Safeguarding children

Neglect – the persistent lack of essential care for a child including enough love, stimulation, safety, food, clothing, shelter, medical care or education. It can also mean leaving a child alone and at risk.

Emotional abuse – can mean repeatedly rejecting a child, constantly threatening or putting a child or young person down so that they feel unloved and worthless, children living in a home environment where there is domestic or other forms of abuse.

Physical abuse – including hitting, punching, burning, poisoning, attempted drowning and smothering.

Sexual abuse – forcing or persuading a child or young person to take part in any kind of sexual activity. It can include inappropriate touching, kissing or sexual intercourse. It can also involve causing a child to look at, or being involved in pornographic material or videos.

Domestic Abuse – any incident of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to: Psychological, Physical, Sexual, Financial, Emotional.

Child sexual exploitation – In February 2017, CSE was redefined as ‘a 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. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology’. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Safeguarding Children Boards have produced leaflets with advice for children & young people, parents & carers, and professionals.

Extremism and radicalisation – signs to look out for include: Being drawn into to strong principles and ideologies held by others, as a means to control, social network involvement in extremism, being at a transitional time in life, having a need for identity, meaning and belonging, being influenced or controlled by a groups, feelings of grievance and injustice, feeling under threat , displaying mental health concerns, a desire for status, a desire for excitement or adventure and/or a need to dominate and control others.