ACPC

Area Child Protection Committee; see also LSCB

Bite mark

A mark made by teeth acting either alone or in combination with other mouth parts (eg lips or tongue) ³⁹

Child

Includes children and young people under the age of 18, and also includes vulnerable young people over 18

Children ‘in need’

Children who are unlikely to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development without the provision of services, plus those who are disabled

Child protection

Actions taken to protect children who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm; child protection forms a part of safeguarding children

CRB

Criminal Records Bureau; an executive agency of the Home Office set up to help employers identify candidates who may be unsuitable to work with children or other vulnerable people

Dental team

A group of dentists, dental care professionals (DCPs) and other staff who work together to provide oral health care services

Disclosure

‘to disclose’ or ‘make a disclosure’, these terms are used in three different ways in the context of safeguarding children; 1. when a child tells you directly that they have been abused; 2. when you share information with others; and 3. when you request a CRB disclosure when recruiting new staff

Fabricated or induced illness

When a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child; formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy; a form of physical abuse

Groom/grooming

When a potential abuser befriends a child with the intention of harming them

LSCB

Local Safeguarding Children Board; a multi-agency board responsible for developing local procedures and providing training; LSCBs replace Area Child Protection Committees (ACPCs) in 2006; social services work with the police, health services, education and probation services, with input from other agencies such as the NSPCC, domestic violence forum, youth services or armed services, backed up by contributions from many other groups of professionals

PCT

Primary care NHS trust

Policy

An officially agreed plan of what to do in specific situations

Procedures

A set of actions which is the official or accepted way of doing something

Safeguarding

Measures taken to minimise the risks of harm to children; this includes protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of their health or development, and ensuring that children grow up in a safe and caring environment

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