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Delyth Morgan: Better protection for disabled children
09 July 2009- Updated guidance for police, teachers, social workers and health workers to protect disabled children from abuse and neglect. - Children’s Minister Delyth Morgan today announced the publication of new guidance on the safeguarding of disabled children. The guidance, produced by The Children’s Society for the Government, will advise local organisations on how to best safeguard and promote the welfare of disabled children. Delyth Morgan welcomed the new guidance, saying:“We know that disabled children and young people are particularly vulnerable to abuse and must be protected from such appalling mistreatment. This guidance will help all professionals provide the additional support that disabled children require in order to be safeguarded.“The abuse of disabled children is too often overlooked or simply denied. In order to raise awareness of this abuse, attitudes and assumptions regarding the rights of disabled children must be challenged. The Government and The Children’s Society are committed to making sure people who work with disabled children are aware of this issue and able to ensure the children in their care remain safe.“I urge all agencies to look again at this issue and use this guidance to make sure they are doing everything they can in their local area.”The practise guidance is an update following the publication of ‘Working together to Safeguard Children’, which was issued in 2006. It is aimed at Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) partners, practitioners and other professionals working with disabled children and young people and their families. Moira Murray, Head of Safeguarding, and Chris Osborne, Policy Adviser, The Children’s Society, commented: "The safeguarding of disabled children is not always prioritised and as such we welcome this guidance as important in moving this vital issue up the agenda. The voices of disabled children must be heard if we are to prevent them from being abused or neglected. Disabled children should be seen first and foremost as children and their disability should not detract from their safeguarding needs.” Research shows that disabled children are more vulnerable to abuse than their peers. According to an American study involving 40,000 children, those with disabilities were 3.4 times more likely to be abused or neglected than non-disabled children. Research in the UK has indicated similar levels of abuse to that found in the US. By setting out practical measures needed to identify abuse, such as how to communicate with disabled children about their experiences and needs, LSCBs and others working with disabled children will be better prepared to support victims of abuse and prevent further instances occurring. Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. The guidance can be found at:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/safeguardingandsocialcare/safeguardingchildren/safeguarding/ 2. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including keeping disabled children safe from abuse, is a key part of the Government’s drive to improve outcomes for children and young people. In December 2007, the Government published its Children’s Plan, setting out its ambition to make England the best place in the world for children to grow up by 2020. The Staying Safe: Action Plan, published in February 2008, set out how the Government would deliver a key strand of that ambition, including publishing this practise guidance. 3. For media enquiries, please contact the Department for Children, Schools and Families news desk on 020 7925 6789. Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2009/0131
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