groin etc
Burns, especially cigarette burns
Under nourishment
Untreated injuries
Behavioural Indicators
Self mutilation tendencies
Poor concentration/learning
Chronic runaway
Aggressive or withdrawn
Fear of returning home
Undue fear of adults
Bullying/being a victim
A13

14. Sexual Abuse Physical Indicators Behavioural Indicators
Soreness, bleeding, itching in the genital or anal area
STIs
Pregnancy
Genital injury
Eating disorders
Stomach pains or headaches
Pain on urination
Bruises on inner thighs or buttocks
Behavioural Indicators
Inappropriate language, sexual knowledge for age group
Chronic depression/low self-esteem
Inappropriate sexual behaviour
Substance/drug abuse
Self harm
A14

16. Why Children Don’t Tell ?
Fear of abuser
Fear of the consequence
Fear of being disbelieved
Guilt
Taboo subject
Abuse has been normalised
Bribes
Language
A16

17. Why Children Do Tell ? Meet a person they can trust
Begin to learn what is normal
Become aware of their suffering
Pain too great
To prevent it happening to siblings and/or others
A17

18. Dealing with Disclosure
DON’T
Panic
Promise to keep secrets
Ask leading questions
Make the child repeat the story unnecessarily
Delay
Start to investigate
Do's
Stay calm
Listen
Believe
Reassure
Record in writing
Discuss
Report
A18