Child Protection Flashcards
who is child safeguarding responsibility
All areas of medical practice (not just paediatrics)
All staff in the hospital
Students often have a special role
what does the children act in 1989 do
Defines abuse and neglect and states it is wrong to abuse or neglect a child or young person.
Defines a child as anyone until they reach their 18th birthday
Defines ‘Significant Harm’ as “ill treatment or the impairment of health or development…”
Defines ‘Significant Harm’ as the threshold for compulsory intervention in family life
who is a child
Defines a child as anyone until they reach their 18th birthday
what is significant harm
Defines ‘Significant Harm’ as “ill treatment or the impairment of health or development…”
what is the threshold for compulsory intervention in family life
Defines ‘Significant Harm’ as the threshold for compulsory intervention in family life
who are the two groups of children that are most likely to die at the hands of their carers
- vulnerable children and children in need
what is child protection
Child protection is the protection of children from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect
what is safeguarding
Safeguarding refers to the process of protecting children (and adults) to provide safe and effective care
what is vulnerable children
A vulnerable child is defined as being under the age of 18 years and currently at high risk of lacking adequate care and protection.
what is children in need (CIN)
CIN Plan is drawn up following a Single Assessment which identifies the child as having complex needs and where a coordinated response is needed in order that the child’s needs can be met.
What is looked after children (LAC or CLA)
Children who are cared for on a voluntary basis are ‘accommodated’ by the local authority. Both these groups are said to be ‘looked after children’ (LAC) or children in care or ‘children looked after’ (CLA) by the local authority.
What are children with a child protection plan
Every local authority us required by law to provide child protection plans for children who need special protection because they are at risk of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect
name some examples of vulnerable children
Disabled Chronic illness Looked after Children Known to CSC Private fostering Trafficked Children Lack of parental support and/or guidance Not in education Substance abuse
name some examples of vulnerable adults
- Drug and alcohol misuse
- Family violence (past & present) including abuse
- Homelessness, Poverty, Unemployment
- Non-compliance with professionals
- Physical & mental health issues
- Young & Lone parents
- Learning difficulties
what is the highest type of child abuse
- neglect at 41.9
- then emotional at 28.4
- multiple at 12.4
- physical at 12.2
- sexual at 5.1
when do children gain the right to consent
Children gain the automatic right to consent to medical treatment at the age of 16 years.
describe the rights of a child in regard to consent
- But cannot refuse lifesaving treatment below 18 years.
- Below 16 years, consent can be given either:
- By the child if they are Gillick competent
- By an adult with Parental Responsibility on behalf of the child.
Who can have parental responsibility
Family
- Child’s biological mother.
Child’s biological father, if:
- Parents are married at the time of the child’s birth.
- Father is named on the child’s birth certificate (after Dec 2003) – England & Wales only
- Father has applied for and been granted a parental responsibility order.
Other relatives (e.g. Grandparent) can also apply for a parenting responsibility order.
Who else can have parental responsibility
Local Authority
- If a child is subject to a Emergency Protection Order, Interim or Full Care Order then PR is shared with the family.
- Consent is normally obtained by agreement but if needed LA can apply for family to be over-ruled.
- If child is subject to Freeing Order then only LA has PR (until child is adopted)
Adoptive parents
what happens when carers and medical progression disagree
In a medical emergency:
- care should always be provided in the best interests of the child.
In a non-emergency but essential case:
- Consent is only required from a single parent.
- Care should proceed on that basis and is the responsibility of the disagreeing parent to seek judicial review if they choose.
In a completely elective case (e.g. cultural circumcision)
- Judicial review must be sought before proceeding with treatment.
If parents disagree with a Gillick competent child
- The child’s wishes should be respected (if the child is consenting to treatment) over the parents.
describe confidentiality and safeguarding to deal with children
- The primary duty of care is to the child, not to the parents
- The child’s right to protection over-rides the adult’s right to confidentiality
- The child’s needs must come first
- Reporting concerns is not ‘telling tales’ but upholding the rights of the child
what are the 4 categories of abuse
- physical
- emotional abuse
- neglect
- sexual abuse
What is physical absue
Hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.
Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child whom they are looking after. Known as fabricated or induced illness.
what are the risk factors for physical abuse
Unrelated adult male in the house
Single, young, unsupported parents
Mental health problems
Domestic violence
Drug and or alcohol Abuse
Previous parental police records
Disabled child
