4 - Safeguarding Flashcards
What are some signs that a child may be being abused or neglected?
- Children who are concerned for younger siblings without explaining why
- Children who talk about running away
- Children who shy away from being touched or flinch at sudden movements
- Bed wetting
What is physical abuse and some signs of this in children?
- Physically hurting a child, e.g shaking, biting, poisoning, fabricating illness
- Happens more often in toxic triad families and families with disabled children
What is emotional abuse and some signs of this in children?
Persistent emotional maltreatment of a child, e.g telling a child they are unloved and worthless, not giving the child opportunities or making fun of them
Online bullying can also be classed as emotional abuse
What is sexual abuse and some signs of this in children?
Any sexual activity with a child, e.g rape, maturbation, kissing, sexul images, making them watch sexual activity
Many children do not identify themselves as victims
What is sexual exploitation and some signs of this in children?
Form of sexual abuse where children are sexually exploited for money, power or status
What is neglect and some signs of this in children?
Failing to provide a child’s basic needs, e.g food, clothing, hygeine, supervision, shelter.
This is likely to impair the childs health and development
What are the key steps to identifying and responding to possible abuse and/or neglect?
- If a child is in immediate danger you should refer to the police or social care after gathering the facts, whilst recording all information and your concerns
- Try to speak to the child alone and make it clear you cannot keep complete confidentiality
What is the structure of the safeguarding team in a GP surgery?
- Named doctor, nurse, and midwife if available for safeguatding
- Should also be a deputy lead
- GPs should be giving regular training
What happens after a referral has been make to children’s social care?
- Social worker will respond withing one working day with their action plan
- You may be asked to take part in a early help assessment through a children in need assessment, or a child protection enquiry
- If the social worker thinks the child is suffering the local authority will hold a strategy discussion
- If concerns are proven then an initial child protection conference will take place to make decisions about the child’s future safety
- Conference will decide the core group of practioners and family members who will develop and implement the child protection plan. The group have to meet within 10 working days of the conference
How to do an assessment on a child for possible abuse as a healthcare worker?
- Observe child including their relationship with parents/carers
- Communicate directly with the child without their parent present with parental consent
- Explore in a non leading way
- Adress both strengths and weaknesses with parents, carers and wider family
- Focus attention on male and female carers equally
- Gather information about significant people in the child’s care environment e.g siblings, friends
If you think parents could be at risk of abusing their child in the future what can you do?
- Weekly home visiting programme lasting for at least 6 months
- Consider a parenting programme for 12 weeks, triple p programme if mother has anger difficulties
What are the 10 steps to making a child safeguarding referral?
As a GP what should you offer to a child that has been sexually abused?
- If they show symptoms of anxiety, sexualised behaviour or PTSD offer them over 12 to 16 sessions of trauma focused CBT
- Provide separate CBT for the non-abusing parent/carer
What is the common assessment framework triangle?
Useful to use when practitioners are filling out a safeguarding referral form
What are all of the safeguarding laws in place for children?