Child Protection Flashcards
Who is responsible for child protection?
Child protection is the role of everyone; social workers; parents; extended family; public and professionals.
What is an Intragency Referal Discussion?
This is an initial referral discussion that occurs when the MDT discusses if there is a specific event that occurs to a child or an accumulation of events. It is a professionals meeting – parents are not involved e.g. teenage behaviours, mental health concerns; physical abuse; FGM; sexual abuse. Therefore it may be help for a specific child or for a wider public health concern. The priority is a safety plan – this should be in place before an IRD.
What is a saftey plan?
If there is a specific person or party causing harm to a child, then they should be protected from that person. This may involve being placed in care or with another family member.
What is the definition of harm?
Ill treatment or the impairment of the health or development of the child
What is a Joint Investigative Interview?
This is when a child is interviewed by professionals. The aim is that JII statements can be used as Evidence in Chief and contribute to the range of improvements being made to remove the need for children to give evidence in court and so reduce the potential of further trauma for child victims and witnesses.
What factors can healthcare professionals consider when deciding whether to discharge a child?
Who is the child being discharged with?
Is the child safe to be discharged to their own home?
What necessary supports should be put in place?
If it is deemed unsafe for the child to return home, what is the plan?
What are the agreed contact arrangements between eh child and the parents?
What is a Child Protection Case Conference?
This is a meeting to determine whether a child’s name needs to be placed on the child protection register. This situation should be constantly reassessed.
What are statutory orders?
If a family refuse to co-operate with social work and concerns are significant, we can seek statutory orders. Statutory measures include Police emergency powers which last 24 hours.
What are the four main categories of child abuse?
Physical Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Neglect
What may need to be contained in a doctors statement to police?
Dates and times
Family composition
What did you see of the injury?
Were the parents intoxicated?
What hospital records may need to be considered when deciding if a child is at risk of harm?
Red Book – medical records for younger children
Medical notes – e.g. why a child was admitted to hospital
Pre-hospital blood samples
Any photography – GPs camera; CCTV
