Child protection and safeguarding

Ali Abu Kuhail & Hisham Twal

Introduction Everybody is responsible for
safeguarding and protecting children,
this is regardless of your occupation,
how frequently you work with children,
or how often you interact with their
families. This seminar will help
participants to:
• Understand the concepts of
children safeguarding and child
protection.
• Identify sings of child abuse.
• Know how to respond if suspect a
child is being abused.
What does safeguarding
Safeguarding children is defined as:
children mean?
• Protecting children from
maltreatment: Protecting children
from harm, abuse and neglect.

• Preventing impairment of children’s

health or development: ensuring
children have access to the care
and support they need.
What does safeguarding
• Ensuring that children grow up in
children mean?
circumstances consistent with
the provision of safe and effective
care: enabling safe and effective
parenting.

• Taking action to enable all children

to have the best outcomes.

Working Together (2018)

What is the difference
Safeguarding children is the term used
between safeguarding
to cover all aspects of promoting a
children and child
child’s welfare. In practice
protection?
safeguarding is the policies and
practices that schools and governing
bodies employ to keep children safe
and promote their well-being….

Child Protection is a term used to

describe the activity that is undertaken
to protect specific children who are
suffering or likely to suffer significant
harm.
 Forms of child abuse
Child abuse is often categorized into
four types:

1. Neglect
2. Physical abuse
3. Emotional abuse
4. Sexual abuse
 Child neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to
meet a child’s basic needs. There
are four main forms of child neglect:
emotional, medical, educational,
and physical. Neglect is the most
common form of child abuse.

Children who are being neglected may

not get the support, supervision,
nourishment and medical.
 Signs of neglect
The following signs may indicate that a
child is being neglected:

• Appearing hungry as though they

may have gone without breakfast.
• Turning up to school without lunch
or money for food.
• Repeated injuries caused by lack of
supervision.
• Skin sores, rashes, flea bites,
scabies or ringworm.
• A thin or swollen tummy.
 Signs of neglect
The following signs may indicate that a
child is being neglected:

 Having poor hygiene, being visibly

dirty or smelling.
 Being without adequate clothing.
 Being tired.
 Having poor language or
communication skills.
 Not meeting developmental
milestone.
 
 Physical abuse
Physical abuse is hurting a child
through physical, violent and
aggressive means and is never
accidental, such as hitting, burning, or
poisoning.

Children who have been poisoned may

experience symptoms such as
drowsiness, seizures and
vomiting.
 Signs of physical abuse
Some signs of physical abuse include:

• Bruises
• Swelling
• Scarring
• Burns or scalds
• Broken bones
• Fractures
• Bite marks
 Emotional abuse
Emotional or psychological abuse is
the sustained maltreatment or
neglect of the emotional needs of a
child. Examples of emotional abuse
include: threatening, bullying,
mocking.
 Signs of emotional abuse
Signs of emotional abuse may include:

• Younger children being overly

affectionate or clingy towards
strangers.
• Seeming isolated from their parent
or carer.
• Struggling to control emotions.
• Being aggressive and cruel to other
children and towards animals.
 Sexual abuse
When a child is sexually abused, it
means that they have been forced or
manipulated into taking part in
sexual activities.

It is not always physical; it can

happen online too.
 Signs of sexual abuse
Signs of sexual abuse include:

• The use of sexual language

inappropriate for their age.
• Knowledge of sexual information
that you wouldn’t expect.
• Pregnancy
• Appearing afraid to socialize or
interact with a certain person.
• Having nightmares or being afraid
to be alone at night.
What should you do if
1. Recognize the signs
you suspect a child is
being abused?
The signs of abuse aren’t always
obvious, and learning the warning
signs of child sexual abuse could be
lifesaving. You might notice
behavioral or physical changes
that could signal a child is being
abused.
What should you do if
2. Talk to the child
you suspect a child is
being abused?
Keep in mind a few guidelines to
create a non-threatening
environment where the child may be
more likely to open up to you

1. Pick your time and place

carefully
2. Be aware of your tone
3. Use a simple language
4. Listen and follow up
5. Avoid judgment and blame
What should you do if
3. Report it
you suspect a child is
being abused?
Reporting a crime like sexual abuse
may not be easy. Keep in mind that
reporting abuse gives you the chance
to protect someone who can’t
protect themselves.
You can report to parents to take
the necessary action unless you
suspect that parents are the ones who
abuse the child, in this case you can
directly report it to the authorities
who have the power to protect the
child.
Conclusion
Thus with the above in mind, the
safety and welfare of children is the
responsibility of everyone. Remember,
Children are vulnerable to being
abused, and in most cases, they can’t
protect themselves. Therefore,
identifying signs of child abuse and
acting quickly to stop it can save lives
and is the core value of this seminar.
References:
Antonio, m. (2017). If You Suspect A Child Is
Being Harmed | RAINN. [online] Rainn.org.
Available at:<https://www.rain
n.org/articles/if-you-suspect-child-being-harme
d
> [Accessed 27 March 2020].
 
Spruce, H. (2016). Signs Of Abuse In Children:
How To Spot It & What To Do Next. [online]
The Hub | High-Speed Training. Available at:
<https://www.highspee
dtraining.co.uk/hub/signs-abuse-children/>
[Accessed 28 March 2020].
College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Education
© 2020