Behaviour that can cause emotional or psychological harm to a child

The behaviour must cause emotional or psychological harm that is ‘significant’. This is discussed below. Signs that a child may have been emotionally or psychologically harmed may include:

• patterns of out-of-character behaviour
• regression in behaviour
• distress and anxious behaviours
• other physical symptoms, such as self-harm.

Emotional or psychological harm may also occur where an existing mental health disorder has been exacerbated or aggravated.

A professional psychological or medical assessment of the child may assist to determine whether a child has suffered emotional or psychological harm. 

However, a clinical diagnosis will not be required in every case – if, for example:

• the alleged conduct is so serious and/or occurred over such a sustained period, that it can be reasonably inferred that the child has been harmed; and/or:
• requiring a child to be assessed may unreasonably re-traumatise or otherwise further harm the child.

It is also important to stress that there must be a clear link between the emotional or psychological harm and the alleged conduct. In deciding if there is a clear link, organisations should consider the likelihood that the child would have been harmed, if the alleged conduct had not occurred.

Examples of emotional or psychological harm may include: 

• exposure to violence or threats of violence
• self-destructive behaviour
• antisocial behaviour
• persistent hostility/rejection
• humiliation/belittling
• scapegoating.

It will not be reportable conduct if:

• a person takes reasonable steps to protect a child from immediate harm
• a person with responsibility for discipline takes lawful and reasonable disciplinary action, such sending a child to sit in ‘time out’ for a period of time, in line with organisational policy
• an appropriately qualified person gives medical treatment in good faith, such as a senior first aid officer administering first aid.