Each and every child has rights; these include the right to an education, access to a health system, to be protected from harm, to be provided with a roof over their head and to be fed.
As much as we would love to live in a world where children would be free and protected from all harm to them, reality is that we are more afraid of the exposure children have today due to how more dangerous the outside world is becoming.
While we are all children inside no matter how old or young we are, the seriousness of Safeguarding Children refers to all who are under the legal age of 18 years.
Recognizing and awareness of risks for children who need safeguarding may include:
-Child Trafficking
-Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
-Forced Marriages
-Modern Slavery
-Gang involvement and exposure
-Internet or Online Abuse
-Sexual Exploitation
County Lines (drug trafficking)
Some forms of abuse:
–Physical Abuse: when someone gets physically injured or harmed
–Psychological or Emotional Abuse: non-physical words or behaviours which affects the persons mental state and/or emotional well-being.
–Sexual Abuse: Non consensual or forced acts/ actions, can be in many forms.
–Verbal Abuse: the effects do not leave a physical making this a difficult way of abuse to be proved without evidence, this may include threats, name-calling or being made felt small.
–Neglect: Failure to have your rights or needs met, whether it is a roof over your head, medical services or even just emotional support.
–Modern Slavery: Human Trafficking, any forced labour, or sexual exploitation
Legislations governing Safeguarding Children:
All professionals, agencies and organizations who assist or work with children and their families has the responsibility to encourage and protect the welfare of the child/ren and should familiarize themselves with these acts and regulations:
- Children Act 1989 (England and Wales)
- Children Act 2004 (England)
- Children and Social Work Act 2017 (England)
- Sexual Offenses Act 2003 (UK)
- The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2005
- The Serious Crime Act 2015
- The Children Act 1989
- The Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Act 2020
Just a note:
Doing an online CSTF – Safeguarding Children Levels 1 & 2 Course or CSTF – Safeguarding Children Levels 3 & 4 Course with Train Healthcare, which takes approximately 1 hour to complete, will earn you 1 CPD Point per course. Once you have completed the course/s, you would receive a certificate thereof.
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