Risk of abuse or neglect may be the consequence of one concern or a result of cumulative factors. Harm is defined as ill treatment; this includes sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse and psychological abuse.

“ Harm includes ill treatment (including sexual abuse, exploitation and forms of ill treatment which are not physical); the impairment of health (physical or mental) or development (physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural); self-harm and neglect; unlawful conduct which adversely affects a person’s property, rights or interests (for example financial abuse).”

Harm is an action which adversely affects an individual’s property, rights or interests. There are many different actions which constitute harm. Here are a few of those actions: Ill treatment such as sexual abuse or exploitation The impairment of health or development such as an individual’s mental health Self-harm and neglect Unlawful conduct