What’s Abuse?
Being mistreated or abused (sometimes called ‘Significant Harm’) is defined as Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Neglect or Emotional Abuse.
Spotting the signs of child abuse and neglect
To spot the signs of child abuse or neglect, look for changes in:
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- Appearance – such as frequent unexplained injuries, consistently poor hygiene, matted hair, unexplained gifts, or a parent regularly collecting children from school when drunk
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- Behaviour – such as demanding or aggressive behaviour, frequent lateness or absence from school, avoiding their own family, misusing drugs or alcohol, or being constantly tired
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- Communication – such as sexual or aggressive language, self-harming, becoming secretive and reluctant to share information or being overly obedient