3.3 Explain The Importance Of Observing And Reflecting On Changes In Children's Behaviour

Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse happens when a child is forced or persuaded into sexual activities or situations by others. It may also involve physical or non-physical contact.
• Physical contact may be by penetration (rape) or touching the child’s body for sexual gratification, even if this is outside their clothing.
• non-physical sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to look at sexual materials and sexual activity, by adults who are near a child; there is a growing problem of sexual abuse via the internet.
Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse is where a child is ill-treated which affects their emotional development. This may make the child feel unloved, frightened, worthless or possibly in danger. Emotional abuse can take place on its
own but also can be used alongside other types of abuse.
Neglect
The legal definition for neglect is ‘the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs’ this is where a child is not given the correct foods, shelter, clothing or medical care. This means they are not providing for the developmental, educational and emotional needs.
3.2 explain indicators of types of abuse
A child who is being abuse often shows physical signs or a change in their behaviour. Some things are obvious from the specific type of abuse, but others may raise concerns that a child has been disturbed by something that has happened to them. You should be concerned if you notice a child:
• becoming unusually clingy
• rocking their body, or twisting or pulling out their hair
• being reluctant to play with others and make friends
• becoming aggressive or more passive
• reverting to an earlier stage of their development.

Types of Abuse Physical indicators Behaviour indicators
Physical abuse • unexplained/recurring bruising or scratching
• injuries in unusual places • changes in behaviour
Sexual abuse • bruising or scratching to genital area
• stomach pains or headaches
• child complains of pain or soreness in the genitals
• virginal discharge or bleeding
• wets the bed (after being dry) • changes in behaviour
• displays inappropriate behaviour towards adults
• uses explicit sexual language inappropriate for age
• draws explicit pictures or acts in a way that indicates they have observed sexual acts.
Emotional abuse • speech disorder • poor concentration
• sensitive to the moods of parents and carers
• self-destructive behaviour
• change in behaviour
Neglect • cold injuries such as swollen and red feet or hands
• has poor personal hygiene
• has untreated illnesses
• is underweight/overweight for their age. • Takes food from other or out of bins
• Is usually tired
• Changes in behaviour

3.3- explain the importance of observing and reflecting on changes in children’s behaviour
Research has shown that half of abuse goes unnoticed while it is happening.
This means adults are not recognising the signs. Children have told practitioners that they have felt down when adults do not notice when things are upsetting them. This may even sometimes make the children think that this behaviour from an adult is normal.
Know the child plays a big part when noticing a change in their behaviour it will also help you observe and reflect on this. Every child is children, so they will show how they feel in different ways. A child that may usually be quiet could become aggressive or very outgoing, while a child that usually is boisterous may become very quiet and shy. These changes may be very subtle as a child is trying to show that nothing has or is happening.

3.4 explain own setting procedures for passing on concerns about the practice of others that may impact on the welfare of the
children. when working with children it is very important that their welfare is prioritised always if you have a concern on anyone you must report these concerns to either your manager or whoever is responsible for safeguarding in your setting. These concerns may be about how a worker practice may be impacting on the children. Whether it’s a parent or a colleague you must treat all situations the same especially when you believe a child’s safety to be at risk you must act immediately. You may be asked to write down everything that you have either witnessed or heard from a child and sign and date it the safeguarding team will then take over.

3.5- explain how abuse can take place by a range of people who have contact with children
There are some common biases on who is likely to abuse children. Some may think that it is more likely for males to sexually abuse children or step parents to abuse children over their birth parents, but these beliefs are unsupported. There are some articles that you can read that such abuse has been carried out by strangers but again this is rare.
Anyone with contact with children can abuse them, in a lot of cases children have been abused by people they know and who have cared for them such as their parents, family member or even people that work with children. Even though abuse can happen across all sectors and cutlers here are factors in a home that may increase the risk of abuse such as: -
• Drugs or alcohol abuse
• Mental health problems
• Poverty or unemployment
• Lack of knowledge about child development and children’s needs
• Domestic violence
3.6 explain why it is important to work with children to ensure they have strategies to protect themselves
Trying to prevent children from being abused is difficult and not always possible but you can support children to protect themselves. Children are more likely to protect themselves if they: -
• Are empowered
• Are confident
• Are independent
• Having high self-esteem
• Can talk about their feelings and their worries
Working on all these aspects with the children to try and ensure they are protected not just by the practitioners but themselves.
4.1 describe how to respond to concerns from colleagues, parents and/or carers that a child has been abused or harms. when finding out a child has been harmed or abused it is very difficult, but it is very important that you stay professional always and respond appropriately. You may notice yourself or be told by either colleague, parents or even the child themselves. This could happen at any time so its vital that you keep yourself up to date with the policies and procedures, so you know the correct way to deal with the situations.
A parent/carer or a colleague could express their concerns about a child being abused at any time. This may happen when you are busy with children or trying to follow out other tasks, but it is crucial that they concern get your attention straight away. If you ask them to talk t you about it later they may lose confidence in you or may change their mind on what they were going to tell you, if you must ask another colleague to take over.
Wen someone comes to you with this type of concern you need too: -
• Avoid asking question that may lead them to say their opinions instead of stating the facts.
• Ask them if they have spoken to anyone else about their concerns
• Listening very carefully make sure you are taking in all the facts on exactly what happened, when it happened and where they were at the time of the event.
• Make sure you write down everything they have told you as soon as possible and pass it on the appropriate person.
Whoever it is that has spoken to you may say that have told you in confidence and not to tell anyone, but you must make them aware hat you have to pass the information on to either your manager or who ever is responsible for safeguarding.
4.2- explain why it is important to believe a child an avoid judgement.
Most often a child will tell you about something that has happened to them, it takes a lot of courage for anyone to tell someone and it most likely that I child will not lie about abuse.
You must know that if a child has told you or will tell you anything its because they trust you, they may not tell you direct about what’s been happening and may tell you by giving you hints on things that may have happened. This may be shown through how they are playing, through their behaviour or even through drawing they have created. It is very important that accept what they have told you and not ask if they are sure or say ‘maybe they didn’t mean it like that’ as the child may feel like they are to blame for these things or feel like you do not believe them and may to tell you other things in the
future.
Always:
• Remain calm and listen carefully and make sure you don’t intercept
• Pass on everything to a professional who is responsible to child protection immediately
• Reassure the child that its not their fault and they are not to blame.
• Write everything you have been told and you have seen as soon as possible
• Explain to the child you must tell someone who Can also help them
• Take disclosure seriously
Never:
• Show that you are shocked
• Promise that what they tell you will be kept a secret
• Confront the abuser
• Investigate or ask leading questions
• Put a child off by asking them to tell you later.