Identifying Emotional and Psychological Abuse: A Guide for Childcare Professionals

Acknowledgements
Tables

Part one: Understanding emotional and psychological abuse
Reflections on Victoria Climbié and Sally Clark: Two cases, two verdicts, same problem
Ethical and legal frameworks
The challenge of definitions
Emotional and psychological development: Emotional and psychological abuse

Part two: Observing and identifying normal development and abuse
Infants and infancy: The first twelve months
Infants II: 12-24 months
Two-to-three year olds
Three-to-four year olds
Four-to-five year olds
Five-to-twelve year olds
Adolescents

Part three: Practice realities and limitations
Aaron and Grace: A case study
Implementing childcare law: Training and management responsibilities

Epilogue
References
Index

The principal objectives of this book are to enable childcare workers to understand and deal more effectively with cases of emotional and psychological abuse. The concepts of emotional development, emotional abuse, psychological development, and psychological abuse are fully explored and clearly defined, within the contexts of:

• Existing literature and research
• Childcare legislation and practice
• Child abuse enquiry reports, in particular that of Victoria Climbié

The book identifies emotional and psychological development and abuse in specific age categories, 0-4, 5-12, and adolescence. Case studies and vignettes are used to highlight normal development and abusive situations. Comprehensive frameworks which are easily applicable to current practice, are provided, enabling workers to observe and accurately assess the quality of emotional and psychological life of children.

Identifying Emotional and Psychological Abuse is key reading for health and social care professionals, as well as students with an interest in child protection.