Report a safeguarding concern

Emotional abuse is when a child does not get the love, warmth, or care they need. It can happen when a child is constantly criticised, rejected, or treated in a way that makes them feel scared or worthless. It can also happen when adults expect too much from a child or make them feel like they are always failing. 

Physical abuse is when someone hurts a child on purpose. This can include hitting, shaking, throwing, burning, poisoning, drowning, or suffocating. 

Recognising Physical Abuse 

Bruising can be a concern when you notice one or more of the following: 

• It appears on parts of the body not usually hurt during play. 
• It is around the mouth, especially in babies. 
• It looks like finger or hand marks. 
• It looks like it was caused by an object such as a stick or belt. 
• There are bruises of different colours in the same area. 
• Bruises appear on both sides of the body in the same place. 
• There are bite marks, especially those larger than a young child could make. 
• A baby who cannot move has bruises. 

Fractures (broken bones) are worrying when a child is not taken for treatment, especially if they show pain, swelling, or discolouration. It is rare for babies under one year old to break a bone by accident. 

Burns and scalds should always be checked by a doctor. It can be hard to tell if they were caused accidentally or not. 

Sexual abuse is when a child or young person is forced or encouraged to take part in sexual activities. They may or may not understand what is happening. 

Sexual abuse can involve: 

• Physical contact, such as sexual touching or intercourse. 
• Non‑contact activities, such as showing a child pornography, making them watch sexual acts, or encouraging them to behave in a sexual way. 

Exploitation of children and young people can take various forms including criminal or online exploitation, or child trafficking.

Neglect is when a child’s basic needs are not met over a long period of time. This can cause serious harm to their health and development. 

Neglect can include: 

• Not giving a child enough food, clothing, or shelter. 
• Not protecting a child from danger. 
• Not making sure a child gets medical care when they need it. 

Not giving a child the emotional support they need. 

Emotional abuse is when someone tries to scare, control, or isolate another person. It can include telling someone they are worthless, not letting them speak, making fun of them, bullying, or blackmail. Emotional abuse does not leave physical marks, but it can cause serious and long‑lasting harm. 

Financial abuse is when someone takes or controls another person’s money, property, or belongings. It can include theft, fraud, scams, or pressuring someone to sign financial papers. Signs may include missing money, unusual bank activity, poor living conditions, or someone being pressured to make financial decisions. 

Neglect is when someone’s basic needs are not met. This can include not providing food, water, warmth, shelter, medication, or medical care. Signs may include poor hygiene, weight loss, untreated injuries, a dirty home, missed medication, or withdrawing from social contact. 

Self‑neglect is when someone does not look after themselves in a way that keeps them safe and healthy. It can include poor hygiene, unsafe living conditions, not seeking help, or being unable to manage personal affairs. Hoarding can also create serious risks. It becomes a safeguarding concern when the person cannot keep themselves safe or when their behaviour creates risk for others. 

Discriminatory abuse is unfair treatment based on who someone is, such as their age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It can include insulting language, harassment, blocking access to support, or giving poorer services because of a protected characteristic. 

This happens when a care setting, such as a hospital or care home, does not provide safe or respectful care. It may include: 

• Staff not treating people with dignity and being disrespectful or treating adults like children. 
• Routines that suit staff instead of the people receiving care, including strict or inflexible daily routines. 
• A culture where abuse is ignored. 
• Withholding needed medication. 
• Poor quality of care. 

Honour‑based abuse is when someone uses threats, violence, or control because they believe a person has brought shame on them, their family, or their community. This can include emotional, physical, sexual, or financial abuse. Fear of shame may stop victims from asking for help. Honour‑based abuse can include forced marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). 

Forced Marriage 

A forced marriage is when one or both people do not agree to the marriage. This is different from an arranged marriage, where both people choose to take part.  

Fact: No religion says forced marriage is acceptable. Saying no to a forced marriage does not go against your faith. 

Forced marriage has been illegal since 2014. It is also illegal to take someone abroad to force them to marry or to marry someone who lacks the mental capacity to agree to the marriage. 

Forcing someone to marry can lead to up to 7 years in prison. You can apply to the courts for a Forced Marriage Protection Order to help keep someone safe.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) 

FGM is the removal or injury of female genitalia for non‑medical reasons and is usually carried out on girls from infancy to around age 15.  

FGM is a serious abuse of human rights. It is illegal and has no health benefits. It can cause severe bleeding, infections, long‑term pain, childbirth problems, emotional trauma, and higher risk of newborn deaths.