Child Protection Flashcards
What is child abuse?
Any action by another person (adult or child) that causes significant harm to a child
What is significant harm?
A threshold of harm where it is deemed appropriate for local authority to intervene into a family’s life
What are the 4 main categories of abuse?
Physical abuse
Neglect
Sexual abuse
Emotional abuse
In Scotland, it is now illegal to physically punish a child. T/F
True
This is not the case in the rest of the UK
Why are children at risk of abuse? (5)
They are…
- Small and vulnerable
- Dependent on adults for everyday needs
- Unable to tell others what is going on e.g., non-verbal
- Don’t know the act of abuse is wrong
- Don’t know who or where to go to for help
What is child protection?
The process of protecting children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm as a result of abuse/neglect
What is an IRD meeting?
Interagency/Initial Referral Discussions:
A discussion between two or more services when it has been reported or suspected that a young person has suffered, is suffering, or is at risk of suffering significant harm
Who can be involved in an IRD meeting?
- Police
- Social workers
- Education e.g., nursery staff, teachers
- Healthcare e.g., doctors, health visitor
When an IRD is arranged, it is considered whether the child requires a safety plan. What is a safety plan?
A plan to protect a child from an immediate source of significant harm
What usually occurs after an IRD?
Police and social workers carry out a joint investigative interview (JII) of the child
What is a child protection case conference (CPCC)?
A meeting to determine whether a child’s name needs to be put on the Child Protection register due to significant concerns
What happens once a child is put on the Child Protection register?
The child is seen by a social worker on a regular basis
Child protection case conferences occur every 3 months to re-assess the situation
Although most families engage with social workers, what happens if a family refuses to co-operate?
Legal orders can be accessed
List 3 legal orders which can be accessed if parents refuse to co-operate with social work
- Police emergency powers
- Child protection order granted by a sheriff
- An order can be obtained through the Children’s Reporter
What is the doctor’s role in this process of child protection?
- Raise concern if they think a child is being abused, a caregiver needs extra support etc.
- Keep detailed records that could be used in investigations if required
- Examination of children who are suspected to have been abused
- Give statements to police investigations/provide evidence in court
