Prevention of Maltreatment Scenarios

Running head: PREVENTION OF MALTREATMENT SCENARIOS
PREVENTION OF MALTREATMENT SCENARIOS
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1PREVENTION OF MALTREATMENT SCENARIOS
Maltreatment is the abuse or cruel and violent treatment towards a person or an
animal. Almost about 16% of children suffer serious maltreatment at the hands of their
parents (Viezel & Davis, 2015). When it comes to Steve’s case, the types of abuse that Steve
falls in include physical Abuse and neglect. He is physically tortured by her mother in case of
any kind of misbehaviour form his side. The indicators of physical mistreatment can vary
from minor like the marks of burns, bruises, welts or bite to severe like the major fractures in
the bones and even death due to the intentional assault by a person on a child. The indicators
of emotional abuse are frequent bed-wetting or diarrhoea, psychosomatic complaints, which
is due to deliberate humiliation, ignorance and rejection of the child. Neglect is failing to
provide the basic needs of a child (Thornberry & Henry, 2013). As a healthcare professional,
the first step that should be taken by me includes understanding their role in order to identify
the risk of children as well as young people. After understanding Steve’s risk, the next step
that needs to be taken is to communicate as well as engage with Steve and develop his trust
so that he can disuses his issues with me comfortably.
The whole conversation will be recorded in order to use as a evidence for supporting
the child. Not only that, in order to provide Steve with an effective treatment, all his physical
issues will be noted down. The final step that will be taken by me includes sharing
information with as well as making referrals as appropriate to relevant agencies like police or
social care (Hecker et al., 2014).
In case Steve was much younger, it would have been more difficult for him to handle
the situation. Being an infant, physical torture by her mother could have cause serious
physical damage to him. In case he was a teenager, he could have protested or even fight
back to protect himself. However, in that case, he would have gone through severe
psychological trauma.