Child Protection - frequently asked questions

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What types of abuse should be reported, which will receive a service response?

• Physical abuse includes hitting, shaking, burning, or causing any physical harm to children.
• Neglect is repeated failure to provide for a child or young persons basic needs including food, warmth, adult attention, health care and other general care needs.
• Sexual abuse is forcing or encouraging a child to take part in any sexual activity, including watching pornographic material and abuse through the internet. This also includes the exploitation of a young person such as providing drugs in exchange for sexual activity.
• Emotional abuse is emotional ill-treatment such as ignoring a child, not providing emotional warmth or care which will have an adverse effect upon a child.

Who abuses or neglects children?

• Mostly parents or carers.
• Occasionally those in a position of trust with the child, such as professionals or volunteer leaders of activity groups, sports instructors etc.
• Very rarely, strangers.

What happens when you report abuse or neglect?

• An assessment will be made - which will include seeing the child and discussion with other professionals who have knowledge of the family or child, reaching a judgement about the level of risk and next steps.
• As long as it is deemed safe to include parents they will be included in the assessment process.
• Judgements will be made on the level of risk and how best to protect the child or young person. This may include child abuse investigation, or for serious cases, a child protection conference.
• Very rarely are children "taken into care" or accommodated - either voluntarily or by court order.

What is a Child Protection Conference?

All agencies work together to agree with the family a child protection plan to protect a child, chaired by an independent person. The parents and young person are important members of the conference.

Who decides the Child Protection policies?

Every area of the country has a Local Safeguarding Children Board - this is made up of senior members of health, education, social work, police, probation, voluntary agencies and all other agencies who work with children and families. They make sure that staff are properly trained, work to agreed procedures, and follow agreed procedures. For more information, please see the Wiltshire Local Safeguarding Children Board website.

Last updated: 8 February 2012