32. Physical abuse: a form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

The fabrication or induction of illness (FII) in children is a relatively rare form of child abuse. Where concerns exist about FII, it requires professionals to work together, evaluating all the available evidence, in order to reach an understanding of the reasons for the child’s signs and symptoms of illness. At all times professionals need to keep an open mind to ensure that they have not missed a vital piece of information’. We adopt the guidance Safeguarding children in whom illness is fabricated or induced and TWSP FII Best Practice Guidance.