Abuse

Abuse can take different forms. Common types are:

• Neglect – the persistent lack of essential care for a child including enough love, stimulation, safety, food, clothing, shelter, medical care or education. It can also mean leaving a child alone and at risk.
• Emotional abuse – can mean repeatedly rejecting a child, constantly threatening or putting a child or young person down so that they ​feel unloved and worthless.
• Physical abuse – including hitting, punching, burning, poisoning, attempted drowning and smothering.
• Sexual abuse – forcing or persuading a child or young person to take part in any kind of sexual activity. It can include inappropriate touching, kissing or sexual intercourse. It can also involve causing a child to look at, or being involved in pornographic material or videos.

A child may experience more than one type of abuse or neglect.

We have a legal duty to look into a child’s circumstances when somebody suspects abuse or neglect is occurring. A social worker usually does this job for us. The social worker will need you to give them relevant information so they can plan the best way of checking the child is safe and, if necessary, draw up plans for further action.

• Bullying
• Bullying – advice for parents
• Anti-Bullying Strategy (coming soon)
• Anti-Bullying Action Plan (coming soon)
• Child sexual exploitation – advice for parents
• Child sexual exploitation (CSE) – advice for multi-agency practitioners
• Sexual exploitation (Barnardo’s website)
• Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism