Child Abuse Case Study: Analysis of the Children Act 2004

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Physical abuse with children
Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................2
CASE STUDY...........................................................................................................................................3
BODY.........................................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................9

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INTRODUCTION
This assignment provides information on child abuse and explains about the condition
and situation of a child in abuse. It explains about various causes of child abuse and
also suggests a case study which explains about how abuse can start at home. It
discusses about policies like Child Act 2004 which is developed to protect children and
safeguard them from abuse. It discusses about the strength and limitations of this policy
in providing protection to children and explains about effectiveness of this policy through
research papers that are evidence based. There are several research papers in this
assignment which debates of several programs and of physical punishment from
parents on their children (Gilbert et al, 2009).

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CASE STUDY
Allen is a 13 year old child living a happy life with her parents in London. She had a fall
from her house staircase and injured her head and was taken to paediatrician in
London. GP observed bruises and marks on the body of this little girl and was surprised
and asked parents and informed the authorities. Parents suggested that the child’s
misbehaviour and lack of discipline forced them to physically punish her to in still
discipline in her. They said it was the only way to teach the kid how to behave. The
paediatrician suggested changes in child emotionally as she expressed the child was
very enthusiastic and vibrant when she was young but now she has become lethargic
and is usually quiet and sad. When the authorities enquired to the child she informed
them about how her parents hit her when she doesn’t listen and how they forcefully fed
her vegetables when she did not want to eat. Child was taken away from the parents to
foster home and parents were asked to attain programs to learn about handling kids
and choosing ways other than physical punishment to make the child disciplined. The
child was provided with psychological support to enhance her confidence and support
her to be herself.
BODY
Abuse is any inappropriate act done against a person physical, emotional or
psychological well-being leaving negative impact on the person. People in their old age
and children are most vulnerable to abuse. There are many cases that suggest abuse
on children which has an impact on child’s psychology. Child abuse can be defined as
physical, emotional, sexual exploitation or harm on the child which leaves major impact
on child. Physical abuse is when the child is harmed physically, emotional abuse is
when child’s emotions are affected, sexual exploitation is when the child is harassed
sexually and it is very common these days. Children are vulnerable to abuse as they
cannot speak their mind and are dependent on others for their daily work. Abuse can
occur anywhere is it at school or at home as well and any person can be involved. It can
be done deliberately to harm a child or it can happen due to over protection and over
caring of parents. There are certain cases which suggest that parents try to make
children disciplined and failure of that results in beating and harming a child physically.

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This is can be observed in Allen’s case where she was physically punished to make her
more disciplined. Abuse and neglect go hand in hand, sometimes kids are neglected by
their parents or family and due to lack of attention there is negative impact on child’s
psychology. Every child needs to be pampered, loved and cared for during this period
and require attention and love from family, lack of attention and abuse on child alters
their mental thing and psychology (Johnson, 2004).
Children who have faced abuse or neglected are very scared and low on self-
confidence, their social interaction is poor as well. There is lack of trust in them and they
find it hard to bond with others. Abuse in their childhood leaves a drastic effect on their
personality and they tend to be scared and lonely which affects their life greatly. They
go through so much mentally when living in environment which is abusive that their
perception and zest to live life fades away. Many children are noted to be in depression
due to their abusive life and even attempt suicide at young age. Their dependency
makes that vulnerable to abuse as they cannot raise their voice against it. It is observed
that some children at a very young age start to earn to support family and are abused at
their workplace with excessive work and less wages. This not only destroys their
childhood but also creates sense of hatred for everyone around them. Children with
disability are also treated badly at times at care homes or by care providers as they are
dependent on them and they find these children as burden and not provide them with
their needs (Radford et al, 2011).
Child abuse is a growing problem all over the world. There many laws and policies
developed in UK that helps to resolve these issues and provide child with their rights. It
is illegal for any person to do any type of physical, emotional or sexual abuse in
children, be it their parents. These laws provide rights to children which provide safety
and protection against any type of abuse. One such policy that is widely accepted in
protection of children is the children act 1989, 2004. This act was developed to
safeguard and protect children and to fulfil their needs and welfare. It takes in to
considerations all age group up till 18 years. It is regulated by the commissioners who
decide the laws and policies. It regulates the work of local authorities in providing care
and effective services to children and young people. It safeguards children by protecting

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them and providing them everything. They tend to provide healthy, secure, and
accomplished life to every child irrespective of their background. This act helped Allen
and her parents to reform their way of treating their child by educating parents of other
ways of teaching discipline (Penna, S., 2005).
Strengths
 It considers parents to be responsible for the actions of their children and to take
care of them.
 Children’s views and preferences are taken into consideration.
 They are given rights which protect them from any harm.
 It provides details of children taken into care which is done when it is the last
resort.
 It considers health to be an important factor and provides provisions which can
help every child attain good health.
 Children who have faced abused are protected and kept safe from their abusers
in a protected environment or foster homes.
 Financial stability is important for every child as every child has the right to
education. This law provides funds and scholarship programs for children who
cannot afford their studies and helps them to achieve better.
 It helps to make these children financially independent and helps them to be an
achiever.
 It helps those with special needs and provides safety and protection to them and
fulfils their needs.
Limitations
 Children under the age of 10 year can be held accountable for criminal offence.
 Court cases involving children are heard privately which leads to unfair hearings
at times.
 Social workers are not held accountable for their services outside the
department.

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 This act is not widely spread and not all local authorities can provide such
environment and to manage so many authorities is difficult.
 Many cases of child abuse remain hidden from society and thus the authority
cannot reach these children who are struggling with their abusive life.
 Funding can be an issue at times when not enough funds are provided by the
authority for children education and safety.
 Children who suffered child abuse require extra care and attention from care
providers and professional psychological support to allow them to lead a normal
life.
The program is suggestive to be very effective in providing extra care and protection to
children and implements programs that help children to attain protection from their
abusers. It is an early intervention to protect and safeguards children. These acts are
implemented in every organisation that is designed to protect children and young adults.
Geeraert in 2004 evaluated early prevention programs for child abuse and it was
suggested that this program have been effective in reducing incidences of child abuse
and neglect. It was suggested that these programs were effective in functioning of child
and parent child interaction. Chen in 2016 evaluated effectiveness of parenting
programs to reduce child maltreatment. The results suggested that parenting programs
were helpful in reducing child maltreatment but it did not lower stress of parents. It was
found to be helpful in low, middle and high income countries and is used as an
intervention program. It is an evidence based service for reducing child maltreatment.
This report suggests about the evidence based programs that allows reducing
maltreatment of children which has allowed Allen to receive care and support and her
parents to seek help from programs to enhance their way of treating their child (Jaffee
et al, 2004).
Though the policy is beneficial in protecting children and young people, it still requires
several additions to enhance its performance and affectivity. It should work in providing
equal services to all the children irrespective of their nationality, religion or culture. It
should focus on children needs and provide professional care and support to the
vulnerable. It should strengthen its policies every year and make required changes to

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keep the policies up to date. The funds should be raised and managed to provide
services to children. It should annually evaluate the effectiveness of the services and
make required changes (Gilbert et al, 2009).
Some researchers suggest about how physical abuse usually occurs by parents in
terms of punishment to make their child discipline but it should be noted that this type of
punishment is only going to affect the child negatively and thus better programs and
other reforms are required to in still discipline in children. Research by Gershoff, 2010;
suggest that corporal punishment for children still exists and that 50% of the toddlers go
through this while 68% of pre-schoolers go through this. Majority of young adults
suggest being physically punished by parents to instil discipline in their life. Durrant in
2012 suggested that physical punishment to children is harmful and will not enhance
their development. It enhances negative effect and development in children. Parents
should seek professional help to learn alternative ways to teach discipline to their kids.
With enough evidence and researched, professionals now guide parents to teach
discipline to their kids in different ways.

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CONCLUSION
This assignment can be concluded by saying that child care protection is an essential
concern that needs to be focused and the government policies are effective in providing
care and reducing maltreatment but still there are certain limitations and gaps that
needs to be filled to enhance effectiveness of the policies and also shows concerns for
children who undergo physical punishment to be more disciple. It explains about
problems faced by children going through abuse and the causes of it. Children act 2004
has been effective n protecting and caring for children and fulfilling their needs. It
includes research papers that provide evidence of effectiveness of children act and also
some researches debate of the physical punishment to children and the programs are
discussed to reduce maltreatment and change perception of parents (Jenkins, 2006).

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REFERENCES
1. Chen, M. and Chan, K.L., 2016. Effects of parenting programs on child
maltreatment prevention: A meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 17(1),
pp.88-104.
2. Durrant, J. and Ensom, R., 2012. Physical punishment of children: lessons from
20 years of research. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 184(12), pp.1373-
1377.
3. Geeraert, L., Van den Noortgate, W., Grietens, H. and Onghena, P., 2004. The
effects of early prevention programs for families with young children at risk for
physical child abuse and neglect: A meta-analysis. Child maltreatment, 9(3),
pp.277-291.
4. Gershoff, E.T., 2010. More harm than good: A summary of scientific research on
the intended and unintended effects of corporal punishment on children. LAW &
contemp. probs., 73, p.31.
5. Gilbert, R., Kemp, A., Thoburn, J., Sidebotham, P., Radford, L., Glaser, D. and
MacMillan, H.L., 2009. Recognising and responding to child maltreatment. The
lancet, 373(9658), pp.167-180.
6. Jaffee, S.R., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T.E., Polo-Tomas, M., Price, T.S. and Taylor, A.,
2004. The limits of child effects: evidence for genetically mediated child effects
on corporal punishment but not on physical maltreatment. Developmental
psychology, 40(6), p.1047.
7. Jenkins, P. and Polat, F., 2006. The Children Act 2004 and implications for
counselling in schools in England and Wales. Pastoral Care in Education, 24(2),
pp.7-14.
8. Johnson, C.F., 2004. Child sexual abuse. The Lancet, 364(9432), pp.462-470.
9. Penna, S., 2005. The Children Act 2004: Child protection and social surveillance.
Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 27(2), pp.143-157.

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10. Radford, L., Corral, S., Bradley, C., Fisher, H., Bassett, C., Howat, N. and
Collishaw, S., 2011. Child abuse and neglect in the UK today.