What is abuse
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Physical: Any deliberate action occurring repeatedly that causes injury or pain such as hitting, burning, choking, shaking.
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Emotional: Anything that would impact on the normal psychological development of a child caused by persistent or severe emotional ill-treatment or rejection.
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Sexual: is the purposeful engagement in sexual acts with a child or in the presence of children.
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Spiritual: is linked with other forms of abuse and could be defined as an abuse of power, often done in the name of God or religion.
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Neglect: choosing deliberately not to give basic physical or emotional care such as food, shelter, medicine, care, clothes.
What NOT to do if abuse is suspected or disclosed
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Discuss the situation/case with anyone outside of the appointed team.
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Talk of the situation/case in areas where others can hear.
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Make a judgment on the victim or person being investigated during the investigation.
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Make decisions alone without other team members present.
What TO do if abuse is suspected or disclosed.
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Re-read the safeguarding policy prior to starting an investigation.
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Review the safeguarding form along with any other evidence submitted.
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Interview the person who reported the concern.
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Interview other key personnel (e.g. victim, victim’s parents, other witnesses, suspect etc).
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Write a report of each interview (include date, time and as close to word for word as possible).
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Assess the credibility of each report and the reliability of those interviewed.
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Write a statement of findings.
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Pass the statement along with all documents to the leadership team.
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Respect the privacy of the person being investigated.
What is abuse
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Listen to the child and keep calm.
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Show care and that you are sorry this happened Ask open ended questions.
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Thank the child for talking with you.
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Tell the child the abuse is not their fault.
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Explain briefly what you will do and who you will need to tell.
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Write down the conversation word for word.