General indicators of abuse or neglect in young people:

• self-harming behaviour such as cutting or burning self
• high level of risk taking behaviours such as climbing up cliff faces while intoxicated
• substance abuse
• involvement in criminal activities such as stealing and fighting
• social isolation
• difficulty in maintaining long term peer relationships
• persistently negative themes in art work and creative writing
• homelessness.

Indicators of domestic and family violence

Indicators in babies, toddlers, preschoolers

• frequent crying and signs of irritability and anxiety
• underweight for age
• physical injury
• neglect
• sexual abuse
• very demanding or very passive
• wary of new people and startle easily
• delayed mobility
• eating and sleeping difficulties
• concentration problems
• inability to play constructively
• clinginess
• fearfulness
• numbing
• increased arousal
• adjustment problems
• developmental delay
• physical complaints

Indicators in children and young people:

• eating and sleeping disturbances
• physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomach aches
• unexplained physical injuries or excused as ‘accidents’
• arms and legs are covered by clothing in warm weather
• find it hard to manage stress
• overly compliant behaviour
• aggressive or violent behaviour towards friends and school mates, or avoids peers
• feel guilt or blame themselves for the violence
• have trouble forming positive relationships
• develop phobias and insomnia
• struggle with going to school and doing school work
• inconsistent or decreased school attendance
• absences because of injuries but other explanations provided
• use bullying behaviour or become a target of bullying
• find it hard to solve problems
• have less empathy and caring for others overly protective of mother/fear of leaving mother
• defiant, and possibly manipulative, particularly with female teachers

Indicators in young people:

• use of alcohol and drugs
• physically and verbally abusive
• abusive to siblings, parent/s, peers, partner
• cruelty to animals
• problematic or harmful sexual behaviours
• frequently absent and poor academic achievement
• wants to leave home and/or stays away from home for a prolonged time
• social isolation
• ongoing anxiety and depression
• suicidal ideation
• unusual parenting behaviour towards younger siblings
• distrust of adults
• delinquency/offending
• violence toward a parent (particularly their mother)
• intervening to stop the violence or feeling powerless in not being able to stop the violence
• transience or homelessness

General indicators of toddler, preschooler, child or young person’s home-related stress should be considered, such as:

• clingy, dependent, sad and secretive
• low self-esteem
• reduced social competence, including low empathy
• delayed or problematic language development
• psychosomatic complaints
• depression
• suicide attempts
• taking extreme risks
• arrives to school in a heightened state (hyper-alert, agitated)
• triggers cause hyper-arousal at other times
• periods of shut down, ‘blank’ look and dissociation (hypo-arousal)

Indicators in adult victims:

• bruising/other injuries
• injuries do not fit the cause/history given
• marks on neck or disclosure of strangulation indicate very high risk
• frequent absences from work/other commitments
• alcohol and drug misuse
• anxious, depressed
• low self-esteem
• submissive, withdrawn
• no close support/family/friendship networks
• seldom/never make decisions without referring to partner
• fear of reprisal
• partner has installed excessive security software on devices and/or car
• difficult to contact

Indicators in perpetrators:

• admits to some violence, but minimises its frequency and severity
• visible rough handling of partner/children/pets
• impressing as overly concerned about suspected victim/s
• always speaking for partner and children
• unable to control angry outbursts
• threatening to commit acts of violence, including self-harm
• describing partner/children as incompetent or stupid
• manipulating partner to cause them to doubt their own perceptions and sanity (gaslighting)
• jealous of partner, lacks trust in partner and others
• installing excessive security software on family devices and/or car
• holds rigidly to stereotypical gender roles
• does not allow partner or children to access service providers alone
• presents as a victim of abuse or discrimination
• calls regularly to check in on /seek information about partner and children
• cyberstalking/mobile tracking of partner and children
• recent partner separation, or relationship breaking down
• controlling behaviours continue after parental separation/divorce and/or AVOs

Indicators in adult victims and perpetrators should also be considered if concerns arise about the children of adults you have contact with, during the course of or from your work.

Indicators of carer concern related to substance misuse

Please note, the following are general indicators. Substance use/misuse/abuse can affect individuals in different ways.

Indicators in toddlers, preschoolers, children and young people of carer concerns related to substance misuse:

• withdrawal from friends and family
• reliance on, or lack of, support from extended family member/s
• exposure to drug culture including strangers in the home, threats of violence or demands for money
• lack of boundaries and household routines
• witness to parent’s paranoia, hallucinations or bizarre behaviour
• inconsistent or decrease in school attendance
• lack of supervision, not being fed or clothed properly, poor personal hygiene, lack of treatment/care for health/medical concerns
• neglect of emotional, social, developmental and educational needs
• reluctance to leave school with a particular parent
• afraid other people may find out about their parents’ substance misuse
• feeling different to other children
• disclosure (sometimes accidental) of carer substance abuse

Indicators in parents and carers:

• enlarged (dilated) pupils, bloodshot or glassy/watery eyes
• using chewing gum or mints to cover up breath
• changes in behaviour such as aggressiveness, paranoia (being extremely suspicious), irritability and moodiness
• anxiety symptoms such as sweating, dry mouth, trembling or twitching
• drowsiness, exhaustion, fatigue or insomnia
• increased energy and confidence, extreme hyperactivity, excessive talking, fast/slow movements or reactions
• unusual smells on breath, body or clothes e.g. smoke, alcohol, petrol, or paint fumes
• not maintaining household tasks and routines such as preparing meals, buying food, paying bills, etc.
• not responding to their children's emotional, psychological and physical needs
• inconsistent parenting as a result of fluctuating mood swings such as yelling more often, being inattentive, being more self-focused, etc.
• alcohol and/or drug paraphernalia sighted in the home
• risky behaviour and criminal activity e.g. disorderly behaviour, drink driving, stealing, prostitution
• relationship problems e.g. arguments with partner/family/ friends, losing friends
• frequent sickness/withdrawal symptoms
• bruising and injection marks on arms and legs, or endeavours to cover these
• unusually tired and unhealthy appearance
• withdrawal from family activities and social activities
• difficulty with or inability to provide for child’s material needs
  

Indicators of neglect

Indicators in children and young people:

• poor standards of hygiene leading to social isolation
• scavenging or stealing food
• extended stays at school, public places, other homes
• being focused on basic survival
• extreme longing for adult affection
• flat and superficial way of relating, lacking of a sense of genuine interaction
• anxiety about being dropped or abandoned
• self comforting behaviour, e.g. rocking, sucking
• non-organic failure to thrive
• delay in developmental milestones
• loss of “skin bloom”
• poor hair texture
• untreated physical problems

Indicators in young people:

• staying at the homes of friends and acquaintances for prolonged periods, rather than at home
• resources are not provided which would allow the young person to care adequately for himself or herself, e.g. access to washing or food
• exposure to serious risks through non-attendance at school e.g. crime, anti- social behaviour, drug and alcohol abuse.

Indicators in parents or carers:

• failure to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical attention, hygienic home conditions or leaving the child or young person inappropriately without supervision
• inability to respond emotionally to a child or young person
• child or young person left alone for long periods
• keeping a child or young person at home from school to care for others
• parent or carer actively avoids contact with the school to discuss attendance issues, despite extensive and repeated efforts
• depriving of or withholding physical contact or stimulation for prolonged periods
• failure to provide psychological nurturing
• one child or young person treated differently, for example, scapegoated
• absence of social support from relatives, other adults or social networks
• parent/carer has agreed to services and/or support but has not taken this up, or cooperated within a reasonable timeframe.

Indicators of physical abuse or ill treatment

Indicators in children and young people:

• facial head and neck bruising
• lacerations and welts from excessive discipline or physical restraint
• explanation offered by the child or young person is not consistent with the injury
• other bruising and marks which may show the shape of the object that caused it e.g. a hand-print, buckle
• bite marks and scratches where the bruise may show a print of teeth and experts can determine whether or not it is an adult bite
• multiple injuries or bruises
• ingestion of poisonous substances, alcohol, drugs, or major trauma
• dislocations, sprains, twisting
• fractures of bones, especially in children under 3 years
• burns and scalds
• head injuries where the child or young person may have indicators of drowsiness, vomiting, fits or retinal haemorrhages suggesting the possibility of the child having been shaken.

Indicators in young people:

• aggressive or violent behaviour towards others, particularly younger children
• explosive temper that is out of proportion to precipitating event
• being constantly on guard around adults and cowering at sudden movements.

Indicators in parents or caregiver:

• direct admissions by parents or carers that they fear they may injure the child or young person
• family history of violence, including previous harm to children and young people
• history of their own maltreatment as a child or young person
• repeated presentations of the child or young person to health or other services with injuries, ingestions or with minor complaints
• marked delay between injury and presentation for medical assistance
• history of injury which is inconsistent with the physical findings
• history of injury which is vague, bizarre or variable.

General indicators of female genital mutilation (FGM):

• having a special operation associated with celebrations
• reluctance to be involved in sport or other physical activities when previously interested
• difficulties with toileting or menstruation
• anxiety about forthcoming school holidays or a trip to a country which practises FGM
• older siblings worried about their sisters visiting their country of origin
• long periods of sickness.

General indicators a child or young person could be at risk of forced marriage:

• anxiety about a forthcoming family holiday overseas
• sudden announcement the child or young person is engaged
• running away from home
• older siblings left school early or were married early
• controlling behaviour by family members
• leaving school suddenly, unexpected absence or non-return from holidays.

Indicators of psychological harm

Indicators in children and young people:

• feelings of worthlessness about life and themselves
• inability to value others
• lack of trust in people and expectations
• lack of interpersonal skills necessary for adequate functioning
• extreme attention seeking or risk taking behaviour
• other behavioural disorders, e.g. disruptiveness, aggressiveness, bullying.

Indicators in young people:

• avoiding all adults
• being obsessively obsequious to adults
• difficulty in maintaining long term significant relationships
• being highly self critical.

Note: Children and young people sustain psychological harm from all types of abuse.

Indicators in parents or carers:

• constant criticism, belittling, teasing of a child or young person, or ignoring or withholding praise and affection
• excessive or unreasonable demands
• persistent hostility and severe verbal abuse, rejection and scapegoating
• belief that a particular child or young person is bad or evil
• using inappropriate physical or social isolation as punishment
• situations where an adult’s behaviour harms a child’s or young person’s safety, welfare and well-being
• exposure to domestic violence.

Indicators of sexual abuse or ill treatment

Indicators in children and young people:

• describe sexual acts e.g. Daddy hurts my wee wee
• direct or indirect disclosures
• age inappropriate behaviour and/or persistent sexual behaviour
• self-destructive behaviour, drug dependence, suicide attempts, self-mutilation
• persistent running away from home
• going to bed fully clothed
• regression in developmental achievements in younger children
• child or young person being in contact with a known or suspected perpetrator of sexual assault
• unexplained accumulation of money and gifts
• being upset after using the internet or phone
• becoming secretive about online activities and mobile phone use
• bleeding from the vagina or external genitalia or anus
• injuries such as tears or bruising to the genitalia, anus or perineal region
• sexually transmitted diseases
• adolescent pregnancy
• trauma to the breast, buttocks, lower abdomen or thighs.

Indicators in young people:

• particularly negative reactions to adults of only one sex
• sexually provocative
• desexualisation, e.g. wearing baggy clothes in order to disguise gender. Eating disorders may be a possible indicator in this category
• art work or creative writing with obsessively sexual themes
• preoccupation with causing harm to men they suspect are homosexual
• engaging in violent sexual acts and talking about these acts
• knowledge about practices and locations which are usually associated with prostitution.

General indicators of child or young person’s stress should be considered such as:

• poor concentration at school
• sleeping/bedtime problems e.g. nightmares bed-wetting
• marked changes in behaviour or mood, tantrums, aggressiveness, withdrawal
• child complains of stomach aches and headaches with no physical findings.

Indicators in parents, carers, siblings, relatives, acquaintances or strangers:

• exposing a child or young person to prostitution or child pornography or using a child or young person for pornographic purposes
• intentional exposure of child or young person to sexual behaviour in others
• ever committed/been suspected of child sexual abuse
• inappropriate curtailing, or jealousy regarding age appropriate development of independence from the family
• coercing child or young person to engage in sexual behaviour with other children and young people
• verbal threats of sexual abuse
• denial of adolescent’s pregnancy by family
• perpetration of spouse abuse or physical child abuse.