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In deciding whether an action is abusive we need to look at the possibility that the action will cause harm, not whether the intention was to cause harm (as abuse can still be caused by an omission - or failure to realise that an action is abusive or a failure to prevent abuse from occurring).
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To understand a situation properly more information may be needed.
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Your own attitudes and experiences can influence your assessments and you must be aware of this.
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child to child abuse is a complicated case as some children may not be able to understand the consequences of their actions in the same way as others - especially younger / less mature children


Environment in which a child lives is crucial to his or her health, safety and well-being

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'Toxic Trio‘ - domestic abuse, mental ill-health and substance misuse

Identified as common features of families where harm to children has occurred

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Harm to children

Viewed as indicators of increased risk of harm to children and young people

There is a Large overlap between these parental risk factors and cases of child death, serious injury and poorer outcomes for children across all ages

Toxic Trio Continued

Domestic abuse: any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse

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Substance misuse: causes serious negative consequences (physical, psychological, social and interpersonal, financial or legal) for users and those around them‘

Parental mental illness: doesn’t necessarily have an adverse impact on child's developmental needs, but essential to always assess its implications for each child in family

Roles and function of the social service workforce in child protection

Social welfare social services officers provide direct services to children, families and communities through a comprehensive case management process, which includes referral, assessment, service planning, family support, follow-up, monitoring, and adjustment of the service plan

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Social service workers in the justice system support children who are in contact with the law as victims, witnesses, offenders, or as other parties to a legal proceeding

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Social service workers in the health system contribute to diagnosis, referrals, medical treatment as well as assessment of the social circumstances of a patient, including family relationships, related challenges and available support mechanisms

Learning Points

Child abuse is a complex subject. We use our own personal experiences, values and attitudes when making judgements about abusive behaviour

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It challenges some of our basic beliefs about the world, for example that a parent, teacher, priest, pastor and others can harm a child

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It also challenges our assumptions that people directly or indirectly working with children have humanitarian beliefs – it is hard to accept that individuals and organisations that are meant to keep children safe, can actually harm them

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Any definition of abuse needs to carefully thought through as no child protection and safeguarding policy can address all abuse of children, and would be ineffective if it were used in this way

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Indicators of abuse is not proof of abuse. It is important to investigate