Child abuse can happen inside and out of the home, by people known or unknown to the victim – they don’t even have to meet in person, abuse can happen online. It can be a one-off experience or a series of events. Whilst any child or young person could be a victim, there are those that may be more at risk than others.

There are 4 main types of abuse, they are:

• physical
• emotional
• sexual
• neglect

What is Physical Abuse?

A child is subject to this form of abuse when physical harm is purposefully inflicted upon them.

Children subject to physical abuse usually sustain injuries, most commonly bruising, fractures, burns, abrasions and lacerations. These injuries are normally inflicted by their abuser carrying out one or more of the following actions:

hitting
shaking
biting
kicking
throwing
poisoning
burning
scolding
drowning
suffocating

What is Emotional Abuse?

Also known as Psychological Abuse, KCSIE  explains that this form of abuse is:

“the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child’s emotional development”. 

The NSPCC has categorised Emotional Abuse into 6 main areas, as follows:

• emotional neglect: ignoring the child, failing to show affection or responding to their emotional needs
• rejection: telling a child that they are not good enough, physical abandonment, excluding a child from activities, failing to listen or allow a child express themselves, belittling behaviour and not communicating
• isolating: restricting a child’s freedom (unreasonably) and prevent social interactions
• manipulation: coercing or persuading a child to take actions that they are not comfortable with , are unsafe or not age appropriate, this includes gas-lighting
• terrorising: threatening a child or putting them in situations that are frightening or dangerous
• bullying: ridiculing, humiliating conduct

What is Sexual Abuse?

Forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities is sexual abuse. There are two main forms of sexual abuse, contact and non-contact, here are some examples of each type:

Contact:

Rape

Assault by penetration

Sexual assault

Sexual activity

Non-contact:

Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Causing a child to watch a sexual act.

Arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Meeting a child following sexual grooming.

Sexual communication with a child.

Take (or permit to be taken) indecent images of a child.

Distribute or show images of a child.

Possess indecent images of a child

What is Neglect?

KCSIE defines neglect as:

“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”

The NSPCC explain that there are 4 types of neglect, they are:

• physical: failing to meet a child’s basic needs, e.g. nourishment, shelter, clothing, care and protection
• emotional: humiliation, intimidation, ridicule and isolation
• educational: failing to ensure that a child receives an education
• medical: failure to acquire or refuse healthcare including ignoring medical advise

There are a number of other safeguarding concerns, that should be acted upon immediately if suspected/identified:

Breast flattening
Child-on-child abuse
Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) & County Lines
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Domestic abuse
Fabricated or induced illness (FII)
Female Genital Mutilation
Forced Marriage
Modern Slavery (including Child Trafficking)

Homelessness
According to the homeless charity Shelter, 1 in every 100 children in England woke up on Christmas Day in 2022 homeless or living in temporary accommodation. 35% of those children did not have bed of their own and were sharing a bed with another family member. Almost half of those children attend school feeling tired and hungry.

KCSIE  confirms that being homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, poses a risk to the welfare of a child. Designated Safeguarding Leads do have access routes to the local housing authorities so that concerns can be raised.

In most cases, children affected by homelessness will still live with their families, however, for those working with older children, it is important to recognise that this may not be the case for those aged 16 years and older.  There are some children that will be living independently from their parents/guardians, and their needs will greatly differ from those who remain under their care.

In any case, where it has been identified that a child is or is at risk of being homeless, the Designated Safeguarding Lead must be notified. In turn, they will ensure that a referral to the local authority children’s social care services is completed where a child has been or is at risk of harm.

There is now legislation in place that puts a legal duty on councils in England to provide meaningful help, including needs assessment, personal housing plan and finding a place to live for everyone who is or is at risk of homelessness.

Homelessness. -BBC LONDON