Categories of Abuse
Categories Of Abuse
The following definitions are extracted from Scottish Government guidance on notes on Register Data Collection (August 2010)
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse describes any behaviour that involves exerting control over a partner or ex-partner's life choices and that undermines their personal autonomy. It is an assault on their human rights. Although most victims are women, men can also suffer domestic abuse, and it can also occur in same-sex relationships. Children and young people living with domestic abuse are at increased risk of significant harm, both as a result of witnessing the abuse and being abused themselves. Children can also be affected by abuse even when they are not witnessing it or being subjected to abuse themselves. Domestic abuse can profoundly disrupt a child's environment, undermining their stability and damaging their physical, mental and emotional health.
Parental Alcohol Misuse
Parental alcohol misuse during pregnancy can have significant health impacts on the unborn child. Parental alcohol misuse can also result in sustained abuse, neglect, maltreatment, behavioural problems, disruption in primary care-giving, social isolation and stigma of children. Alcohol-misusing parents/carers often lack the ability to provide structure or discipline in family life, Poor parenting can impede child development through poor attachment and the long-term effects of maltreatment can be complex. The capability of parents/carers to be consistent, warm and emotionally responsible to their children can be undermined.
Parental Drug Misuse
Parental drug misuse during pregnancy can have significant health impacts on the unborn child. Parental drug misuse can also result in sustained abuse, neglect, maltreatment, behavioural problems, disruption in primary care-giving, social isolation and stigma of children. Drug-misusing parents/carers often lack the ability to provide structure or discipline in family life. Poor parenting can impede child development through poor attachment and the long-term effects of maltreatment can be complex. The capability of parents/carers to be consistent, warm and emotionally responsive to their children can be undermined.
Non-engaging family
Evidence shows that some adults will deliberately evade practitioner interventions aimed at protesting a child. In many cases of child abuse and neglect, it is a clear and deliberate strategy adopted by one or more of the adults with responsibility for the care of a child. It is also the case that the nature of child protection work can result in parents/carers behaving in a negative and hostile way towards practitioners.
The terms non-engagement and non-compliance are used to describe a range of deliberate behaviour and attitudes such as:-
· Failure to enable necessary contact (for example missing appointments) or refusing to allow access to the child or to the home;
· Active non-compliance with the actions set out in the Child's Plan (or Child Protection Plan);
· Disguised non-compliance, where the parent/carer appears to co-operate without carrying out actions or enabling them to be effective; and
· Threats of violence or other intimidation towards practitioners.
Parental Mental Health Problems
It is not inevitable that living with a parent/carer with mental health issues will have a detrimental impact on a child's development and many adults who experience mental health problems can parent effectively. However, there is evidence to suggest that many family in this situation are more vulnerable.
A number of features can contribute to the risk experiences by a child or young person living with a parent or carer who has mental health problems. These include:-
· The parent/carer being unable to anticipate the needs of the child or put the needs of the child before their own;
· The child becoming involved in the parent/carer's delusional; system or obsessional compulsive behaviour ;
· The child becoming the focus for parental aggression or rejection;
· The child witnessing disturbing behaviour arising from the mental illness (often with little or no explanation);
· The child being separated from a mentally ill parent for example because the latter is hospitalised; and
· The child taking on caring responsibilities which are inappropriate for his/her age.
Child Placing Themselves at Risk
Some children and young people place themselves at risk of significant harm from their own behaviour. Concerns about these children and young people can be just as significant as concerns relating to children who are at risk because of their care environment. The main difference is the source of risk, though it should be recognised that at least some of the negative behaviour may stem from experiences of abuse. Where suck risk is identified, as with other child protection concerns, it is important that a multi-agency response is mobilised and a support plan identified to minimize future risk. The key test for triggering these processes should always be the level of risk to the individual child or young people and whether the risk is being addressed, not the source of risk.
While not exhaustive, the following lists the difference types of concern that may rise:
· Self harm and/or suicide attempts;
· Alcohol and/or drug misuse;
· Running away/going missing;
· Inappropriate sexual behaviour or relationships (including under-age sexual activity);
· Sexual exploitation
· Problematic or harmful sexual behaviour
· Violent behaviour; and
· Criminal activity
Child Exploitation
Child exploitation is a broad term which includes forces or dangerous labour, child trafficking and child prostitution. The term is used to refer to situations where children are abused physically, verbally or sexually or when they are submitted to unsatisfactory conditions as part of their forced or voluntary employment.
Many of the children who suffer from exploitation do so because they have no other choice their parents may need the added income, or the children may be responsible for their sibling due to circumstance. They may also have been trafficked or forced into slaved labour, either in their own country or somewhere internationally, and may be living a life of struggle, suffering and invisibility within the community.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is the causing of physical harm to a child or young person. Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms or, deliberately causes, ill health to a child they are looking after.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is persistent emotional neglect or ill treatment that has severe and persistent adverse effects on a 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 also involve the imposition of age; or developmentally inappropriate expectations on a child, or may involve causing children to feel frightened or in danger, or exploiting or corrupting children.
Some level of emotional abuse is present in all types of ill treatment of a child; it can also occur independently of other forms of abuse.
Neglect
Neglect is 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.
It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect or, or failure to respond to a child's basic emotional needs.
Other Concern/s
In addition to the above concern categories, other concern(s) may be identified at the latest pre-birth, initial, review or transfer in Child Protection Case Conference. This option is to be used if other concern(s) were identified.
