Categories of Abuse
Physical Abuse
Physical Abuse is when someone hurts or harms a child or young person on purpose. This can include: hitting with hands or objects; slapping and punching; kicking; shaking; throwing; poisoning; burning and scalding; biting and scratching; breaking bones; drowning.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional Abuse is any type of abuse that involves the continual emotional mistreatment of a child. Sometimes people call it psychological abuse. It is often a part of other kinds of abuse, which means it can be difficult to spot the signs or tell the difference, though it can also happen on its own. It can involve deliberately trying to scare, humiliate, isolate or ignore a child; humiliating or constantly criticising a child; threatening, shouting at a child or calling them names; making the child the subject of jokes, or using sarcasm to hurt a child; blaming and scapegoating; making a child perform degrading acts; not recognising a child’s own individuality or trying to control their lives; pushing a child too hard or not recognising their limitations; exposing a child to upsetting events or situations, like domestic abuse or drug taking; failing to promote a child’s social development; not allowing them to have friends; persistently ignoring them; being absent; manipulating a child; never saying anything kind, expressing positive feelings or congratulating a child on successes; never showing any emotions in interactions with a child, also known as emotional neglect.
Neglect
Neglect is the continuous failure to meet a child’s basic needs. It is the most common form of child abuse. Children who suffer neglect can experience increased risk and danger, as well as it having a long term impact on their physical and mental health. Physical neglect might involve not meeting a child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing or shelter, or not supervising them appropriately or keeping them safe. Educational neglect describes when a parent doesn’t ensure their child is given an education. Emotional neglect is defined as when a child doesn’t get the nurture and stimulation they need. For example they are ignored, humiliated, intimidated or isolated. Medical neglect applies to situations when a child isn’t given proper health care, for example access to a dentist or doctor and refusing or ignoring medical recommendations.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Abuse is when a child or young person is forced, tricked or manipulated into sexual activities. They might not understand that what’s happening is abuse or that it’s wrong for the abuser to do this to them. They might be afraid to tell someone or behave as though this is normal for them to experience, both are valid for the child to be displaying. It can involve direct contact such as: sexual touching of any part of a child’s body, whether they’re clothed or not; using a body part or object to rape or penetrate a child; forcing a child to take part in sexual activities; making a child undress or touch someone else. It can also involve non-contact activities such as: exposing or flashing; showing pornography; exposing a child to sexual acts; making them masturbate; forcing a child to make, view or share child abuse images or videos; making, viewing or distributing child abuse images or videos; forcing a child to take part in sexual activities or conversations online or through a smartphone.
Getting the right support at the right time
Thresholds Document
The Newcastle Threshold Document sets out the types of support that are available and can help professionals identify the right level of support. Professionals can contact Children’s Services for advice and guidance prior to making a referral.
Child In Need
When we are concerned that a child requires the provision of extra support or services to help them achieve or maintain ‘a reasonable standard of health or development’ they may be classed as a Child in Need and may therefore be eligible for support from Children’s Services. Children with a Disability may be classed as a Child in Need. You can make a referral here: Refer A Child
Child Protection
Safeguarding children also involves protecting them from Significant Harm. A child who is at risk of, or who has suffered significant harm requires an immediate referral to Children’s Services. You can make a referral here: Refer A Child Where they have sustained injuries medical treatment should also be sought as a priority. If the child is at immediate risk of Significant Harm the police should also be notified.
Early Help
Early Help is an approach to safeguarding which focuses on services offering the right support in a timely fashion. Sometimes this is something the service can provide itself. Sometimes it might require a referral to a more Specialist Service for example Speech and Language, Mental Health or a Paediatrician.
If you are unsure about which support is available in your area you can use the Newcastle Support Directory or use the Enquiry Form.
Sometimes a family might require a range of help from several services. For example, a child with more than one support need, or a family in which several members have support services working with them. Professionals should considers undertaking an Early Help Assessment and Plan, in which a single assessment and plan are developed with the family by all the professionals involved in supporting them. This ensures the support is coordinated and everyone understands each other’s roles.
Approaches to Safeguarding in Newcastle
Babies and Sleep: Stay Close, Sleep Apart
The North and South of Tyne Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) continues to see infants who have sadly died where modifiable factors (those which can be changed through national or local interventions) were present. In July 2020, the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published a Thematic Report into SUDI. This report identified that these tragic deaths occur more frequently in families that are particularly vulnerable, with many of the risk factors associated with SIDS overlapping with those for child abuse and neglect. In response, Newcastle and Gateshead Safeguarding Children Partnerships have agreed to adopt a SIDS ‘Prevent and Protect Model’. A key aspect of this model is the introduction of this multi-agency guidance.
Please click here for the Multi-Agency Guide
Please click here for the Sleepy Time Rhyme
Please click here for the Out of Routine Review
Neglect
The Newcastle Safeguarding Children Partnership has produced a multi-agency screening tool to be used by local partners and agencies in identifying neglect. This aims to provide a shared basis for initial discussions regarding neglect. There is a guidance document to support professionals think about how they use this screening tool:
The NSCP have produced a Multi-Agency Neglect Screening Tool
The NSCP have produced Guidance for the Neglect Screening Tool
The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: An Introduction to Neglect
The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Babies, Pre-teens and Neglect
The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Teenagers and Neglect
Both the NSCP and Childline have lots of useful, up to date information on neglect.
Risk Outside The Home
The Newcastle Safeguarding Childrens Partnership has brought together a range of local and national resources to support practitioners in understanding their roles in safeguarding and protecting children and young people who face harm in their communities.
The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Introduction to ROTH
The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Local Learning and ROTH
The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Language and ROTH
The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Assessment and ROTH
The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Interventions and ROTH
For more information please view the Contextual Safeguarding Network Website
Newcastle Education Safeguarding Partnership
Working Together (2023) recognises that schools, colleges and other educational providers have a pivotal role to play in safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. Co-operation and buy-in to the new arrangements are vital for success. Once designated as a relevant agency, schools and colleges, and other educational providers, in the same way as other relevant agencies, are under a statutory duty to co-operate with the published arrangements
Newcastle Education Safeguarding Partnership (NESP) provides the mechanism for the Safeguarding Partners to fulfil the requirements of Working Together (2023) and enables representatives from all schools, colleges and other education providers in Newcastle, to engage with the work of the Safeguarding Partners by:
- Helping to shape procedure and guidance
- Feeding back to the Safeguarding Partners on implications of decisions and practice relating to safeguarding in schools
- Feeding back on areas of safeguarding activity identified and undertaken by the partnership
- Identifying strengths and gaps
- Reviewing impact of policy and practice
- Providing an opportunity for schools to identify and share best safeguarding practice
- Contribute to inspections on issues related to education as and when required
- Ensure that all schools are represented within the wider partnership Improving practice across all Newcastle schools
- Consider issues raised by the Safeguarding Partner