Multi-Agency

Disabled children are at significantly greater risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect than non-disabled children. Disabled children at greatest risk of abuse are those with behaviour/conduct disorders. Other high-risk groups include children with learning difficulties/disabilities, children with speech and language difficulties, children with health-related conditions and deaf children. There is a lack of knowledge about the differing risks to disabled children at the various stages of their development and that injuries and developmental delay are accepted as related to the disability.  There is also a tolerance of lower standards of care for disabled children and a focus on health needs to the exclusion of wider issues including safeguarding.

By the end of the session the training will have:

• Provided an overview of what research tells us about all the forms of harm and abuse that disabled children are vulnerable to and key signs and indicators for practitioners to be alert to.
• Have considered what good care looks like and the importance of building choice, capacity, resilience and confidence when working with disabled children.
• Have explored a whole life perspective and considered the impact of under and overprotection.
• Have understood the critical need to seek, hear and place the views and experiences of disabled children and young people at the heart of our practice
• Demonstrated a working knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance and research and their application in effectively safeguarding and meeting the needs of disabled children as well as review the messages from relevant Serious Case Reviews.

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