Annex 1 - Families with Higher Possibility of Child Maltreatment

Aug 31, 2026

Annex 1 outlines how professionals identify families with a higher likelihood of child maltreatment at an early stage. It lists common risk characteristics across parents/carers, children, and the family context, including past or ongoing violence, mental health concerns, substance abuse, harsh discipline beliefs, parenting inadequacy, children’s caring and behavioral difficulties, and family crises such as unemployment or marital conflict. The guidance supports timely, appropriate support aimed at preventing harm from continuing or worsening.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatDOCX

Pages180

Reading Time1 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Annex 1: Families with Higher Possibility of Child Maltreatment

Parents/Carers

Children

Family

Table of Content TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230734" Annex 1: Families with Higher Possibility of Child Maltreatment PAGEREF _Toc36230734 \h 4 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230735" Annex 2: Information Sharing and Confidentiality PAGEREF _Toc36230735 \h 7 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230736" Annex 3: Ordinances on Criminal Offences Related to Child Maltreatment PAGEREF _Toc36230736 \h 15 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230737" Annex 4: Roles of Social Service Units PAGEREF _Toc36230737 \h 18 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230738" Annex 5: Definition of Known Cases to Welfare Organisations PAGEREF _Toc36230738 \h 25 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230739" Annex 6: Roles of Clinics under Department of Health PAGEREF _Toc36230739 \h 28 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230740" Annex 7: Roles of Hospitals/Out-patient Clinics of the Hospital Authority PAGEREF _Toc36230740 \h 32 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230741" Annex 8: Roles of Child Psychiatry Service of the Hospital Authority PAGEREF _Toc36230741 \h 42 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230742" Annex 9: Roles of Clinical Psychological Service PAGEREF _Toc36230742 \h 46 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230743" Annex 10: Role of Educational Services PAGEREF _Toc36230743 \h 50 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230744" Annex 11: Points to Note on Initial Contact with Children Who may have been Harmed/Maltreated or Their Parents PAGEREF _Toc36230744 \h 56 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230745" Annex 12: Points to Note on Contacting Children Suspected to be Sexually Abused PAGEREF _Toc36230745 \h 63 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230746" Annex 13: Guidance Notes on Reporting Suspected Sexual Abuse PAGEREF _Toc36230746 \h 65 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230747" Annex 14: Information Sheet on Child Protection Registry PAGEREF _Toc36230747 \h 69 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230748" Annex 15: Ordinances Related to Child Protection Work PAGEREF _Toc36230748 \h 99 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230749" Annex 16: Family Assessment Risk Variables PAGEREF _Toc36230749 \h 111 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230750" Annex 17: Signs of Safety® Assessment and Planning Framework PAGEREF _Toc36230750 \h 133 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230751" Annex 18: Assessment Framework PAGEREF _Toc36230751 \h 134 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230752" Annex 19: Reference Kit for Chairperson of Multi-disciplinary Case Conference on Protection of Child with Suspected Maltreatment PAGEREF _Toc36230752 \h 140 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230753" Annex 20: Witness Support Service for Child Witnesses PAGEREF _Toc36230753 \h 171 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc36230754" Annex 21: Counselling/Therapeutic Treatment before Court Hearing and after Maltreatment PAGEREF _Toc36230754 \h 173 Annex 1: Families with Higher Possibility of Child Maltreatment Professionals with opportunities of contact with children and their families should identify families with higher possibility of child maltreatment as soon as possible to provide them with appropriate and substantial support, and gradually enhance the families’ capability for child care and parenting, with a view to preventing the problem from continuing or worsening. The following characteristics are often found in families with higher possibility of child maltreatment. Professionals in contact with these families are advised to be vigilant and explore the families’ conditions in order to identify their needs at an early stage and provide assistance for prevention of child maltreatment. Parents/Carers Personal background/experiences History of maltreatment during childhood History of unhappy childhood or having been abandoned; serious deprivation (including such aspects as daily care and emotions) History of/experiencing domestic or other violence(s) Lower intelligence Chronic illness to a serious extent that affect one’s own daily life Past/current history of mental/emotional illness, and history of suicidal attempt(s) Alcohol/drug abuse or other indulgent behaviours (e.g. sexual promiscuity, gambling,

FAQs

What is the purpose of Annex 1 for professionals working with children and families?

It helps professionals identify families with a higher possibility of child maltreatment as soon as possible, so they can provide appropriate and substantial support and prevent the problem from continuing or worsening.

Which risk characteristics are commonly found in parents or carers?

Common indicators include histories of maltreatment or unhappy/abandoned childhood, domestic or other violence, lower intelligence, serious chronic illness, mental/emotional illness and suicidal attempts, substance abuse, rigid or harsh discipline beliefs, low self-esteem, poor stress tolerance, and resistance to external assistance.

What family and child factors suggest a higher likelihood of child maltreatment?

Indicators include unwanted children, infants/toddlers with significant caring difficulties, early separation from parents, inconsistent parenting by caregivers, chronic illness or disabilities, frequent disrespectful or improper behaviors, and family crises or prolonged complicated problems such as unemployment, financial hardship, eviction, or serious marital conflict.

Aug 31, 2026

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