WHAT IS ABUSE?

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WHAT IS ABUSE?

Child Protection Guidelines Ramsgrange Community
School February 27th 2013
Child abuse occurs when the behaviour of someone
in a position of greater power than a child or
young person abuses that power and causes harm to
that child or young person. Our Children, Our
Church, page 41, 7.2
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DEFINITION RECOGNITION OF CHILD ABUSE

• child means a person under the age of 18 years
  who has not married. This abuse can be
  categorised as follows
• NEGLECT
• EMOTIONAL ABUSE
• PHYSICAL ABUSE
• SEXUAL ABUSE

• How can you begin to recognise abuse?
• CONSIDER POSSIBILITY
• OBSERVE SIGNS OF ABUSE
• RECORD INFORMATION
  

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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 childs behaviour
• Consistent signs of neglect over a period of time
• Children First 4.3.2.
  

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Neglect

• 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
  First3.2.1.

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Indicators of NeglectWith the people around you
identify what you would see as the primary
behavioural physical indicators of neglect.

• 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
• 
  

• 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

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Emotional Abuse

• When a childs 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
  First3.3.1.

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Indicators of Emotional AbuseWith the people
around you identify what you would see as the
primary behavioural physical indicators of
emotional abuse.

• Physical Indicators
• Sudden speech disorders
• Eating disorders
• Self harm
• Wetting and soiling
• Signs of mutilation
• Attention seeking behaviour
• Frequent vomiting
• 
  

• Behavioural Indicators
• Mood change e.g. depression, failure to
  communicate
• Rocking, thumb sucking
• Fear of change
• Chronic runaway
• Poor peer relationships/isolation
• Truancy
• Delinquency

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Physical Abuse

• Any form of non-accidental injury or injury which
  results from wilful or neglectful failure to
  protect a child.
• Children First 3.4.1
  

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Indicators of Physical AbuseWith the people
around you identify what you would see as the
primary behavioural physical indicators of
physical abuse.

• 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
• 
  

• Physical 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

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Sexual Abuse

• When a child is used by another person for
  his/her gratification or sexual arousal or for
  that of others.
• Children First3.5.1.

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Indicators of Sexual Abuse

• Physical 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
• 
  

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Why Children Dont Tell ?

• Taboo subject
• Abuse has been normalised
• Bribes
• Language
• 
  

• Fear of abuser
• Fear of the consequence
• Fear of being disbelieved
• Guilt

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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

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How should you deal with a disclosure?

• DONT
• Panic
• Promise to keep secrets
• Ask leading questions
• Make the child repeat the story unnecessarily
• Delay
• Start to investigate

• Do
• Stay calm
• Listen
• Believe
• Reassure
• Record in writing
• Discuss
• Report
• 
  

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Responsibilities (3.1)

• We must provide students with highest standard of
  care
• All school personnel are well placed to observe
  behavioural changes/signs of abuse
• BOM must appoint a Designated Liaison Person
  (DLP) Deputy DLP
• DLP is Principal

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Recording Disclosure (3.5)

• Note what you have seen/observed
• Describe/sketch physical injuries
• Record what child said, use childs words
• Avoid conjecture/supposition
• Sign/ date/ give to DLP (who retains in secure
  location)

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Protecting yourself

• Two parents/guardians supervise study
• Do not isolate yourself in any situation with a
  child e.g.
• Car
• Classroom
• Corridor
• Not responsible for managing behaviour.
• Note if a child leaves early and ensure they have
  prior permission.

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PROTECTION FOR PERSONS REPORTING CHILD ABUSE ACT
1998

• PROVIDES PROTECTION TO ANYONE MAKING A REPORT OF
  CHILD ABUSE
• REASONABLY IN GOOD FAITH
• TO A
• DESIGNATED OFFICER
• FROM
• CIVIL LIABILITY
• AND
• PENALISATION BY EMPLOYERS
• FINE FOR FALSE REPORTING
• GARDAI
• HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE

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