SIGNS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE
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Bruises or welts on facial areas and other areas of the body including back, bottom, legs, arms, or inner thighs
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Bruises or welts in unusual configurations
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Bruises or welts that look like the object used to make the injury (for example fingerprints, handprints, buckles, iron, or teeth)
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Burns from boiling water, oil, or flames
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Burns that show the shape of the object used to make them (for example, iron, grill, or a cigarette)
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Fractures of the skull, jaw, nose, or limbs – especially those not consistent with the explanation offered, or the type of injury not possible at the child’s age of development
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Cuts and grazes to the mouth, lips, gums, eye area, ears, or external genitalia
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Bald patches where hair has been pulled out
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Multiple injuries – old and new
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Effects of poisoning
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Internal injuries.
SIGNS OF BEHAVIOURAL ABUSE
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Disclosure of an injury inflicted by someone else (parent, carer, or guardian)an inconsistent or unlikely explanation, or inability to remember the cause of injury
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Unusual fear of physical contact with adults
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Aggressive behaviour
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Disproportionate reaction to events
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Wearing clothes unsuitable for weather conditions to hide injuries
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Wariness or fear of a parent, carer, or guardian
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Reluctance to go home
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No reaction or little emotion displayed when being hurt or threatened
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Habitual absences from school without reasonable explanation
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Overly compliant, shy, withdrawn, passive, or uncommunicative
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Unusually nervous, hyperactive, aggressive, disruptive, or destructive to self or others
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Poor sleeping patterns, fear of the dark, nightmares, or regressive behaviour (for example, bed-wetting)
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Drug or alcohol misuse, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm.
