Child protection/safeguarding Flashcards
What are the different types of suspicious presentation?
- The unsuitable explanation
- Repeated A&E attendance
- Late presentation
- Child frightened/withdrawn
What is the ‘unsuitable’ explanation?
One that is IMPLAUSIBLE, INADEQUATE or INCONSISTENT between:
a) The child’s presentation or
b) The parents/carers or
c) Accounts over time
What is a Section 46?
Police Protection Order
What is the most immediate form of protection without reference to the courts?
Police Protection Order (Section 46)
What are the characteristics of a Police Protection Order?
Most immediate form of protection without reference to the courts
Lasts 72 hours
What is a Section 47 investigation?
When social care accepts the referral
What is a Section 44?
Emergency Protection Order
What are the characteristics of an Emergency Protection Order?
Social worker applies to court, last 7 days
Enables a social worker to gain parental responsibility where neccessary
What is a Section 38?
Interim Care Order
How long does an Interim Care Order last?
8 weeks
What is a Section 31?
Full Care Order
How long does a Full Care Order last?
Until the child is 18y/o
What are the injury types for which you should have a low threshold of suspicion?
- Thermal injuries/burns
- Bites
- Bruising/lacerations
- Fractures
- Head injuries
- Retinal haemorrhages
- Torn frenulum
Features of concerning burns:
- In shape of an implement - e.g. cigarette/iron
2. Glove and stocking distribution/symmetrical/sharp demarcation - ?forced immersion
Features of concerning bites:
- Adult-size jaw
Features of concerning bruising/laceration
- Bruising in shape of an object/hand
- Multiple bruises/clustering brusises
- Bruising in a child that is not independently mobile
- Bruises on non-bony parts, e.g. buttocks
- Bruises on areas usually covered by clohing
- Lacerations on face
What are the most common fractures of child abuse?
- Radial
- Humeral
- Femoral
Why might a torn frenulum be suspicious?
A bottle being forced into an infant’s mouth
Features of concerning fractures:
- Single, unexplained long-bone fractures - 80% of femur fractures are intentional
- Limb fracture in infant <1y/o
- Multiple fractures w/out pre-disposing conditions
- Scapula/sternal/pelvic fractures
- XR showing occult fractures/fractures of different ages
Features of non-intentional head injury:
- Single/linear
- Parietal
- No intracranial haemorrhage
Features of intentional head injury:
- Wide/complex/bilateral
- Cross sutures lines
- Associated intracranial haemorrhage
What conditions can predispose to a childhood fracture?
- Osteopenia
2. Osteogenesis
What are the physical signs of sexual abuse?
- Recurrent/persistant vulvovaginitis
- Recurrent UTI
- Recurrent abdo pain
- Faecal soiling/enuresis resistant to treatment
- Bizarre gait disturbance
What are the behavioural signs of sexual abuse?
- Sexualised play
- Sudden change in school performance
- Self-harm
- Running away
- Eating disorders/pervasive refusal
What are the signs of possible sexual exploitation?
- Missing day/night
- Relationship with controlling adult
- Entering/leaving vehicles driven by unknown adult
- Unexplained contact with hotels/taxi companies/fast food outlets
What is neglect?
Persistent failure to meet the child’s basic needs, resulting in impairment of their health/development
What are the possible signs of neglect?
- Growth faltering
- Little/no food in lunch box
- Left unattended/unsupervised
- Human/animal excrement in home
- Unmet medical needs
- Severe dental caries
- Non-attendance at school
- Change in behavioural/emotional state
