Teachers, police officers, nursery staff and other professionals should look for “soft” signs that could indicate that a child is being abused or neglected, new guidelines suggest. Signs may include excessive clinginess, low self-esteem, recurrent nightmares or over-friendliness towards strangers.
NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) was asked by the Department for Education and the Department of Health to produce information for professionals working with children across a range of settings including social care, schools, early years settings, medical centres or custodial settings. It says adults working with children should be alert to abuse and neglect if a child displays behaviours that are not normal for the child or for their age.
NICE’s deputy chief executive said it was “permission to be curious”
NICE Consultation The draft guidance is open for consultation until 19 April 2017
BBC article (22/2/17)
