ac.care

1. Abuse and Trauma

Abuse and Trauma

There are a few different forms of child abuse that often result in trauma that impacts on a child’s brain development. This orientation will give a brief overview of these however completion of the Safe Environments for Children and Young People will give a much carers a much more in depth understanding (this training is a compulsory, legislative, requirement for carers and needs to be updates once every 3 years to ensure carers are able to recognise signs of abuse and have the ability to make effective reports to the Child Abuse Report Line – CARL 131 478).

Physical abuse occurs when a child has suffered serious physical trauma or injury which was intentional at the hands of a caregiver or loved one.

Domestic and Family Violence occurs when a member of the family unit experiences abuse of any form that is ongoing. The experience of this can affect all aspects of a child’s health and well-being.

Sexual Abuse is any sexual activity or behaviour that is imposed on a child or young person by someone else.  Sexual abuse occurs when someone in a position of power uses that power to involve the child or young person in sexual activity.

Neglect is a form of maltreatment which is a result of failure to provide day to day care needs to a child. This can be things such as, food, shelter, clothing, education, medical care or other basic necessities. Neglect is something that occurs as a pattern and is not a once off incident.

Emotional / Psychological Abuse occurs when a child’s social, emotional, or cognitive development is impaired or seriously at risk as a direct result of persistent caregiver behaviour or attitude towards the child, whereby the child’s self-esteem and social competence are undermined or eroded over time.

Source: Safe Environments for Children and Young People ‘Through their eyes’ – Department for Education. You will be required to undertake this training which will assist you with a much more in depth knowledge on this topic.