Safeguarding Children

Indicators a child might be at risk

These common indicators should be used to help identify people who may be experiencing a at risk of abuse or neglect:

Socio-emotional indicators of abuse:	Numbing, flatness, or decrease in emotional responsiveness Increased dependency on others and services Withdrawal or social isolation Difficulty concentrating or decision making Worsening of mental health concerns Emotional outbursts or panic attacks Feeling of hopelessness, helplessness, or being a burden to others Self-harm or suicidal ideation Anxiety, paranoia or suspicion Sudden speech disorder
Behavioural Indicators of abuse:	Frequent reports of ASB Frequent reports of conflict or disputes with neighbours or family Fear of parents being approached for an explanation Fear of making mistakes Flinching when approached or touched Physical damage to the home i.e., holes in walls, doors being forced, internal doors being removed, or locks on internal doors Frequent lock changes
Physical Indicators of abuse:	Unexplained bruising, marks or injuries Bruises that reflect hand marks or fingertips Cigarette burns Bite marks Broken bones Scalds
Indicators for sexual abuse:	Stomach pains Discomfort when walking or sitting down Pregnancy Fear of being left with a specific person or group of people Running away Eating disorder Self-harm or mutilation, sometimes leading to suicide attempts Saying they have a secret they cannot tell anybody about Substance or alcohol abuse Suddenly having unexplained sources of money Not allowed to have friends to visit Acting in a sexually explicit way towards adults.
Indicators for neglect:	Looking badly presented with old, torn clothing Always hungry and looking for food Not being expected to be at home when it seems reasonable that they should be Adults not seeming to know or be interested in what is happening to them Becoming thin and looking under-nourished Not having necessities for school Not receiving medical attention when it seems appropriate. Clutter, mess or rubbish rotting and piling up, bins not cleared or used. Bad smells coming from home. Pests present

For more detailed information on the indicators and thresholds, please see the Safeguarding Children Partnership thresholds.