Child Abuse

What is Child Abuse?

All forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.

The World Health Organisation (WHO)

Child abuse is categorised in the following ways:

• Sexual Abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware.

• Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs. It’s dangerous and children can suffer serious and long-term harm.

• Physical abuse is deliberately hurting a child causing injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns or cuts.

• Emotional abuse may include neglect or lack of emotional warmth. Children who live in homes with domestic violence can suffer from emotional abuse. It’s sometimes called psychological abuse and can cause children serious harm.

NSPCC

What support is available?

You can find support at the university for yourself or someone you are worried about via Report It.

You can find further support and information on child abuse on GOV.UK.

You can find support from the police by calling 101 (non-emergencies), or 999 (emergencies), or by visiting your local police station.

If you require additional support information beyond the information provided, we recommend that you contact the team directly via report-it@salford.ac.uk.

Staff members are encouraged to find additional information about staff reporting via Report It on the Staff Hub.