Principles of Safeguarding

Sexual abuse is the forced and undesired sexual behaviour from one person onto another and/or sexual activity that can be deemed as inappropriate and/or harmful

Abuse is not solely the act of an individual groups or organisations can also create abusive situations, people who are in a group setting behave differently and tend to do something within a group they would not do individually. Abuse can also come in the form of bad practice and the way that a care home may be run and in cases this could be intentionally or unintentional. Telling people when they can or can’t get up or go to bed is an example, being made to wear communal clothing no choice at mealtimes, medication only being available at set times, limitations on being allowed out, mail being opened by staff or a restriction accessing advice or external aid.

Sexual Abuse is direct or indirect involvement in sexual activities without consent. As well as being physically forced into sexual activity without consent.

The indicators of physical abuse can include unexplained bruising, marks or injuries on any part of the body, multiple bruises, broken bones or even multiple burn marks. There can also be a change in behaviour while a child is being physically abused, such as; fear of parents being approached for an explanation, aggressive behaviour, flinching when approached or touched, depression, withdrawn behaviour or even running away from home.

Emotional / psychological abuse is doing or saying things that demean and make someone feel less of themselves. This includes bulling, blaming, threatening and damaging other’s feelings of self-esteem.

* Emotional/psychological abuse: threats of harm/abandonment, over controlling, harassment, intimidation & withdrawal from support networks/services

It can be very difficult to recognise signs of abuse in a child or young person. They are some signs, which could alert staff to the fact that the child or young person might be being abused at home, for example constant bruising, or having unusual injuries for the child or young person. This may have an affect on their

Neglect by others occurs when either a support worker or a family or friend carer fails to meet someone’s support needs as they do not realise its importance, or because they cannot be bothered, or choose not to provide it.

Some of the signs and symptoms of physical abuse are bruises in places that would not be associated with a child falling over accidentally, these may happen frequently. They maybe finger marks from being grabbed, burns

Emotional/psychological abuse may involve threats or actions to cause mental or physical harm; humiliation; voilation

Physical abuse includes the smashing of furniture and personal belongings, being pushed or shoved, being held against your will,slapped, bitten, kicked, pinched, punched, choked or ducked under water, threatened or hurt with a weapon, threats of violence, locked in or out of the house, hair pulled …burnt with cigarettes, acid, an iron, hot food or water … Signs: bruising, particularly in well-protected and covered areas, fractures, sprains or dislocations,

Emotional abuse – involves the persistent psychological mistreatment of a child and may include making the child feel inadequate, unloved or worthless, imposing inappropriate developmental expectations on a child, threatening, taunting or humiliating the child or exploiting or corrupting

Sexual abuse - refers to any action that pressures someone to do something sexually they don't want to do this can range from for-play to actually sexual contact.

Sexual Abuse is when someone is making you do sexual things and actions which might make you sad, angry or frightened. This includes things such as; being touched when you do not want to be, being made to touch other people in ways you do not want to, undressing or having sexual intercourse with someone when you do not want to, or being made to watch or say sexual things when you do not want to. Sexual abuse is not always between strangers, and can be between husband and wife, or two members of the family. An example of this is if a boyfriend was to touch their girlfriend inappropriately and they did not want them to, or maybe the girlfriend’s

Each year more cases of Emotional abuse go unreported because the majority of people experiencing emotional abuse are not aware that it is happening. I was one of these people years ago; it took some caring friends to get me to see what was going on. In the following paragraphs I will touch on ways one can tell they are being emotionally abused, and ways to get help. While Undefined, Emotional abuse affects more people each day because they do not know that they are being abused.