IDENTIFICATION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT(ICAN)

Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES

Child abuse and neglect is a generic term encompassing all ill-treatment of children including physical and sexual assaults

What you will go through

Module areas

1

Understanding Child abuse and Neglect

2

Abuse categories

3

Child sexual exploitation

4

Child protection

5

Toxic Trio

6

Roles and function of the social service workforce in child protection

How — Slides

Mode of Delivery



Each modules has a set of slides that you will go through

If you see an interesting point remember to give it a thumbs up

Testing your knowledge

At the end of each module



Expect to have fun through an exciting quiz


By the end of the Module the learner will be able to explain
the following: —


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Session one —Understanding Child abuse and Neglect

The aim of the session is for the learner to:

  • Be able to define child abuse and neglect
  • Be able to identify child abuse and neglect in all its forms
  • Be able to relate children’s rights to the justice system
  • Explain how legal framework is to be used in Case Management
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Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse and neglect is a generic term encompassing all ill-treatment of children including physical and sexual assaults

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It also applies to cases where the standard of care does not adequately support the child’s health or development

Officers need to receive specialised training in handling specific child protection needs, which needs to be covered in addition to this training
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Abuse can be broadly categorised as follows: —

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  • Neglect
  • Physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse and
  • Emotional abuse
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POints to note...

  • The above categories of abuse may overlap and abused child frequently suffers more than one type of abuse
  • Physical Abuse may take many forms e.g hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or scalding, drowning or suffocating a child
  • Some level of emotional abuse is involved in most types of ill-treatment of children, though emotional abuse may occur alone.
  • Some level of emotional abuse is involved in most types of ill-treatment of children, though emotional abuse may occur alone
  • Child abuse and neglect is multi-dimensional and multifaceted which is why Case Management is the preferred approach
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Types of abuse

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Physical Abuse may take many forms e.g hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or scalding, drowning or suffocating a child

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Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent effects on the child’s emotional development

Sexual Abuse – involves forcing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening and includes penetrative (i.e vaginal or anal rape or sodomy) and non-penetrative acts.

Sexual abuse may also include involving children in looking at, or in the production of pornographic materials, watching sexual activities or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

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Child sexual exploitation

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    Child sexual exploitation is another form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity
  • (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or
  • (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator.

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    The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual


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    Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology


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    Neglect

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    Neglect involves 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 and development


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      The World Health Organisation defines neglect as:
    • “Neglect includes both isolated incidents, as well as a pattern of failure over time on the part of a parent or other family member to provide for the development and well-being of the child where the parent is in a position to do so
      • This can be failure to provide in the following areas: health; education; emotional development; nutrition; shelter and safe living conditions
      • The parents of neglected children are not necessarily poor. They may equally be financially well-off”..
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    Child protection

      TA child needs to be protection from all the above mentioned:
    • Child protection relates to the case management principle that: We should conduct all case work ‘Based on Sound Knowledge of Child Development, Child Rights and Child Protection
    • Without such knowledge, case plans may not adequately address children’s needs and uphold their rights and could even be harmful to the child
    • It is important to understand and identify abuse
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    Child’s Developmental Needs

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      Child Protection and Safeguarding

    • Child Protection and Safeguarding is a host of promotive, preventive, response and rehabilitative functions/interventions at all levels
    • Child protection services are essentially multisectoral – hence the Case management system involving all stakeholders
    • The core response systems broadly comprise social welfare, justice, and health sectors, whereas the core systems for prevention are social welfare, justice, and education as emphasised in the Case Management System
    • The social service workforce, with the mandate to protect children comprises a diverse group of workers who, depending on their roles, functions, competencies and skills, work across sectors to protect children.


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