Explain The Procedure When Handling Of Child Abuse

Once an abused child makes their plight known, it is vitally important to understand how vulnerable and sacred that child is feeling, coupled with their mistrust towards adults. It is important to exercise great care when handling the situation as your initial response can be critical towards the child’s recovery and future willingness to interact with people. The child requires most of all to believe in the voice of the person to whom they have confided and need very much to hear expressions of genuine sympathy. They must be assured that the blame for their abuse has absolutely nothing to do with them, but is aimed directly and firmly at the abuser and that the necessary actions will now take place so that the abuse must stop and the abuser is not permitted to abuse anyone else.
• Understanding the feelings of the child:
The child will be feeling hurt, ashamed with low self esteem, mistrusting, angry and sometimes even guilty. You must be prepared for all this whilst trying to reassure them and explaining why it’s wrong to be abused.
• Be Supportive:
Showing support towards the child, and having complete respect for them can help them open up and be more willing to talk, try to talk on their level using words they understand.
• Remain calm:
You must try not to get too emotional in front of the child, remain calm avoid verbal contact with the abuser; leave this to outside agencies to deal with, it’s far better to explain the abusers behaviour instead.
• Take Action:
You must contact the police; they have procedures in place that will notify the correct agency that will deal with protection of children. There are four categories of law regarding the protection of children, they are -
1. The child protection