Information for Children and Young People
Making sure that children and young people are safe, healthy and happy is everyone's responsibility but sometimes children and young people may be hurt by other people such as a parent or carer, a friend, relative, someone who works with them, by a stranger or sometimes by other children or young people.
If something is worrying you or making you scared and you are not sure it's abuse, it's important to talk to someone you trust.
Remember - abuse is wrong and it is never your fault. All children and young people have the right to be safe from being harmed in anyway.
What is harm?
Harm is ill-treatment or child abuse. Here are some examples.
Emotional abuse
• You may be feeling unloved, undervalued or that your parents or carers are constantly picking on you. It may involve seeing someone else in your family being hurt.
• This may have been happening for a very long time and make you feel sad, unhappy, and that you do not like yourself very much.
Neglect
- You may be young and left alone for a long time.
- You may not have enough food to eat or proper clothes to wear.
- You may not be taken to the doctor when you are unwell.
- You may be left with people who you do not feel safe with.
Physical abuse
You may be:
- Punched
- Bitten
- Hit
- Thrown
- Burnt or
- Beaten (for example, with a stick or a belt)
- Hurt in other ways.
Sexual abuse
- Some one may ask you to look at rude pictures, videos or computer games.
- Someone may ask you to touch their or someone else's private parts.
- Someone may touch your private parts.
Bullying and discrimination are also forms of abuse, whether the bully is another child or young person or by an adult. Bullying includes:
-
hitting
-
taking someone's personal things
-
name-calling
-
racist bullying
-
being bullied because of being gay
-
being bullied via the Internet or by mobile phone.
Abuse creates all kinds of emotions, including feeling frightened, confused, alone, guilty, unloved, and ashamed.
What should I do if I think I am being abused or may have been abused?
- If something is worrying you, it is important to talk to someone you trust. This could be a friend, relative, teacher or social worker.
- You could phone the First Response Team (Children's & Families Services) on 0800 1313 126 and speak to someone who will listen and be able to give you advice and support.
- You can also phone Child Line on 0800 1111 which is free, confidential and open 24 hours.
It may be very difficult to talk about some of the things that have happened. You may feel frightened or be worried that you may get someone into trouble, but this should not stop you from talking to someone about it.
What will happen after I tell someone?
The person that you tell should contact a social worker or the police so that they can help you. Social workers, and sometimes police officers, will need to talk to you and other people about what has happened.
A child protection investigation is when social workers, and sometimes the police, follow up reports they receive that make them concerned that a child or young person may be harmed by someone who is looking after them, someone they know or someone they don't know.
The law says that children must be protected from harm and that social workers should do something about it.
The social worker and police officer may need to talk to your teachers, school nurse and your doctor. They will also have to talk to your family, but only when they are reasonably sure that you are safe from harm.
The social worker and police officer may ask you if they can-video record their conversation with you. This will mean that they do not have to ask you the same questions lots of times. They cannot record the conversation without your permission.
If you have been abused, a doctor may need to examine you. The doctor will have helped many children like you. They care about you and want you to be safe. However, you don't have to see the doctor if you really don't want to.
Where will all of this happen?
You will usually be able to speak to the social worker and the police officer and see the doctor at a place not too far away from where you live. It will be somewhere comfortable and friendly where you can feel safe. You can have someone with you to support you - this may be a relative or another adult you feel safe with.
Will I be able to go home?
If people think that you will be safe then yes, if that's what you want to do.
What else might happen?
The social worker may do one or more of the following.
- Offer you and your family help and support.
- Arrange a meeting to decide what should happen next. (This is called a child protection conference and there is a
leaflet (164kb) which explains about this.
- If it is absolutely necessary, we may need to arrange for you to stay in a safe place. This may be with a relative, friend, or, if this is not possible, a foster carer or a residential home.
What are my rights?
You have the right to:
- Be listened to and have your views respected.
- Be supported throughout the investigation by the social worker and sometimes by someone else who may speak on your behalf.
- Be involved in what is happening.
- Have decisions explained to you
- Complain if you do not feel that you are being treated properly.
Remember…
- Abuse is not your fault.
- You have a right to be protected properly.
- You are an important and valued person.
- Your views and feelings will be listened to and respected.
- Let someone help to make things better for you.
View links to further information & support or our information leaflets.
Last Modified:
02/06/2010 07:24:19
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