Physical

Physical abuse is the causing of physical harm to a child or young person. Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating. Fabricated or induced illness is physical harm that may be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child they are looking after.

Signs of physical abuse:

• Unusual or unexplained injuries
• Misuse of medication: giving too much, too little, withholding or giving the wrong medication, or giving it late
• Fear of another person, disturbed behaviour
• Physical or electronic barriers to freedom of movement and choice; medication which limits physical movement or behaviour.