GP Trainees Safeguarding Session

1
GP Trainees Safeguarding Session

• Basic Awareness in Safeguarding Children

2
Definition of Physical Abuse

• Physical abuse is caused by an action, which
  results in physical harm being done to a child.
  The harm may be caused by the child being
• Hit
• Shaken
• Thrown
• Poisoned
• Burnt/ Scalded
• Drowned
• Suffocated

3
Fabricated/ Induced Illness

• Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or
  carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately
  causes ill health to a child whom they are
  looking after.

4
Definition of Sexual Abuse

• Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a
  child or young person to take part in sexual
  activities, whether or not the child is aware of
  what is happening

5
Definition of Emotional Abuse

• Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill
  treatment of a child so as to cause severe and
  persistent adverse effects on the childs
  emotional development

6
Neglect may involve

• Failure to provide adequate food, shelter and
  clothing
• Failure to protect from physical harm or danger
• Failure to ensure access to appropriate medical
  care
• Unresponsive to a childs basic emotional needs
• In cases of childhood obesity failure of parents/
  carers to work with professionals in reducing the
  childs weight

7
Working in pairs

• What might be the signs of
• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Neglect

8
Signs of Physical Abuse

• Bruising, especially to parts of the body where
  accidental injury is unlikely e.g eyes, behind
  ears etc
• Hand/ finger/ object prints
• Skull fractures/ multiple fractures
• Torn frenulum
• Dipping scalds
• Bites
• Cigarette burns/ burns
• Retinal haemorrhage

9
Emotional/ Psychological/ Behaviours

• Poor attention
• Low self esteem
• Distant/ hardened
• Fearful of adult reaction
• Frozen watchfulness
• Flinching
• Refusal to return somewhere

10
Signs of Sexual Abuse

• Injuries to anal/ genital area not consistent
  with story
• STDs
• Regular abdominal pains
• Bed wetting/ soiling
• Hints about secrets
• Advanced sexual knowledge (play, speech,
  drawings)
• Depression/ drugs/ drink
• Pregnancy
• Attempt to sexually abuse others

11
Signs of Emotional Abuse

• Low self esteem
• Attention seeking behaviour
• Unable to mix well
• Self hate
• Self harm
• Drug/ solvent abuse
• Anxiety
• Distant

12
Signs of Neglect

• Hunger/ failure to thrive
• Obesity
• Poor personal hygiene
• Low self esteem
• Under developed
• Poor social relationships
• Stealing/ scrounging
• Lateness/ poor attendance at school
• Tiredness

13
Red Flags

• Delay in reporting or seeking medical attention
• Account of accident not adequate to explain
  injury
• Physical findings which are discrepant with the
  account given
• Variable accounts
• Abnormal anxiety/ suspicion by the parents
• Sad/ withdrawn child
• Disclosure by the child

14
Factors which may lead to Child Abuse

• Social Exclusion
• Financial Pressures
• Housing Problems
• Domestic Violence
• Mental Illness
• Substance Misuse
• Poor Parenting Skills
• Family History of Abuse
• Chaotic Lifestyles

15
Responsibilities

• Any person who has knowledge or suspects that
  a child is being harmed must refer him or her to
  one or both of the agencies with statutory duties
  or powers to investigate or intervene
• (Social Care and/ or the Police)