Consider a child or young person may be at risk of abuse or neglect if the family or child displays or is reported to display any of the following:
- behaviour or emotional state of the child or young person is not consistent with their age and developmental stage, are out of proportion to a situation (e.g. frequent rages inconsolable crying), dissociation (transient episodes of detachment that are outside the child’s control), wetting or soiling, that cannot be otherwise explained
- running away from home or care, or child or young person is living in alternative accommodation without the full agreement of their parents or carers
- child or young person responds to a health examination or assessment in an unusual, unexpected or developmentally inappropriate way (e.g. extreme passivity, resistance or refusal)
- a poor standard of hygiene that affects a child’s health, inadequate provision of food, a living environment that is unsafe for the child’s developmental stage
- severe and persistent infestations, such as scabies or head lice
- clothing or footwear is consistently in adequate
- development delays, such as, faltering growth (due to lack of provision of an adequate or appropriate diet), poorer than expected language abilities for their overall development
- child’s behaviour towards their parent or carer shows dislike or lack of cooperation, lack of interest or low responsiveness, high levels of anger or annoyance, seeming passivity or withdrawal
- parent or carer’s negativity, hostility, rejection or scapegoating towards a child or young person
- developmentally inappropriate expectations of or interactions with a child
- exposure to frightening or traumatic experiences
- parent or carer using the child for the fulfilment of the adult’s needs
- parent or carer involving children in unlawful activities, isolation or not providing stimulation or education
- emotional unavailability and unresponsiveness from the parent or carer towards a child or young person and in particular towards an infant.
- parent or carer refuses to allow a child or young person to speak to a practitioner on their own when it is necessary for the assessment of the child or young person
- parent or carer persistently fails to anticipate dangers and to take precautions to protect their child from harm
- explanation for an injury (e.g. a burn, sunburn or an ingestion of a harmful substance) suggests a lack of appropriate supervision
- parent or carer fails to administer essential prescribed treatment for their child
- parent or carer fails to seek medical advice for their child to the extent that the child’s health and wellbeing is compromised
- parent or carer repeatedly fails to bring their child to follow-up appointments that are essential for their child’s health and wellbeing
- parent or carer persistently fails to engage with relevant child health promotion programmes, e.g. immunisation, health and development reviews, screening
- parent or carer has access to but persistently fails to obtain treatment for their child’s dental caries (tooth decay)
Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Child abuse and neglect, NICE guideline [NG76] Published date: October 2017, https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng76/chapter/Recommendations#factors-that-increase-vulnerability-to-child-abuse-and-neglect
