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Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

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3.17 Criminal Injuries Compensation For <strong>Child</strong>ren Who Have Been Abused.<br />

3.17.1 Introduction<br />

The following is a summary of key areas relevant to applications for<br />

Criminal injuries compensation for children who have been abused.<br />

Further comprehensive guidance is available within your local<br />

authority. Reference can also be made to Criminal Injuries<br />

Compensation: A Guide for Social Workers (1997) by Paul Brown,<br />

Legal Services Agency.<br />

3.17.2 Eligibility<br />

3.17.1.1 Criminal injuries compensation gives a clear message to<br />

children and young people that:<br />

♦ They were not responsible for the abuse which they<br />

suffered<br />

♦ What happened to them was wrong<br />

♦ Society acknowledges this through awarding<br />

compensation<br />

3.17.1.2 This serves to enhance the important messages given to<br />

children and young people by social work staff. While<br />

financial recompense can never fully compensate for the<br />

abuse suffered by many children, it can bring important<br />

material assistance at key stages in their lives.<br />

3.17.1.3 <strong>Child</strong>ren and young people who are the victims of crimes<br />

of violence require special consideration because of the<br />

exploitative dynamics of child abuse. It can be argued that<br />

inadequate attention has been devoted to the needs of<br />

children with regard to criminal injuries compensation.<br />

Professionals should strive to ensure that all claims on<br />

behalf of children and young people are comprehensive<br />

and contain sufficient information for the Criminal Injuries<br />

Compensation Authority to consider making as full an<br />

award as possible.<br />

3.17.2.1 <strong>Child</strong>ren who have been the subject of significant harm<br />

within or outside the family may be eligible for criminal<br />

injuries compensation. Other children or non-abusing<br />

adults who have a relationship of love and affection with<br />

the abused child may also be eligible for compensation if<br />

they are secondary victims, i.e. they witnessed the abuse<br />

or suffered trauma in the immediate aftermath. Mothers<br />

who suffer the shock of discovering that their child has<br />

been abused may be eligible for compensation.<br />

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