unable or unwilling to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical attention, safe home conditions leaving the without appropriate supervision abandons the withholding physical contact or stimulation for prolonged periods unable or unwilling to provide psychological nurturing has limited understanding of the child's needs; and has unrealistic expectations of the child. 2. RISK FACTORS FOR ABUSE OR NEGLECT There are generally accepted risk factors associated with an increased risk of abuse or neglect and an awareness of these may help to determine if a child is at risk. The risk factors outlined below may be useful to inform decision making, but should be considered in the context of evidence and information about the broader picture. In isolation the presence of these risk factors do not indicate serious risk of abuse or neglect. Note that the list below contains generally well accepted risk factors however there is some variation across the literature, jurisdictions and key organisations concerned with child safety, in the risk factors for abuse or neglect that they include or emphasise. Risk factors for or neglect can be categorised into four groups: child, parent, family and social characteristics. Risk Factors Child Very young age (infants and toddlers) Physical, intellectual or sensory disability Indigenous ethnicity aggression, behaviour problems or attention deficits Female gender (partic. for sexual abuse) Parental Substance misuse, particularly alcohol and Mental health problems such as depression, low self-esteem, poor control of impulses, or antisocial behaviour Intellectual disability Young maternal age Stress, such as financial pressures, job worries, medical problems or taking care of a family member with a disability Significant lack of parenting skills, including unrealistic expectations that show a lack of understanding of a child’s developmental stages and behaviour Low educational attainment Family Domestic violence and conflict between parents Single parent families (are over-represented in investigations of child abuse or neglect) Family instability, where the composition of the household frequently changes as family members and others move in and out Overcrowded households Homelessness Death of either parent before a child is 15 years old
unable or unwilling to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical attention, safe home conditions leaving the without appropriate supervision abandons the withholding physical contact or stimulation for prolonged periods unable or unwilling to provide psychological nurturing has limited understanding of the child's needs; and has unrealistic expectations of the child. 2. RISK FACTORS FOR ABUSE OR NEGLECT There are generally accepted risk factors associated with an increased risk of abuse or neglect and an awareness of these may help to determine if a child is at risk. The risk factors outlined below may be useful to inform decision making, but should be considered in the context of evidence and information about the broader picture. In isolation the presence of these risk factors do not indicate serious risk of abuse or neglect. Note that the list below contains generally well accepted risk factors however there is some variation across the literature, jurisdictions and key organisations concerned with child safety, in the risk factors for abuse or neglect that they include or emphasise. Risk factors for or neglect can be categorised into four groups: child, parent, family and social characteristics. Risk Factors Child Very young age (infants and toddlers) Physical, intellectual or sensory disability Indigenous ethnicity aggression, behaviour problems or attention deficits Female gender (partic. for sexual abuse) Parental Substance misuse, particularly alcohol and Mental health problems such as depression, low self-esteem, poor control of impulses, or antisocial behaviour Intellectual disability Young maternal age Stress, such as financial pressures, job worries, medical problems or taking care of a family member with a disability Significant lack of parenting skills, including unrealistic expectations that show a lack of understanding of a child’s developmental stages and behaviour Low educational attainment Family Domestic violence and conflict between parents Single parent families (are over-represented in investigations of child abuse or neglect) Family instability, where the composition of the household frequently changes as family members and others move in and out Overcrowded households Homelessness Death of either parent before a child is 15 years old
a_guide_to_special_child_care_benefit.docx