Definition Of Significant Harm Safeguarding

Some children live in family and social circumstances where their health and development are neglected.

Definition of significant harm safeguarding. More often significant harm is a compilation of significant events both acute and long standing which interrupt change or damage the child s physical and psychological development. More often significant harm is a compilation of significant events both acute and long standing which interrupt change or damage the child s physical and psychological development. A violation of an individual s human and civil rights by any other person or persons which results in significant harm dh 2000 abuse is about the misuse of power and control that one person has over another. Under sections 31 9 and 10 of the children act 1989 as amended by the adoption and children act 2002.

What is significant harm. This guide is based on my experience of doing child protection work in the 1990s in an authority which maintained an appropriate balance between child protection and child welfare. Some children live in family and social circumstances where their health and development are neglected. Harm is defined as the ill treatment or impairment of health and development.

The children act 1989 introduced the concept of significant harm as the threshold that justifies compulsory intervention in family life in the best interests of children. The children act 1989 introduced significant harm as the threshold that justifies compulsory intervention in family life in the best interests of children. Where there is dependency there is a possibility of abuse or neglect unless adequate safeguards are put in place. There are no absolute criteria on which to rely when judging what constitutes significant harm but consideration should be given to the following.

The nature of harm in terms of mistreatment or failure to provide adequate care the impact on the child s health and development the child s development within the context of their family and wider environment. However it highlights the need to compare the progress health and well being of a child with any other similar child. Definition of significant harm. The act does not provide an exact definition of the term significant harm.

A simple guide for social workers the children act 1989 introduced the term significant harm as the key to child protection work. Wed 2010 05 05 11 20 nscbadmin. Physical abuse sexual abuse emotional abuse and neglect are all categories of significant harm. Article 2 children northern ireland order 1995.