Child Protection level 3: topic specific - emotional abuse and neglect course

In depth analysis of the individual topic. All health staff have a key role to play in safeguarding children and young people 0-18 years from emotional abuse and neglect.

Staff will learn that emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child's emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child's developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another, serious bullying, causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children.

Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone. Staff will learn how to define and recognise this type of abuse, learn about attachment behaviours, differentiate between secure and insecure attachment and short, medium and long term impacts on children. Family dynamics will be explored along with contributing factors, resillience and implications for practice. Staff will learn how to respond and what services to access to safeguard the child.

By the end of the course you will:

• be able to identify and understand the emotional and physical needs of the developing child
• recognise and respond to the need to promote the rights of children
• understand what constitutes emotional abuse and neglect and how to recognise it
• be aware of relevant legislation and policies
• know how to respond appropriately and safely to child abuse
• be able to identify services to support the child
• demonstrate a knowedge of emotional abuse and neglect in terms of the descriptors and objectives and know how to identify and action concerns in practice

Level 2 and 3: For all staff who work predominantly with children, young people and their parents or carers. And health staff who have particular responsibilities in relation to undertaking S47 enquiries, including consultants, paediatricians and registrars, senior nursing staff managers and staff who work with complex cases.

Sarah Steele

023 8079 8409

Sarah.Steele@suht.swest.nhs.uk|

Susan Barnes

023 8079 8409

Susan.Barnes@suht.swest.nhs.uk|