Service Description: The Isle of Wight LSCB came into existence in 2006 when The Children Act 2004 made it clear that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and that Local Councils with their partners must establish a Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) by April 2006. The Isle of Wight Safeguarding Children Board brings together representatives of each of the main agencies and professionals responsible for helping to protect children from abuse and neglect. It is an inter-agency forum for agreeing how the different services and professional groups should co-operate to safeguard children across the Isle of Wight and, for making sure that arrangements work effectively in bringing about better outcomes for children.
Answer: • Children of all ages can be abused. • Child abuse can happen to children from any social background • Children who have learning difficulties, physical disabilities or sensory impairment (children without sight or hearing) are more likely to suffer abuse and they may find it even more difficult to tell someone if they are being abused. • Children are not always abused by a stranger. In fact experience shows that they are often abused by someone they or their family know, a relative, friend or trusted outsider. • Children may also be sexually, physically or emotionally abused by other children or young people in their family or outside.