Module 2
Module 2
What should you look out for?
Types of child abuse
grooming
Signs & Indicators
Types of Adult Abuse
What Should You Look Out For?
Safeguarding is a challenging topic, but being open to conversations can help create a safer environment.
Understanding how and where abuse can occur makes it easier to recognise the signs and indicators of harm.
Let’s take a look at the basics.
Understanding Types of Child Abuse
It is crucial to understand the types of child abuse that can occur so that you can recognise warning signs, comprehend the impact of harmful practices and behaviours, as well as having the confidence to take necessary action.
Below are types of abuse that can occur to children:
EMOTIONAL
Emotional abuse is any type of abuse that involves the continual emotional mistreatment of a child. It is sometimes called psychological abuse. Emotional abuse can involve deliberately trying to scare, humiliate, isolate or ignore a child.
Examples of Emotional Abuse
- humiliating or constantly criticising a child
- threatening, shouting at a child or calling them names
- making the child the subject of jokes, or using sarcasm to hurt a child
- blaming and scapegoating
- making a child perform degrading acts
- pushing a child too hard or not recognising their limitations
Physical
Physical abuse is when someone hurts or harms a child or young person on purpose.
Examples of Physical Abuse
- hitting with hands or objects
- slapping and punching
- kicking
- shaking
- throwing
This might also include physical punishment or over-training in sport.
Sexual
Sexual abuse is when a child is forced or tricked into sexual activities. They might not understand that what is happening is abuse or that it is wrong.
Examples of Sexual Abuse
Contact Abuse:
- sexual touching of any part of a child’s body, whether they’re clothed or not
- making a child undress or touch someone else.
Non-contact Abuse:
- exposing or flashing
- forcing a child to make, view or share child abuse images or videos
- making, viewing or distributing child abuse images or videos
Neglect
Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs and the most common form of child abuse.
Examples of Neglect
- Physical neglect
A child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing or shelter, are not met or they aren’t properly supervised or kept safe.
- Educational neglect
A parent doesn’t ensure their child is given an education.
- Emotional neglect
This could be through ignoring, humiliating, intimidating or isolating them.
- Medical neglect
A child isn’t given proper health care.
It is important to recognise that in some cases of abuse it may not always be an adult abusing a young person. It can occur that the abuser may be another young person, for example in the case of bullying.
Bullying
Bullying is intentional behaviour that hurts someone else.
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place online. A person can be bullied online and offline at the same time.
Examples of Bullying
- Physical bullying: hitting, slapping or pushing someone
- Verbal bullying: name calling, gossiping or threatening someone
- Non-verbal abuse: hand signs or text messages
- Emotional abuse: threatening, intimidating or humiliating someone
- Exclusion: ignoring or isolating someone Undermining, constant criticism or spreading rumours
Grooming
This is when someone builds a relationship with a child so they can abuse them. This abuse can:
- Happen online or face to face
- Be a one-off event or continue over time
- Come from a stranger or someone the child knows (including a family member)
Groomers can be any age, gender or race. Grooming can take place over a short or long period of time – from weeks to years. Groomers may also build a relationship with the young person’s family or friends to gain trust or authority.
How does it happen?
The groomer befriends a child.
They may give gifts, offer additional training or promises to improve their playing chances within a team.
Abuse can start when a child is isolated from friends and family.
Online grooming can happen very quickly and can involve sexual activities, threats and even blackmail.
Understanding Types of Adult Abuse
Signs and Indicators
We all share a responsibility in safeguarding. Using the knowledge you’ve gained, you may recognise situations where harm could potentially be occurring to another person.
Below are examples of things to be aware of with regards to children. It’s important to understand that these are potential signs and indicators, not definitive proof of abuse.
A child’s behaviour changes, becoming angry, unhappy or withdrawn A child has an unexplained injury, or the explanation seems inconsistent A child becomes increasingly neglected in appearance (clothing/weight changes, for no apparent reasons) A child says that they are being abused, or another person brings it to your attention A child appears not to trust adults, e.g. a parent or coach who they would typically be expected to have a close relationship with.
Spotting the signs and indicators of concerns in adults is different to spotting them in children. An adult can be much more aware of the situation, and therefore can be more likely to hide it.
Abuse can take place in any context and by all manner of perpetrator. Abuse may be inflicted by anyone in the club, team or league who an athlete encounters. Team/Club members, workers, volunteers or coaches may suspect that an athlete is being abused or neglected outside of the team/club setting. There are many signs and indicators that may suggest someone is being abused or neglected, these include but are not limited to:
Behaviour:
- Low self-esteem, passive, becoming withdrawn
- Isolating themselves from the team
- Becomes aggressive/violent (verbally or physically)
- Significant changes in sexual behaviour or attitude
- Changes in appetite (excessive weight gain/loss for no obvious reason)
Injuries:
- Marks on their body (bruising, finger marks)
- Consistent untreated injuries or health issues
- Lack of medical attention when an injury is present
Personal Appearance / Living conditions:
- Appearance becomes unkempt
- Sudden inability to pay bills / belonging or money going missing
Module 2
What should you look out for?
Types of child abuse
grooming
Signs & Indicators
Types of Adult Abuse
What Should You Look Out For?
Safeguarding is a challenging topic, but being open to conversations can help create a safer environment.
Understanding how and where abuse can occur makes it easier to recognise the signs and indicators of harm.
Let’s take a look at the basics.
Understanding Types of Child Abuse
It is crucial to understand the types of child abuse that can occur so that you can recognise warning signs, comprehend the impact of harmful practices and behaviours, as well as having the confidence to take necessary action.
Below are types of abuse that can occur to children:
EMOTIONAL
Emotional abuse is any type of abuse that involves the continual emotional mistreatment of a child. It is sometimes called psychological abuse. Emotional abuse can involve deliberately trying to scare, humiliate, isolate or ignore a child.
Examples of Emotional Abuse
- humiliating or constantly criticising a child
- threatening, shouting at a child or calling them names
- making the child the subject of jokes, or using sarcasm to hurt a child
- blaming and scapegoating
- making a child perform degrading acts
- pushing a child too hard or not recognising their limitations
Physical
Physical abuse is when someone hurts or harms a child or young person on purpose.
Examples of Physical Abuse
- hitting with hands or objects
- slapping and punching
- kicking
- shaking
- throwing
This might also include physical punishment or over-training in sport.
Sexual
Sexual abuse is when a child is forced or tricked into sexual activities. They might not understand that what is happening is abuse or that it is wrong.
Examples of Sexual Abuse
Contact Abuse:
- sexual touching of any part of a child’s body, whether they’re clothed or not
- making a child undress or touch someone else.
Non-contact Abuse:
- exposing or flashing
- forcing a child to make, view or share child abuse images or videos
- making, viewing or distributing child abuse images or videos
Neglect
Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs and the most common form of child abuse.
Examples of Neglect
- Physical neglect
A child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing or shelter, are not met or they aren’t properly supervised or kept safe. - Educational neglect
A parent doesn’t ensure their child is given an education. - Emotional neglect
This could be through ignoring, humiliating, intimidating or isolating them. - Medical neglect
A child isn’t given proper health care.
It is important to recognise that in some cases of abuse it may not always be an adult abusing a young person. It can occur that the abuser may be another young person, for example in the case of bullying.
Bullying
Bullying is intentional behaviour that hurts someone else.
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place online. A person can be bullied online and offline at the same time.
Examples of Bullying
- Physical bullying: hitting, slapping or pushing someone
- Verbal bullying: name calling, gossiping or threatening someone
- Non-verbal abuse: hand signs or text messages
- Emotional abuse: threatening, intimidating or humiliating someone
- Exclusion: ignoring or isolating someone Undermining, constant criticism or spreading rumours
Grooming
This is when someone builds a relationship with a child so they can abuse them. This abuse can:
- Happen online or face to face
- Be a one-off event or continue over time
- Come from a stranger or someone the child knows (including a family member)
Groomers can be any age, gender or race. Grooming can take place over a short or long period of time – from weeks to years. Groomers may also build a relationship with the young person’s family or friends to gain trust or authority.
How does it happen?
The groomer befriends a child.
They may give gifts, offer additional training or promises to improve their playing chances within a team.
Abuse can start when a child is isolated from friends and family.
Online grooming can happen very quickly and can involve sexual activities, threats and even blackmail.
Understanding Types of Adult Abuse
Signs and Indicators
We all share a responsibility in safeguarding. Using the knowledge you’ve gained, you may recognise situations where harm could potentially be occurring to another person.
Below are examples of things to be aware of with regards to children. It’s important to understand that these are potential signs and indicators, not definitive proof of abuse.
| A child’s behaviour changes, becoming angry, unhappy or withdrawn | A child has an unexplained injury, or the explanation seems inconsistent | A child becomes increasingly neglected in appearance (clothing/weight changes, for no apparent reasons) | A child says that they are being abused, or another person brings it to your attention | A child appears not to trust adults, e.g. a parent or coach who they would typically be expected to have a close relationship with. |
Spotting the signs and indicators of concerns in adults is different to spotting them in children. An adult can be much more aware of the situation, and therefore can be more likely to hide it.
Abuse can take place in any context and by all manner of perpetrator. Abuse may be inflicted by anyone in the club, team or league who an athlete encounters. Team/Club members, workers, volunteers or coaches may suspect that an athlete is being abused or neglected outside of the team/club setting. There are many signs and indicators that may suggest someone is being abused or neglected, these include but are not limited to:
Behaviour:
- Low self-esteem, passive, becoming withdrawn
- Isolating themselves from the team
- Becomes aggressive/violent (verbally or physically)
- Significant changes in sexual behaviour or attitude
- Changes in appetite (excessive weight gain/loss for no obvious reason)
Injuries:
- Marks on their body (bruising, finger marks)
- Consistent untreated injuries or health issues
- Lack of medical attention when an injury is present
Personal Appearance / Living conditions:
- Appearance becomes unkempt
- Sudden inability to pay bills / belonging or money going missing
