Home Issues

Abuse/Violence towards Parent/Guardian

A pattern of behaviour where a child or young person is abusive or violent towards their parent or guardian, often causing distress and fear within the home.

Aggression within the Home

Instances of physical or verbal aggression occurring between family members within the home environment, which can include sibling conflict, child-to-parent aggression, or other domestic disputes.

Bereavement/Death

The experience of profound grief and loss due to the death of a significant person. For a child or young person, this can severely impact their emotional well-being, mental health, behaviour, and academic performance, requiring sensitive support.

Child Employment

Children engaged in work, often part-time, which must adhere to specific legal regulations regarding hours, type of work, and safety to ensure it does not harm their education or well-being. Concerns arise when these regulations are breached or the work is exploitative.

Child Home Without Adult Supervision

A child left alone in a home environment without an adult present who is responsible for their care and safety, potentially placing them at risk.

Child Missing/Absent from Home/Care

A child whose whereabouts are unknown to those responsible for their care, indicating a potential risk to their safety and welfare.

Child to Parent Abuse

A pattern of abusive behaviour by a child towards their parent or primary caregiver, which can be physical, verbal, emotional, or financial.

Court Order

A legally binding instruction issued by a court, often related to a child's welfare, custody, contact, or protection. Concerns arise when an order is breached, needs reviewing, or impacts a child's living arrangements or safety.

Custody/Contact Concerns

Disputes or issues related to parental responsibility, where a child lives, or arrangements for a parent or other family member to spend time with a child.

Domestic Abuse

Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can indirectly affect children.

Family Member Alcohol Use

A concern where an adult family member's alcohol consumption is impacting the well-being and safety of a child within the household.

Family Member Drug/Substance Abuse

A concern where an adult family member's use of illegal drugs or misuse of substances is impacting the well-being and safety of a child within the household.

Family Member Ill Health - Mental

Family Member Ill Health - Mental: A concern where an adult family member's mental health condition is impacting their ability to care for a child, or affecting the child's well-being.

Family Member Ill Health - Physical

A concern where an adult family member's physical health condition is impacting their ability to care for a child, or affecting the child's well-being.

Family Member in Prison

A concern arising when a family member is incarcerated, potentially impacting the child's emotional well-being, financial stability, or care arrangements.

Financial Issues

Difficulties related to money and economic stability within a household, which can impact a child's basic needs, access to resources, or overall well-being.

Food Bank Request

An indicator that a family is experiencing food insecurity and requires assistance to meet their basic nutritional needs.

Homelessness

A state of lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This is a significant safeguarding concern for children and families due to lack of safety, stability, and access to services.

Housing and Financial Issues

A combined category indicating difficulties related to both living arrangements and economic stability, which can compound risks to a child's welfare.

Housing Concerns

Issues related to the adequacy, safety, or stability of a child's living environment, such as overcrowding, poor conditions, or risk of eviction.

Lack of Supervision

A situation where a child is not adequately supervised by an adult responsible for their care, putting them at risk of harm, accident, or exploitation.

Operation Encompass

A system designed to ensure that schools are informed on a next-day basis if a child has been present during an incident of domestic abuse, allowing the school to provide support.

Parental Appearance

Parental Appearance: The physical presentation or state of a parent. While not a direct safeguarding concern, extreme dishevelment or signs of intoxication can indicate issues impacting their ability to care for a child.

Parental Conduct

The general behaviour and actions of a parent or guardian, particularly concerning their parenting style, disciplinary methods, or interactions with the child.

Parental Conduct - Step Parent

Specific concerns about the behaviour and actions of a step-parent, particularly related to their role in the child's life and interactions with the child.

Parental Conflict

Ongoing disagreements, arguments, or hostility between parents or caregivers, which can negatively impact a child's emotional well-being and development.

Parental Contact

Issues related to a parent's engagement with the child's school, services, or care providers, which can indicate disengagement or lack of support.

Parental Disengagement

A parent's lack of involvement or interest in their child's education, health, or overall well-being, which can contribute to neglect or other issues.

Parental Dispute

Disagreements or conflicts between parents or caregivers, which may or may not involve legal proceedings but can affect the child.

Parental Divorce/Separation

he breakdown of a parental relationship. While common, concerns arise regarding the impact on the child's well-being, stability, and ongoing care arrangements.

Parental Nonengagement

Similar to disengagement, specifically referring to a parent's refusal or consistent failure to participate in processes, meetings, or support offered by agencies.

Parenting Capacity/Concern

Worries about a parent's ability to provide adequate care, protection, and emotional support for their child due to various factors (e.g., mental health, substance misuse, learning difficulties).

Parent Wellbeing

The overall mental, physical, and emotional health of a parent or primary caregiver. Concerns arise when a parent's well-being is compromised to the extent that it affects their capacity to safely and effectively care for their child.

Physical Chastisement

The use of physical force by a parent or caregiver to punish a child (e.g., smacking, hitting). While legal within limits in some contexts, concerns arise when it constitutes abuse or causes injury.

Police Investigation - Family Member

A family member is subject to police inquiry, potentially indicating criminal activity or risk within the household that could affect the child.

Poor/Dangerous living conditions

A child's home environment being unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise unsuitable for living, posing risks to their health and well-being.

Private Fostering

An arrangement where a child under the age of 16 (or 18 if disabled) is cared for by someone who is not a close relative for 28 days or more. This requires specific notification and monitoring by local authorities to ensure the child's safety.

Refusal to Go Home

A child expressing an unwillingness or fear about returning to their home environment, which can indicate concerns about their safety, domestic abuse, or other issues within the home.

Sibling Abuse/Conflict

Instances of abuse or severe, ongoing conflict between siblings, which can involve physical, emotional, or sexual harm.

Temporary Accommodation

Short-term housing provided to individuals or families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, often indicating instability and potential vulnerability.

Unable to Contact Parent

Difficulty or inability to reach a parent or guardian when necessary, which can be a barrier to communication, assessment, and providing support, and may indicate disengagement or neglect.