The Impact of a Parent’s/Carer’s Physical and Mental Health or Domestic Violence on Child Wellbeing

To grown up happy and safe, children need parents or carers who love, protect and care for them in a stable, safe and secure home. Physical care and daily routines are important for development so anything that upsets routines can be unhelpful. If a parent or carer’s physical or mental health is poor this could be a risk to the wellbeing of their child. It may increase their vulnerability or slow their development. It is important to remember that a parent/carer’s health might affect their ability to safeguard but it definitely does not mean that it will.

Examples of possible harm are:

• A parent/carer with mental health issues might feel unable to build attachments with their child, possibly causing emotional harm; or the child might be forced into decision making that they are not ready for.
• A child with a parent/carer who is blind or deaf may be at increased risk of physical harm as they might not fully be able to judge dangerous situations.

The Impact on Children who are Witness to Domestic Violence

Seeing or hearing acts of domestic violence can have a similar effect on children as being emotionally abused. Apart from children feeling a sense of helplessness, they may not feel safe. Research suggests:

• that there is a high likelihood that aggression could turn towards any child/children present in a situation where domestic violence is occurring.
• that the stress of experiencing violence at home can impair the brain development of babies.

Domestic violence is a risk to a child’s physical, emotional and social development.

Use to answer question 11.2 I & ii of the Care Certificate