Child Protection Flashcards
Explain the consultation and initial Joint Investigation Planning with CYF.
Review the accuracy and quality of info provided in the referral and any initial action thats already undertaken.
Make an initial assessment of the seriousness of the case.
Shared connected info or intelligence relating to the case
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Jointly confirm whether the case is one of serious child abuse (a CPP case) and agree on any immediate actions that need to be taken
If the case is confirmed as a CPP case, an initial joint investigation plan (IJIP) must be agreed between the CYF and Police CPP contacts.
The nationally mandated template for the plan must be completed by CYF and provided to Police as soon as possible for attaching to the case in NIA
ROC → Consulation → CPP case? → Agreement to a Joint investigation must be completed:
CRITICAL or VERY URGENT - within 24hrs
URGENT - Within 2 full working days.
In all cases, necessary steps must be put in place immediately to secure the child’s safety.
DEFINITIONS
- Child
- Serious Child Abuse
- Determining the seriousness of physical abuse
CHILD
Unless specified, ‘child’ means any child or young person under the age of 17 years at the time of the report
SERIOUS CHILD ABUSE
Serious child abuse includes but is not limited to:
· sexual abuse
· serious physical abuse
· serious wilful neglect
· serious family violence where the child is a witness
· all allegations against CYF approved caregivers that involve serious child abuse
· all allegations against employees of CYF and NZ Police that involve serious child abuse.
DETERMINING THE SERIOUSNESS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE
There are 3 areas to consider when determining whether physical abuse is serious and therefore meets the threshold for referral as a CPP case under the protocol:
· the action of the abuse
· the injury inflicted, and
· the circumstances (factors of the case).
Explain the 3 areas to consider when determining whether physical abuse is serious:
- The ACTION of the abuse
- The INJURY inflicted and
- The CIRCUMSTANCES
1. Actions Any single one of these actions will meet the threshold for serious physical abuse: · blow or kick to head · shaking of an infant · strangulation · use of an object as a weapon · attempted drowning.
INJURIES
Any single one of these injuries the threshold for serious physical abuse:
· death
· a bone fracture
· burn
· concussion or loss of consciousness
· any injury that requires medical attention (e.g. a wound that needs stitches etc)
· any bruising or abrasion when the:
- child is very young, e.g. infant not yet mobile and/or,
- the position and patterning make it unlikely to be caused by play or another child or accident.
CIRCUMSTANCES or FACTORS OF THE CASE
- The vulnerability of the child = s history and background
- Location of the incident
- Nature and level of concern from the notifier
INITIAL ACTION AND SAFETY ASSESSMENT
- Explain what you should do during the Initial action and safety assessment.
- When should you speak to a child?
Obtain brief details of what the ROC is about to enable a risk assessment to be completed to determine the appropriate initial response. This should include:
· personal details of the informant, complainant and/or the child
· brief circumstances of concern/complaint
· brief details of timings and about the scene
· offender’s details.
DO NOT QUESTIONS THE CHILD IN DEPTH AT THIS STAGE
· If the child has disclosed to an adult, take this person’s details and use what they say to form the basis of information for the notification.
- DO NOT ask the child again what has happened to them if a clear disclosure has already been made and an adult present can give you the information.
- If it is unclear what the child has said and:
- there are no urgent safety issues, DO NOT question the child any further.
Take details from the informant and forward necessary correspondence for enquiries to be made .
If ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY - open questions and as soon as disclosure made - stop asking questions.
Explain what you do in NIA - the NIA code?
- Record details of the case in NIA.
- Regardless of any other offence/response code used, Code 6C must be entered in NIA to indicate that the attendance related to a report of concern about a child.
- Complete a POLPOL 1310 when child abuse occurs within the family environment.
What do you agree on in a JIP?
Joint Investigation Plans must agree to:
· who is involved in the case
· what they will do
· when they will do it.
IT MUST ALSO CONSIDER
· the child’s safety and well being
· any joint visits required
· the management of the child victim’s initial interview including consideration of any ethnicity needs
· the need for a specialist child witness interview, interviews of alleged offender and others including protective parent or caregiver or parent
· collection of evidence
· referral to a medical practitioner.
What are the options for removing a child?
Remove a child when:
· it is NOT SAFE TO LEAVE THEM THERE or you believe, on reasonable grounds that if left, they will suffer, or are likely to suffer, ill treatment, neglect, deprivation, abuse or harm, AND
· there is no other practical means of ensuring their safety.
What is serious child abuse?
- Sexual abuse
- Serious physical abuse
- Serious Wilful Neglect
- Serious Family Violence where the child is a witness
- All allegations against CYF approved caregivers that involve serious child abuse
- All allegations against employees of CYF and the Police that involve serious child abuse
Determing seriousness of Physical Abuse.
What are the 3 areas to consider whether physical abuse is serious?
- The ACTION of the abuse
- The INJURY INFLICTED and
- The CIRCUMSTANCES (factors in the case)
INITIAL ACTIONS AND SAFETY ASSESSMENT
When do you speak to a child?
In every case the priority is to ensure the child’s immediate safety. You should also ensure that your local CPP contact is notified as soon as practicable.
When do you NOT QUESTION the child?
- If the child has disclosed either sexual or physical assaults to an ADULT, take details of this person and use what they say to you to form the basis of info for the notification.
- DO NOT ASK them again if a clear disclosure already made and an adult present
- If it is UNCLEAR and
- there are NO URGENT SAFETY ISSUES do not question the child any further
- it is absolutely necessary to speak to the child to ASCERTAIN THEIR SAFETY as open ended questions
- When speaking with a child and it becomes clear that an offence has occurred DO NOT continue to question them
Timeframes
IMMEDIATELY IN CRITICAL or VERY URGENT CASES - within 24hours
URGENT CASES - Within 2 working days
Definition
- Critical
- Very urgent
- Urgent
CRITICAL
Critical means the CYP is in immediate risk of SERIOUS HARM and the need for IMMEDIATE PROTECTION MAY BE NECESSARY
VERY URGENT
The CYP is a RISK OF HARM but is not in any immediate danger
URGENT
The CYP is at risk of harm but protected in the short term.
