What is child abuse?

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023:

‘A form of maltreatment of a child.  Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm.  Harm can include ill treatment that is not physical as well as the impact of witnessing ill treatment of others.  This can be particularly relevant, but example, in relation to the impact of all forms of domestic abuse, including where they see, hear, or experience its effects.  Children may be abused in a family or in institutional or extra-familial contexts by those known to them or, more rarely, by others.  Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse.  Children may be abused by and adult or adults, or another child or children’

For more information about types of abuse, please visit our Children’s Safeguarding Themes

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding and Promoting the welfare of children includes:

• Providing timely help and support as issues emerge
• Protecting children from maltreatment, whether inside, outside the home, or online
• Preventing impairment to children’s physical and mental health or development
• Ensuring children are raised in safe, effective care
• Encouraging upbringing within birth families or kinship networks when appropriate
• Taking action to help all children achieve the best outcomes

If you are concerned about a child please follow the link below: