Recognising Abuse in FamiliesPam Schultz: VLE March 5th 2013.

Learned Helplessness• Women often have good

reasons for staying• Fear that they cant

support themselves• Being Ostracised• Disapproval of others.

• They sometimes separate from perpetrator for a while and then return

Signs of Sexual Abuse• Inappropriate knowledge of or interest in sexual acts• Unusual or sophisticated sexual behaviours• Promiscuity and sexualised behaviour• Running away• Avoidance or rejection of sexual issues• Aggression• Dislike of genitals

Physical Abuse• Physical abuse is the intentional use of force against a child

resulting in injury or causing bodily harm.

• Physical force or violence that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment including assault, battery, and inappropriate restraint.

• The infliction of physical harm on a child by a parent or caregiver

Sprains, dislocations, fractures, broken bones, burns, abrasions, lacerations, Internal injuries, and bleeding, non-accidental bruises, head injuries. Injuries are inconsistent with explanation.

Numerous injuries in various stages o recovery or healing.

Presence of injuries over an extended period of time

Injuries inconsistent with child’s age and developmental phase

Injuries are unexplained implausible

Family members provided different explanations.

A history of similar injuries.

Delay between onset of injury and seeking medical care.

Wary of adults.

Flinch if touched unexpectedly

Neglect• Physical Indicators • Young children display abnormal growth patterns, weight loss,

sunken cheeks, paleness, lethargy, unresponsive to stimulation.

• Inappropriate dress for weather. • Poor hygiene, dirty or un bathed state. • Severe, persistent nappy rash or other skin disorder

(unattended).• Consistent hunger.• Lack of medical routine. • Signs of deprivation

Neglect• Behavioural Indicators • Doesn't meet developmental milestones. • Appears lethargic, undemanding, cries very little. • Unresponsive to stimulation. • Uninterested in surroundings. • Demonstrates severe lack of attachment to parent, little fear

of strangers. • Maybe very demanding of affection or attention from others• Shows little separation anxiety• May be happy just to go off with strangers.

Emotional Abuse• Hard to assess and

demonstrate• May co-exist with

other forms of abuse• Has much more

longer lasting affects on mental health than either physical or mental abuse.

Emotional Abuse• Belittling or Shaming

• Lack of affection or warmth

• Habitual Blaming

• Ignoring or rejecting

• Extreme forms of punishment

• Exposure to violence

• Yelling, screaming, threatening, frightening

• Humiliation: telling child they are worthless, bad

• comparing negatively with others.

• Withdrawing affection, hugs, “cold shoulder” blaming the child for everything,

• For example shutting in a dark room, threatening punishment

• Showing violence on films & TV

Some signs of Emotional Abuse

• Apathy, Depression• Withdrawal/Anger• Learning Difficulties, problems with concentration• Nervous Habits-Pulling Hair, Biting Hands• Conduct Disorders (Hostile, Ante-Social)• Extremes of Behaviour: compliance, demanding, passive,

violent• Self-Harm, suicide attempts• Detachment from parent • NOTE: The above symptoms may alert practitioner to

possibility of Abuse. However, there can be other reasons for presentation of these behaviours

Activities• Do a simple library search using “Summon” or another

preferred approach to explore one or more of the forms of abuse in the slides above

• If time allows read one or both of the articles on the following slides

• This afternoon there will be Blogs where you can share some of your learning and discuss ideas.

Journal Articles• Research Article 1 (Emotional Abuse & Development.

Developmental Psychology)• http://

psych.wisc.edu/pollak/pdfs/recognizing_emotion_faces_devpsych.pdf

• Research Article 2 • (Professional Knowledge and Abuse: Journal of Advanced

Nursing)• http://

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.04030.x/pdf

Some Links• The following is not a British site but very good• http://

helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm

• Kidscape• http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/childabuse.shtml

More useful Links• Child Welfare Site• http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm• NSPCC• http://

www.nspcc.org.uk/help-and-advice/worried-about-a-child/online-advice/online-advice_wdh85524.html

• Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board• http://suffolksafeguardingchildrenboard.onesuffolk.net/• Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board• http://www.nscb.norfolk.gov.uk/