Child Protection
What might make you concerned?
Children rarely tell if they are being abused, however, there may be signs which
make you concerned and may be an indication of a child being abused or neglected:
The child may:
- Have unexplained bruising or bruising in an unusual place
- Appear afraid, quiet or withdrawn
- Be afraid to go home
- Appear hungry, tired or unkempt
- Be left unattended or unsupervised
- Have too much responsibility for their age
- Be acting out in a sexually inappropriate way
- Be misusing drugs or alcohol
Not all children who are abused or neglected will display these signs and equally
a child may display some of these signs and symptoms for other reasons. At times
there may be other reasons why you are worried about a child.
The adult may be:
- Acting in a violent or sexual manner towards a child
- Misusing drugs or alcohol while caring for a child
These are some examples of what might make you worried about a child, however, you
may know of other things that are happening which means you need to take action
to protect a child.
What to do if you have general concerns about a child
Sometimes it can be difficult to know if a child is being abused or at risk of abuse.
You might have general concerns about a child but be unsure whether the child is
being abused. If you are worried about a child you should report your concerns to
your line manager or designated child protection person for your organisation. It
is also advisable that at this point you check your agency's child protection
procedures. If you are unsure about agency procedures or do not have access to a
line manager for advice you can contact any of the following for advice on what
to do next:
- social work
- health visitor
- family doctor
- teacher or nursery staff
- police officer
- Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA)