Safeguarding and Abuse

Professionals working in Early Years or as Childminders are often able to spot safeguarding issues and abuse because of the close contact they have with the children and young people in their care.

Find out more about these topics, how you could help and what your responsibilities are.

How safe are you and your children online? Information on how to protect yourself online.

Bullying and Cyber-Bullying - Where a child is a victim of being called names, having their property damaged, things being stolen, rumours being spread about them or a victim of cyberbullying.

Child Exploitation - see information on Sexual Exploitation, Gangs, County Lines, Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Radicalisation.

Domestic Violence - When one adult in a family or relationship threatens, bullies or hurts another family member e.g. physically, psychologically, emotionally, sexually or financially.

Emotional Abuse - This would happen, for instance, when a child is being unfairly blamed all the time for everything, or told they are stupid and made to feel unhappy.

E Safety - How safe are you and your children online? Information on how to protect yourself online.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or 'cutting' - where girls have their genitals partly or fully removed. This mutilation is carried out on girls of all ages, from babies to young women.

Living with someone who is not a parent or close family - there is a duty to notify social services if you become aware of a child who is living with someone who is not their parent or a close family member. This situation is called 'private fostering'.

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing - when a child or young person is depressed, anxious or suffering with other mental or emotional problems.

Neglect - Where a child is not being looked after properly, for example, being left at home alone at a young age, often hungry, tired and unkempt.

Physical Abuse - When an adult deliberately hurts a child, such as hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning or suffocating.

Prevent - Myth Busters videos

Resistant Families / Disguised Compliance - information for professional experiencing resistant families or working with disguised compliance.

Self-harm - when a child or young person deliberately hurts or cuts themselves.

Sexual Abuse - An example of sexual abuse would be where a child has been forced to take part in sexual activities or exposed to images, films or acts of a sexual nature.

Young Carers - When a child or young person has to take on the role of the carer for a sibling or parent because of mental or physical health issues, or because the adult has alcohol or drug abuse issues.

If you think a child may be suffering abuse or is in a situation where they are at risk, if you're not sure what to do about it, contact Northamptonshire MASH or in an emergency call 999.

Last updated: 30 November 2023