d/Deaf children and children who have disabilities are particularly vulnerable to abuse and neglect compared with their peers.1,1
Case reviews show that professionals don’t always recognise or understand the signs that d/Deaf children and children who have disabilities are experiencing abuse. This can result in safeguarding concerns being missed.
This briefing looks at a sample of case reviews published between 2016 and 2023 involving d/Deaf children and children who have disabilities. The learning from the case reviews emphasises the importance of building relationships with caregivers to understand when they might need further support. It also highlights the importance of drawing on the expertise of professionals who have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the child’s additional needs.
References
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (CSPRP) (2023) Safeguarding children with disabilities in residential settings. [Accessed 02/02/2024].Our series of thematic briefings highlight the learning from case reviews conducted when a child dies, or is seriously harmed, as a result of abuse or neglect. Each briefing focuses on a different topic or learning for specific sectors, pulling together key risk factors and practice recommendations.
We work with local safeguarding partners to ensure that learning from case reviews can be accessed and shared at a local, regional and national level.
Find out how you can apply the lessons from case reviews and improve your practice to help protect children and young people.
Browse through our list of child safeguarding practice reviews, serious case reviews, significant case reviews and child practice reviews which were added to the National case review repository between 2019 and 2023.
Subscribe to our monthly email newsletter alerting you to the case reviews we have added to the National collection of case reviews repository at the NSPCC.
Use our guidance and advice to learn more about how you can set up safeguarding measures for d/Deaf and disabled children and protect them from abuse.
Face-to-face training to improve your awareness and understanding of the barriers that may impact the safety of d/Deaf and disabled children and young people. Available as virtual training.
Listen to this episode about our study into preventing the sexual abuse of disabled children and the need for accessible sex and relationships education.
