Appendix 4: Indicators of Abuse Taken from the NSPCC Child Protection fact sheet The physical signs of abuse may include: Discomfort when walking or sitting down Unexplained bruising, marks or injuries Pregnancy on any part of the body Changes in behaviour can also indicate Multiple bruises- in clusters, often on the sexual abuse include: upper arm, outside of the thigh Sudden or unexplained changes in Cigarette burns behaviour e.g. becoming aggressive or bite marks withdrawn Broken bones Fear of being left with a specific person Scalds, with upward splash marks, or group of people multiple burns with a clearly demarcated Having nightmares edge Running away from home Changes in behaviour that can also indicate Sexual knowledge is beyond their physical abuse: age, or developmental level Fear of parents approached for an Sexual drawings or language explanation Bedwetting Aggressive behaviour or severe temper Eating problems such as overeating or outbursts anorexia Flinching when approached or touched Self-harm or mutilation, sometimes Reluctance to get changed, for example leading to suicide attempts in hot weather Saying they have secrets they cannot tell Depression anyone Withdrawn behavior Substance or drug abuse Running away from home Suddenly having unexplained sources of Changes in behaviour which can indicate money emotional abuse include: Not allowed to have friends (particularly Neurotic behaviour e.g. sulking, hair in adolescence) twisting, rocking Acting in a sexually explicit way towards unable to play adults Fear of making mistakes The physical signs of neglect may Sudden speech disorders include: Self-harm Constant hunger, sometimes stealing Fear of parent being approached food from other children regarding their behaviour Constantly dirty or ‘smelly’ Developmental delay in terms of Loss of weight, or constantly emotional progress underweight The physical of sexual abuse may Inappropriate clothing for the conditions. include: Changes in behaviour which can also Pain or itching in the genital area indicate neglect may include: Bruising or bleeding near genital area Complaining of being tired all the time Sexually transmitted disease Not requesting medical assistance Vaginal discharge or infection and/or failing to attend appointments Stomach pains having few friends
Appendix 4: Indicators of Abuse Taken from the NSPCC Child Protection fact sheet The physical signs of abuse may include: Unexplained bruising, marks or injuries on any part of the body Multiple bruises- in clusters, often on the upper arm, outside of the thigh Cigarette burns bite marks Broken bones Scalds, with upward splash marks, multiple burns with a clearly demarcated edge Changes in behaviour that can also indicate physical abuse: Fear of parents approached for an explanation Aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts Flinching when approached or touched Reluctance to get changed, for example in hot weather Depression Withdrawn behavior Running away from home Changes in behaviour which can indicate emotional abuse include: Neurotic behaviour e.g. sulking, hair twisting, rocking unable to play Fear of making mistakes Sudden speech disorders Self-harm Fear of parent being approached regarding their behaviour Developmental delay in terms of emotional progress The physical of sexual abuse may include: Pain or itching in the genital area Bruising or bleeding near genital area Sexually transmitted disease Vaginal discharge or infection Stomach pains Discomfort when walking or sitting down Pregnancy Changes in behaviour can also indicate sexual abuse include: Sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour e.g. becoming aggressive or withdrawn Fear of being left with a specific person or group of people Having nightmares Running away from home Sexual knowledge is beyond their age, or developmental level Sexual drawings or language Bedwetting Eating problems such as overeating or anorexia Self-harm or mutilation, sometimes leading to suicide attempts Saying they have secrets they cannot tell anyone Substance or drug abuse Suddenly having unexplained sources of money Not allowed to have friends (particularly in adolescence) Acting in a sexually explicit way towards adults The physical signs of neglect may include: Constant hunger, sometimes stealing food from other children Constantly dirty or ‘smelly’ Loss of weight, or constantly underweight Inappropriate clothing for the conditions. Changes in behaviour which can also indicate neglect may include: Complaining of being tired all the time Not requesting medical assistance and/or failing to attend appointments having few friends