Attitudes to child abuse change with developments in our society. Currently many children are on the Child Protection Register because they have substance misusing parents and due to new technology there are greater risks from the internet and mobile phones. We are also less tolerant of some cultural practices such as smacking of children.
It is often a difficult task to identify child abuse and Social Workers, the Police, and Health have a primary and specialised role in protection, investigation, provision of services, treatment and rehabilitation. Universal services like Education have a major role in detection of abuse as they can identify changes in a child's behaviour. But everyone has a role in detecting child abuse and ensuring that children are listened to and that adults respond to keep children safe from harm.
It is important that we are all aware of how our system works and can pass on concerns to ensure help and support is provided when required.
You can download the Scottish Government document 'It's everyone's job to make sure I'm alright|' for more information.
There are five categories of child abuse which form the basis of child protection registration:
Physical injury
Actual or attempted physical injury to a child, including the administration of toxic substances, where there is knowledge, or reasonable suspicion, that the injury was inflicted or knowingly not prevented.
Emotional abuse
Failure to provide for the child’s basic emotional needs such as to have a severe effect on the behaviour and development of the child.
Sexual abuse
Any child below the age of 16 may be deemed to have been sexually abused when any person(s), by design or neglect, exploits the child, directly or indirectly, in any activity intended to lead to the sexual arousal or other forms of gratification of that person or any other
person(s), including organised networks. This definition holds whether or not there has been genital contact and whether or not the child is said to have initiated or consented to the behaviour.
Physical neglect
This occurs when a child’s essential needs are not met and this is likely to cause impairment to physical health and development. Such needs include food, clothing, cleanliness, shelter and warmth. A lack of appropriate care, including access to health care, may result in persistent or severe exposure, through negligence, to circumstances which endanger the child.
Non-organic failure to thrive
Children who significantly fail to reach normal growth and developmental milestones (i.e. physical growth, weight, motor, social and intellectual development) where physical and genetic reasons for the failure have been medically eliminated and a diagnosis of non-organic failure to thrive has been established.
What should I do if I suspect a child is suffering from abuse?
If you suspect a child of suffering any of these forms of abuse, please contact the duty social worker at the local social work office| covering the child’s address. And, remember, even if you think an incident is a one-off, we may already have concerns about the child, so your information could be very important to us. Please also see 'What happens when I report a child protection concern|'.
It is also important to remember that you may be the only person aware of risks to a child and the only person aware of important information. Even a small but important piece of information can complete the picture.
It is important to be aware that while the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 makes it a duty for the state to intervene to protect children it is underpinned by 3 general principles:
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The welfare of the child is of paramount concern
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Children should be given the opportunity to express their views on matters affecting them
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Courts and Hearings should not make formal orders relating to children unless they are convinced that they are necessary for the welfare of the child