Safeguarding children
All children are entitled to child protection, irrespective of race, ethnicity, religion or socio-economic background. When there appears to be a conflict of interest between the protection of the child and that of the community/religious institution, it is the protection of the child that must come first.
A child is abused or neglected when somebody inflicts harm, or fails to act to prevent harm.
Children could be at risk of abuse in a family, institutional or community setting, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. A child or young person up to the age of 18 years could be subject to abuse or neglect and require protection via an inter-agency child protection plan.
What is Abuse?
We all have a responsibility for the safeguarding of children and young people. Safeguarding is about making sure they are protected from harm and can grow up safely.
Safeguarding means preventing and protecting children and young people at risk from abuse or neglect and educating those around them to recognise the signs and dangers. Both child abuse and neglect can cause significant harm to child and long-term effects into adulthood.
A child is abused or neglected when somebody inflicts harm or fails to act to prevent harm. Abuse can occur in any setting. A person may be experiencing more than one form of abuse.
Child abuse can take the following forms:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or caregiver fabricates or induces illness in a child whom they are looking after.
Emotional / Psychological Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.
It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person.
It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. It may involve causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, for example by witnessing domestic abuse within the home or being bullied, or, the exploitation or corruption of children.
Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
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. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts. They may include non contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse is any theft or misuse of a person’s money, property or resources by a person in a position of trust. This category will be less prevalent for a child, but indicators could be:
- not meeting their needs for care and support which are provided through direct payments; or
- complaints that personal property is missing
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 caregiver failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.
It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs. In addition, neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance misuse.
Useful Resources
Where to get help
I am a child or young person
If you are worried about yourself or someone else, there are lots of different places you can get help or advice:
You could speak to an adult you trust, such as a teacher or a sports coach or you could reach out to the following organisations:
- NHS urgent help for mental health: If you are concerned about your mental health you can call: 111 +2 (only in Wales).
- Childline or call 0800 1111.
- Papyrus or call 0800 068 41 41.
- Live Fear Free Helpline or call 0800 80 10 800.
- NSPCC or call 0808 800 500.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.
I am a parent or carer
As a parent or carer, you may be worried about a child or young person. We all have a responsibility for the safeguarding of children and young people.
If you believe a child or young person is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you are concerned about a child or young person, you can report a concern.
Useful organisations you could contact for support and advice:
I am a professional
As a professional, if you have reasonable concerns to suspect that a child or young person is at risk of abuse, you must report it. Children and young people must be safeguarding to prevent and protect them from abuse or neglect.
For emergencies when a child or young person is in immediate danger, call 999.
Vale of Glamorgan
If you have concerns about a child living in the Vale of Glamorgan please refer your concerns to Vale of Glamorgan Children and Young People’s Services.
Contact the Intake and Family Support Team: 01446 725 202
Out of Office Hours Emergency Duty Team: 029 2078 8570
Cardiff
If you have concerns about a child living in Cardiff please refer your concerns to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
Contact the Children’s Access Point: 029 2053 6490
Out of Office Hours Emergency Duty Team: 029 2078 8570
I am a member of the public
If you are worried about a child or young person, you can speak to the following for advice:
Vale of Glamorgan
If you have concerns about a child living in the Vale of Glamorgan please refer your concerns to Vale of Glamorgan Children and Young People’s Services.
Contact the Intake and Family Support Team: 01446 725 202
Out of Office Hours Emergency Duty Team: 029 2078 8570
Cardiff
If you have concerns about a child living in Cardiff please refer your concerns to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
Contact the Children’s Access Point: 029 2053 6490
Out of Office Hours Emergency Duty Team: 029 2078 8570
For emergencies when a child or young person is in immediate danger, call 999.