Safeguarding children - recognising the signs of abuse

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Unit 5

Safeguarding policies

Understanding the indicators of potential child abuse:

This is a very sensitive subject and something which any child care worker will wish never comes up but must be vigilant for any signs of abuse in case it does. As care workers we must remember to be causes that these are only indicators and if some are spotted there could be a very good reason for them and thorough investigation should be made before any allegations are made. We must always follow the policies made by the Nursery and carefully adhere to these and never jump to our own conclusions.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm. This 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.

A child under the age of 18 years who has experienced physical threats or physical violence or whose needs have been neglected or disregarded by a person or persons in a position of authority or in which a relationship of trust exists.

Indicators of potential physical abuse:

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Other behavioural indicators, which are common in older children than younger children, include:

 Running away; criminal behaviour; drug abuse; and acting out behaviour.

If signs of physical injury on a child are observed several factors will need to be considered before deciding whether or not they indicate possible physical abuse. The following physical indicators should raise concern:

 The location, nature or extent of the injury does not fit with the explanation given.

 The child's age or developmental stage is not consistent with the type of injury. The severity or type of the injury itself is of concern.

Sometimes a ...

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