Potential Indicators of Abuse

A wide range of professionals come into contact with children and as a matter of course will come across children who may be at risk or who have actually been abused. Each agency needs to know their relevant policies and procedures but child abuse is an emotive subject giving rise to both personal and emotional obstacles which may prevent an effective response.

None of us are free from the impact of stereotyping and labelling. Being aware of these feelings whilst not allowing them to impose on our decision making is a difficult task.

Sources of Concern

Staff may become aware of a child at risk from their own observation, through statements made by the child, a family member, friends, relatives or colleagues. Regardless of the source of information …….

All allegations must be treated seriously and dealt with promptly.

Signs and Symptoms of Abuse

Signs can do more than to give rise to suspicion – they are not in themselves proof that abuse has occurred. Context and your knowledge of the child will always need to be taken into account.

Possible behavioural signs of Physical Abuse:

  • Fear of adult/carer, including fear of returning home
  • Refusal to change for PE – keeping limbs covered
  • Fear of medical help
  • Self destructive tendencies
  • Aggression towards others
  • Sudden unexplained change in behaviour
  • Sudden onset of learning difficulty or ability to concentrate
  • Very low self-esteem, not responding to praise
  • Inhibited, cowers, withdraws

Physical Signs

  • Hand/slap marks
  • Marks in the shape of particular objects
  • Pinch marks
  • Grip marks on arms, chest or other parts – in a young baby this could indicate shaking, risking injury to the brain
  • Bruising around the eye. Symmetrical bruised eyes are rarely accidental, although they may occur from skull or nose fractures
  • Linear bruises, especially back of legs or buttocks
  • Bruising in or around the mouth especially in young babies
  • Bruising to cheeks e.g. finger marks
  • Symmetrical bruising, especially on or behind the ears
  • Bruising on the stomach, chest, or on the neck
  • Bruising to breasts, buttocks, lower abdomen, thighs or genital area
  • Different age bruising on a child at any one time other than on the common sites for accidental injury
  • Burns or scalds with clear outlines
  • Burns of uniform depth over a large area
  • Burns inside the mouth, inside arms or genitals
  • Cigarette burns
  • Bite marks
  • Fractures in children under one year
  • Evidence of old or repeated fractures
  • Torn skin inside the lip of a baby (the frenulum)
  • Any injuries bleeding or soreness in the genital or rectal area
  • Persistent vulval reddening or vaginal discharge
  • Unexplained injuries, untreated injuries, recurrent injuries
  • Symptoms of unexplained concussion
  • Admitted injuries caused by excessive punishment

Possible Signs of Neglect

  • Constant hunger
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Constant tiredness
  • Poor clothing
  • Emaciated
  • Frequent lateness, earliness or non-attendance at school
  • Destructive tendencies
  • No social relationships
  • Compulsive stealing
  • Scavenging for food and clothes
  • No carer at home
  • Very low self-esteem

Possible Signs of Emotional Abuse

  • Developmental delay (physical, mental, emotional)
  • Admission of punishment which seems excessive
  • Over reaction to mistakes
  • Sudden speech disorders
  • Rocking, hair twisting/pulling,etc.
  • Self mutilation
  • Extremes of passivity or aggression
  • Drugs/solvent abuse
  • Repeated running away
  • Scavenging for food and clothes
  • Extreme attention seeking
  • Bedwetting or soiling

Sexual Abuse – under 5’s

  • Extreme fear of particular person
  • Become distressed when clothing removed
  • Regress to younger behavioural pattern
  • Stare blankly, seem unhappy, confused, sad
  • Play our sexual acts in knowledgeable way – age inappropriate
  • Act sexually towards others, play, language
  • Have soreness in throat, genital or anal area
  • Chronic nightmares, onset of bedwetting

Sexual Abuse – under 12’s

  • Sudden changes in behaviour, aggressive, withdrawn
  • Reluctance to undress for gym
  • Falling asleep at school
  • Repeat ailments, headaches, stomach aches
  • Wary, watchful
  • Running away
  • Talk or write about sexual matters
  • Act sexually inappropriately
  • Eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia

Sexual Abuse – over 12’s

  • Distressed, suicidal
  • Self hatred, self harming
  • Lack of concentration, world of own
  • Outbursts of anger, aggression
  • Inappropriately seductive
  • Talks about a ‘friend with a problem’
  • Loss of memory
  • Use drink or drugs to excess
  • Sexually abuse a child