Looked After Children They have an impaired capacity to • resist or avoid abuse Children looked after are by definition children that are cared for by the local authority. The term after ‘looked children and young people’ refers to Safeguards for disabled children are children and young people who may be essentially the same as for non-disabled accommodated under a voluntary children. agreement with their parents or their own, under section 20 (2) (I) of the Children who go missing from Children Act (1989) or an Emergency Home/Care Protection Order under Section 44 of the Children Act (1989). The terms runaway’ and ‘young ‘missing’ in this context refer to children and young If new information is received a child people up to the age of 18 years who who is looked after where there are have run away from their home concerns or he/she is likely to be or care placement, have been forced suffering from significant harm, a to leave or whose whereabouts are decision should be made in consultation unknown. with children’s social care about whether a strategy discussion is held. Children who decide to run away are unhappy, vulnerable and in danger. Children with Disabilities As well as risks to their immediate safety, there are longer The available UK evidence suggests that term implications as well with children disabled children are at increased risk of and young people who run away being and that the presence of multiple less likely to fulfil their potential and live disabilities appears to increase the risk happy, healthy and economically of both abuse and neglect. Disabled productive lives as adults. children may be especially vulnerable to abuse for a number of reasons: Children at risk of Sexual Exploitation Increased risk of being socially isolated • Children and young people who are with fewer outside contacts than non- sexually exploited are the victims of disabled children child sexual abuse and their needs require careful assessment. This group Their dependency on parents and • may include children who have been carers for practical assistance in daily sexually abused through the misuse of living, including intimate personal technology, coerced into sexual activity care, increases their risk of exposure to by criminal gangs or the victim of abusive behaviour trafficking.
Looked After Children Children looked after are by definition children that are cared for by the local authority. The term ‘looked after children and young people’ refers to children and young people who may be accommodated under a voluntary agreement with their parents or their own, under section 20 (2) (I) of the Children Act (1989) or an Emergency Protection Order under Section 44 of the Children Act (1989). If new information is received a child who is looked after where there are concerns or he/she is likely to be suffering from significant harm, a decision should be made in consultation with children’s social care about whether a strategy discussion is held. Children with Disabilities The available UK evidence suggests that disabled children are at increased risk of and that the presence of multiple disabilities appears to increase the risk of both abuse and neglect. Disabled children may be especially vulnerable to abuse for a number of reasons: • Increased risk of being socially isolated with fewer outside contacts than non- disabled children • Their dependency on parents and carers for practical assistance in daily living, including intimate personal care, increases their risk of exposure to abusive behaviour • They have an impaired capacity to resist or avoid abuse Safeguards for disabled children are essentially the same as for non-disabled children. Children who go missing from Home/Care The terms ‘young runaway’ and ‘missing’ in this context refer to children and young people up to the age of 18 years who have run away from their home or care placement, have been forced to leave or whose whereabouts are unknown. Children who decide to run away are unhappy, vulnerable and in danger. As well as risks to their immediate safety, there are longer term implications as well with children and young people who run away being less likely to fulfil their potential and live happy, healthy and economically productive lives as adults. Children at risk of Sexual Exploitation Children and young people who are sexually exploited are the victims of child sexual abuse and their needs require careful assessment. This group may include children who have been sexually abused through the misuse of technology, coerced into sexual activity by criminal gangs or the victim of trafficking.
Barnsley-Safeguarding-Children-Leaflet.docx