An Introduction to Child Protection and Dental Neglect Flashcards
Define child abuse
The physical, sexual, or emotional mistreatment or neglect of a child
A child
Person under the age of 18 years
What does the GDC expect?
Be aware of procedures to raise concern
Have knowledge of who to contact
How to refer to the appropriate authority
Child protection is…
Everyone’s responsibility
A shared responsibility
Responsibility of every member of the dental team
What is the current NI leglislation regarding child care?
The Children (NI) Order 1995
Addressing Bullying in Schools Act (NI) 2016
Children’s Services Co-operation Act (NI) 2015
Safeguarding Board Act (NI) 2011
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order
2007
Criminal Law Act (NI) 1967
Legislation about criminal offences of abuse and
neglect
POCVA (NI) 2003
What does the ‘child protection and the dental team’ documentation do
Responsibility
Recognising
Responding
Reorganising
Resources
Children and the young people’s charter?
The right to respect
The right to information about yourself
The right to be protected from harm
The right to have a say in your life
The right to have a good start in life
The right to be and feel secure
Victoria Adjo Climbie
Died 25/02/2000
Jan 2003
8 years old
Suffered months of appalling ill treatment from her Great aunt and John Manning, who received life sentences
Victoria Adjo Climbie
Died 25/02/2000
Jan 2003
Publication of Lamming Report containing 108 recommendation s covering accountability and good practice
What was the outcome of the Lamming report?
Do the simple things better-
Professionals should have
A responsibility to work together
Should never do nothing
Confidentiality doesn’t apply
Training and education if contact with children is a regular feature of work
Who abuses?
Families
Institutions and community settings
People known to them
Or rarely by strangers
Who are more vulnerable to abuse
Younger children
- under 5
- Infants under 1
- Pre-term babies
Children with disabilities/learning difficulties
A ‘difficult’ or ‘demanding’ baby
Children living away from home
Children who are/were on the child register
Other vulnerable groups include
Homeless families
Travelling families
Refugees and asylum seekers
Children of parents with chronic health or mental health needs
Types of abuse
Physical injury
Emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Physical neglect
Combination
Physical injury accidental
Head, forehead, nose, chin, elbows, palm, knees and shins
Physical injury non accidental
Ears, triangle of safety, inner aspects of arms, side of trunk (esp over boney spine)
Sides of feet, inner aspect of thighs, groin or genital
Chest, abdomen, forearms (when raised to protect)
Intra-oral
Soft tissues of cheeks
Black eyes, especially if bilaterally
What to remember with accidental injuries
Involve boney premices
Match the history
Are in keeping with the development of the child
What to remember with non-accidental injuries
Injuries to both sides of the body
Injuries to soft tissue
Injuries with particular patterns
An injury that doesn’t fit the explanation
Delays in presentation
Untreated injuries
3 signs of abuse to the face that the dentist could pick up on
Slap marks
Torn frenum
Bruising to both sides of the ear
What is the definition of physical abuse
May involve hitting, shaking, throwing,
poisoning, burning or
scalding, drowning,
suffocation or otherwise causing physical harm to the child
Also includes fabricated or induced illnesses
How to recognise physical abuse
Bruising, abrasions, lacerations, burns, bite
marks, eye injuries, bone
fractures, intra-oral injuries
site, size, patterns
delay in presentation
does not fit the explanation given
Prevalence of abuse in NI
Physical
N. Ireland DHSSPS, June 2017
Number of children on child protection register in NI
And percentage of total
694
33.7 percent
Emotional?
182
8.8 percent
Sexual?
132
6.4 percent