Signs and Indicators of Abuse

This section describes the types of behaviour or physical signs which you may see if a child is experiencing abuse.

We do not expect you to remember all the different signs and indicators of abuse or to remember which category they fit into. The most important thing is that if you have any concerns about someone’s wellbeing or safety is that you speak to the leader or DSL.

These are some general signs to be aware of which may indicate that a child is experiencing abuse:

Unexplained changes in behaviour or personality, including becoming withdrawn, anxious or aggressive.
Lacking social skills and has few friends, if any.
Poor bond or relationship with a parent or carer.
Knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their age.
Running away or going missing.
Always choosing to wear clothes which cover their body.

Listed below are the definitions of abuse and the signs and indicators which you may see. Be aware that someone may experience more than one type of abuse. Emotional abuse is involved in all types of child abuse, as well as being a category on its own.

Physical

A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or guardian fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

Signs and indicators

Frequent injuries
Unexplained or unusual fractures or broken bones
Unexplained bruises or cuts, burns or scalds or bite marks

Emotional

The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fu’n of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child from participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyber bullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children.

Signs and indicators

Children who are excessively withdrawn, fearful, or anxious about doing something wrong.
Parents or guardians who withdraw their attention from their child, giving the child the ‘cold shoulder’.
Parents or guardians blaming their problems on their child.
Parents or guardians who humiliate their child, for example, by name-calling or making negative comparisons.

Sexual

Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

Signs and indicators

Children who display knowledge, language or interest in sexual acts inappropriate to their age.
Children who ask others to behave sexually or play sexual games.
Children with physical sexual health problems, including soreness in the genital and anal areas, sexually transmitted infections or underage pregnancy.

Child Sexual Exploitation (a form of sexual abuse)

It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

Signs and indicators

Children who appear with unexplained gifts or new possessions.
Children who associate with other young people involved in exploitation.
Children who have older boyfriends or girlfriends.
Children who suffer from sexually transmitted infections or become pregnant.
Children who suffer from changes in emotional wellbeing.
Children who misuse drugs and alcohol.
Children who go missing for periods of time or regularly come home late.
Children who regularly miss school or education or do not take part in education.

Neglect

The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or guardian failing to:

a. provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment).

b. protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger.

c. ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate caregivers).

d. ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

Signs and indicators

Children who are living in a home that is indisputably dirty or unsafe.
Children who are left hungry or dirty.
Children who are left without adequate clothing, e.g. not having a winter coat.
Children who are living in dangerous conditions, i.e. around drugs, alcohol or violence.
Children who are often angry, aggressive or self-harm.
Children who fail to receive basic health care.
Parents who fail to seek medical treatment when their children are ill or are injured.

Extremism

Extremism goes beyond terrorism and includes people who target the vulnerable – including the young – by seeking to sow division between communities on the basis of race, faith or denomination; justify discrimination towards women and girls; persuade others that minorities are inferior; or argue against the primacy of democracy and the rule of law in our society.

Signs and indicators

Isolating themselves from family and friends.
Talking as if from a scripted speech and unwilling or unable to discuss their view.
A sudden disrespectful attitude towards others.
Increased levels of anger and increased secretiveness, especially around internet use.

Child Criminal Exploitation

Where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into any criminal activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial or other advantage of the perpetrator or facilitator and/or (c) through violence or the threat of violence. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child criminal exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

Signs and indicators

Frequently absent from and doing badly in school.
Going missing from home, staying out late and travelling for unexplained reasons.
In a relationship or hanging out with someone older than them.
Being angry, aggressive or violent, isolated or withdrawn.
Having unexplained money and buying new things.
Wearing clothes or accessories in gang colours or getting tattoos.
Using new slang words.
Spending more time on social media and being secretive about time online.
Making more calls or sending more texts, possibly on a new phone or phones.
Self-harming and feeling emotionally unwell.
Taking drugs and abusing alcohol.
Committing petty crimes like shop lifting or vandalism.
Unexplained injuries and refusing to seek medical help.
Carrying weapons or having a dangerous breed of dog.

Grooming

Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.

Signs and indicators

Being very secretive about how they are spending their time, including when online.
Having an older boyfriend or girlfriend.
Having money or new things like clothes and mobile phones that they cannot or will not explain.
Underage drinking or drug taking.
Spending more or less time online or on their devices.
Being upset, withdrawn or distressed.
Sexualised behaviour, language or an understanding of sex that is not appropriate for their age.
Spending more time away from home or going missing for periods of time.

This guidance is taken from the CBA’s Safeguarding Policy: Child and Adults at Risk

If you would like further information, contact YAC HQ on yac@yac-uk.org