How to spot signs of neglect or abuse and what to do about it
Every child has the right to be safe from neglect and abuse. But what would you do if you regularly saw a young child playing on a street, on their own, late at night?
Or, if your own child’s friend seemed uncharacteristically quiet, withdrawn and apparently afraid to go home?
You might think it’s none of your business or you may not be sure what to do.
[IMG1]
After all, there is no proof that anything is wrong. But, what if something isn’t quite right?
What if these are the early signs that these children are being abused and neglected?
The truth is that we can all play our part in protecting vulnerable children – it isn’t just a job for social workers. Whether you’re a relative, a friend, a passer-by or a neighbour, by raising your concern you can make a difference.
Signs of neglect or abuse are rarely obvious. However, there may be signs which make you concerned and that may be an indication of a child being abused or neglected.
If you notice one or a combination of the following, a child may need help:
- unexplained bruising or bruising in an unusual place
- afraid, quiet or withdrawn
- afraid to go home
- appear constantly hungry, tired or untidy
- left unattended or unsupervised
- have too much responsibility for their age
- acting in a sexually inappropriate way
- misusing drugs or alcohol
- tell you something that sounds as though they have been hurt by someone.
You should not be afraid of potential repercussions if you speak out.
If you see behaviour that is of concern, or if a child or young person tells you something, you need to take them seriously and speak to someone.
The new freephone Child Protection Line offers access to all the necessary professionals including Police and social work.
It’s confidential, so any information about you will be treated with care. Even if you do not give your name, inquiries can still be made into the child’s care and welfare.
Thorough checks will be made following any concerns raised and investigations are undertaken. At all times, the safety and welfare of the child is paramount.
So, if you are concerned about a child, perhaps it’s time to play your part in ensuring their protection.
Special leaflets address concerns
In addition to the new 24-hour freephone helpline, a series of public information leaflets are now available for people worried about child protection issues.
One of the new leaflets is for anyone who might have concerns about a child.
It explains what to do if you are worried that a child is being abused or neglected and sets out what will happen when concerns are reported and how professionals will respond to these concerns.
Another leaflet is for families who may be involved in the child protection process.
It sets out the reasons why concerns may have been raised about their child/children and how these concerns will be investigated.
There are also two pocket-sized leaflets for children and young people who may have concerns.
If you would like a copy of the leaflets you can pick one up from schools, community centres, libraries and Council offices across the city.
- The information can also be found by logging on to the Council website at www.edinburgh.gov.uk
The website also provides copies of the leaflets for those citizens whose first language may not be English: in Arabic, Bengali, Mandarin, Polish and Urdu.