Categories of Abuse

[Panny]

Following on from my last post (Child Protection Conference), does anyone know where I can find the legislation that contains the four categories of abuse?

I was given two leaflets about the categories of abuse and the wording is different in both. For example, in one leaflet it describes physical abuse as:
'This is where a parent, carer or other adult deliberately cause injuries on a child or children'.

In the other it states physical abuse is:
'A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child'.

The chair of the conference chose the category of physical abuse because my child has self-harmed and physically abused me (the parent). They are not accusing me of causing harm. They say they can do this based on the second description of physical abuse, because, unlike the first description it doesn't explicit state a parent, carer or other adult must have caused the harm.

I do not know if either of these descriptions are actually in any legislation or where they came from. The chair of the conference told me it was the Children's Act 1989 but couldn't tell me the page/section and I have been unable to find them in it.

[Ignatious]

Copy and paste from CA1989, Section 31, Subsections (9) and (10).

(9)In this section—
“authorised person” means—
(a)the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and any of its officers; and
(b)any person authorised by order of the Secretary of State to bring proceedings under this section and any officer of a body which is so authorised;
“harm” means ill-treatment or the impairment of health or development [F7including, for example, impairment suffered from seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another];
“development” means physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development;
“health” means physical or mental health; and
“ill-treatment” includes sexual abuse and forms of ill-treatment which are not physical.
(10)Where the question of whether harm suffered by a child is significant turns on the child’s health or development, his health or development shall be compared with that which could reasonably be expected of a similar child.

and

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children defines child abuse as:

when a child is intentionally harmed by an adult or another child – it can be over a period of time but can also be a one-off action.

It can be physical, sexual or emotional and it can happen in person or online. It can also be a lack of love, care and attention – this is called neglect.

Hope this helps.

[Panny]

Thanks. So are the four categories not even in any legislation? The only place I have seen them is in a glossary in 'Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018'. I cannot find anything that says it can be self-harm by the child.

[Ignatious]

Children Act 1989, Section 31.

As I stated above - categories of harm.

Physical
Emotional
Sexual
Neglect

It may not explicitly use these words within the section,. but Sub-Section 9 gives an indication of the types.
The 4 types listed above are Courts / Social services,... generally accepted types (and undisputable).

It is also worth pointing out and again, I copy and paste

CA1989 Section 31, Subsection (2)
(2)A court may only make a care order or supervision order if it is satisfied—
(a)that the child concerned is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm; and
(b)that the harm, or likelihood of harm, is attributable to—
(i)the care given to the child, or likely to be given to him if the order were not made, not being what it would be reasonable to expect a parent to give to him; or
(ii)the child’s being beyond parental control.

Here, I highlight (a), If the child is self harming,... then one would assume they are suffering (in some way,.. physical / emotionally). If a parent can not prevent this (I would suggest evidencing at conference all the types of help you have sought prior to ICPC), then I personally would assume, SS would be relying on (ii), That your child is beyond your means.

There are many advise sheets on this site in including ICPC

And you can find ore pages detailing types of abuse on the Why pages found on Why pages

again - hope this helps.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Panny,

I have responded to your other post relating to this question.

Best wishes,

Suzie.