Keeping children safe is everyone’s responsibility. All children have the right to be safe and to be protected from all forms of abuse and neglect.  The signs of abuse can sometimes be difficult to spot, but individuals can play a big part in keeping children safe. You can help protect children by keeping your eyes and ears open, by being alert to signs that all is not well, and by acting on any concerns you might have.

Neglect

Neglect can result when adults fail to meet the basic physical and /or emotional needs of the children they are responsible for.

All children and young people need food, clothing, warmth, love and attention, in order to grow and develop properly.

Neglect is when a parent or carer fails to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment), medical care, or protection from physical and emotional harm or danger. It also includes failure to ensure access to education or to look after a child because the carer is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In pregnancy neglect may occur as a result of misusing alcohol or drugs.

Common indicators of neglect can include:

• frequent A& E attendances (e.g., for injuries); these are often associated with accidents through lack of supervision
• poor uptake of immunisations
• untreated medical conditions or not giving essential treatment regularly or consistently for serious illness and/or minor health problems
• poor dental hygiene and care
• inadequate or poor nutrition
• physical care and presentation of the child outside acceptable norms for the population (e.g., inappropriate clothing for the winter)
• child’s attendance at school is poor or the child is consistently late; parent takes no interest in child’s schoolwork
• parent carer does not have the ability or motivation to recognise and ensure the needs of the child are met
• house is in a dirty, unkempt state with poor safety provision; children’s bedrooms may be worse than the communal areas
• parental behaviour i.e., substance misuse, domestic abuse, denial of access to child, frequent home moves, homelessness etc.

Neglect can often become an issue when parents are dealing with complex problems, sometimes including domestic abuse, substance misuse, mental health issues, social-economic issues or they may have been poorly looked after themselves. These problems can have a direct impact on a parent’s ability to meet their child’s needs. Even when parents are struggling with other personal issues they have a responsibility to care for their child or seek help if they are unable to parent adequately.

Neglect can have serious and long lasting effects. It can be anything from affecting early brain development, language delay, physical injuries from accidents, low self-esteem, poor school attendance, to, self-harm and suicide attempts. In the very worst cases where a child dies from malnutrition or being denied the care they need. In some cases it can cause permanent disabilities.

Though neglect can affect any child, its impact particularly applies to infants and very young children who, among all the age groups, are at the highest risk of death and/or incurring lasting mental and physical damage.

Neglect could result in a child who:

• is frequently absent from school
• begs or steals money or food
• doesn’t get the medical or dental care, immunisations or glasses they need
• lacks appropriate clothing, e.g., for weather conditions, shoes are too small, ill-fitted clothes
• wears clothes that are consistently dirty or ‘smelly’
• has teeth that are dirty, hair quality that is poor and contains infestations
• loses weight or is constantly underweight
• has suffered physical harm or danger because their parent or adult caregiver has failed to protect them.

The above may play a cumulative part in isolating the child, e.g., at school because of body odour or head lice, or because of violent behaviour.

The damaging effects of severe neglect can lead to accidental injuries, poor health, disability, poor emotional and physical development, lack of self-esteem, mental health problems and even suicide.

The degree to which children are affected during their childhood and later in adulthood depends on the type, severity and frequency of the maltreatment and on what support mechanisms and coping strategies were available to the child.

Assessment of Care Toolkit has been selected as our agreed Neglect Assessment tool within East Dunbartonshire.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is when a child is deliberately hurt or injured by another person.

Physical abuse can be a one-off severe incident or may happen repeatedly. Sometimes there can be obvious signs of physical abuse but sometimes it can be hidden. You might see someone hitting, kicking, shaking or otherwise assaulting a child or you may see a child with unexplained injuries such as bruising, burns or bite marks. A child may tell you that they have been hurt or injured or appear afraid to go home.

Head injuries in babies and toddlers can be signs of abuse so it's important to be aware of these. Visible signs include:

• swelling
• bruising
• fractures
• being extremely sleepy or unconscious
• breathing problems
• seizures
• vomiting
• unusual behaviour, such as being irritable or not feeding properly.

All children can injure themselves accidentally, especially young children, but if you already have concerns about a child, a new injury might mean they need help. For example, you might notice that a child has an obvious injury such as a limp or a sore arm which they deny or that they try to explain in a way which doesn’t seem to make sense. Equally, you may not have had previous concerns about a child but if the nature of an injury or a series of minor injuries has caused you to be concerned, you should seek help.

Effects of physical abuse

Physical abuse can have long lasting effects on children and young people. It can lead to poor physical or mental health later in life, including:

• anxiety
• behaviour issues
• criminal behaviour
• depression
• drug and alcohol problems
• eating disorders
• issues at school
• obesity
• risky sexual behaviour
• suicidal thoughts and/or attempts.

 Physical abuse of children is never acceptable for any reason.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is when a child’s confidence and self-esteem is repeatedly damaged.

Emotional abuse includes:

• humiliating or constantly criticising a child
• threatening, shouting at a child or calling them names
• making the child the subject of jokes, or using sarcasm to hurt a child
• blaming and scapegoating
• making a child perform degrading acts
• not recognising a child's own individuality or trying to control their lives
• pushing a child too hard or not recognising their limitations
• exposing a child to upsetting events or situations, like domestic abuse or drug taking
• failing to promote a child's social development
• not allowing them to have friends
• persistently ignoring them
• being absent
• manipulating a child
• never saying anything kind, expressing positive feelings or congratulating a child on successes
• never showing any emotions in interactions with a child, also known as emotional neglect.

Emotional abuse can happen on its own but it’s always present alongside other forms abuse. Signs of emotional abuse can be hard to spot but it’s every bit as damaging as other forms of abuse.

Children and young people who are being emotionally abused might appear afraid of someone or be worried that they might displease them in some way. They may lack confidence and talk about themselves in a negative way. Others may appear unemotional and seem quiet and withdrawn.

A child experiencing emotional abuse might find it difficult to manage their own emotions, becoming angry or upset easily and then having difficulty calming down. They may also find it difficult to make friendships or keep them going and struggle to trust adults in their lives.

Emotional abuse can have very serious consequences for a child’s development, it’s always better to say something than do nothing.

Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is when a child is forced or persuaded into sexual activity.

Child sexual abuse can happen to children of all ages, from babies to teenagers. Sexual abuse of children can happen in person, online, or both.

Emotional signs

• Avoiding being alone with or frightened of people or a person they know.
• Language or sexual behaviour you wouldn't expect them to know.
• Having nightmares or bed-wetting.
• Alcohol or drug misuse.
• Self-harm.
• Changes in eating habits or developing an eating problem.
• Changes in their mood, feeling irritable and angry, or anything out of the ordinary.
• Change in normal behaviour for the child, for example suddenly not attending education or avoiding wanting to go home/running away.

Physical signs

• Bruises.
• Bleeding, discharge, pains or soreness in their genital or anal area.
• Sexually transmitted infections, including in the throat.
• Pain/soreness in throat
• Pregnancy.
• Difficulty in walking/sitting that are not usual for the child.

Children often feel responsible and can be persuaded by an abuser that what’s happening is all their own fault. However, child sexual abuse is only ever the fault of the abuser, it’s never the fault of the child.

Exploitation

Child Sexual Exploitation (subheading)

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse.

Child sexual exploitation happens through control, coercion, force, enticement and bribery – it never happens through choice. Young people as well as adults can commit child sexual exploitation.

Child sexual exploitation can affect girls and boys of any age, including 16 and 17 year olds. It can happen indoors, outdoors and online, and in any community including remote areas and villages, as well as towns and cities.