Safeguarding

The simple answer is everyone. It is all our responsibility to protect children.

All children have a right to grow up in a caring and safe environment. All adults have a responsibility to protect children, including;

• Parents

• Family members

• Friends

• Neighbours

• Members of the public

• Professionals

There are different types of abuse. For example;

• Physical injury – being hit, kicked and punched

• Physical neglect – not being properly fed or clothed and poor hygiene

• Sexual abuse – inappropriate sexual behaviour, language, indecent assault, or sexual activity

• Emotional abuse – constantly criticised, ignored, humiliated, and exposed to family violence

Children rarely tell if they are being abused. However, there may be signs that concern you, that may be an indication of a child being abused or neglected. The child may:

• Appear afraid, quiet, or withdrawn

• Have unexplained bruising or bruising in an unusual place

• Appear afraid to go home

• Appear hungry, tired, or unkempt

• Be left unattended or unsupervised

• Have too much responsibility for their age

• Be acting in a sexually inappropriate way

• Be misusing drugs or alcohol

The adult may be:

• Acting in a violent or sexual manner towards a child

• Misusing drinks or drugs while caring for a child

• Verbally abusive towards a child

If you are concerned about a child, speak to someone. This might be a health visitor, nursery or school staff, a teacher, a police officer, a social worker, or a doctor.

Make sure you:

• Do not interrogate the child

• Act promptly

• Note down your concerns with dates and times

• Give as much information as you know about the child and family

If you need to make a safeguarding referral about a child at risk of abuse or neglect, please call the number below.

Tel: 02476788555. Out of office hours, call the emergency duty team on 02476 862222.

Website: COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL SAFEGUARDING TEAM

Abuse is behaviour towards a person that deliberately or unintentionally causes harm. It is a disregard of a person’s human rights and in the worse case, can endanger life.

Abuse can be physical, sexual, financial, psychological, institutional, neglectful, or discriminatory.

General signs that someone has been or is being abused include:

• Unexplained injury / repeated visits to a GP or the Accident and Emergency Department of a hospital

• Signs of distress

• Withdrawal or isolation

• Unexplained pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease

• Self-neglect or basic physical and emotional needs not being met by others

• Not able to pay bills or buy food even though enough money appears to be available.

‘Adults at risk’ are people aged 18 years and over. They may:

• Rely on other people or services to care for them or support them with day-to-day tasks, maybe because of their age, a physical or learning disability, other physical or mental health need, or involvement in substance misuse.

• Lack of mental capacity.

• Not be able to speak up for themselves.

Abuse can happen anywhere; in people’s own homes, public places, day centres, residential homes, hospitals, GP surgeries, colleges, police stations, and prisons.

Anyone can be abused including, professionals, volunteers, tradespeople, family members, carers, partners, friends, and neighbours.

If you need to make a safeguarding referral about an adult at risk of abuse or neglect, please call the number below.

Tel: 02476 83303. Out of office hours, call the emergency duty team on 02476 832222.

Website: COVENTY CITY COUNCIL SAFEGUARDING TEAM