CPAI Child Protection Guidelines

Question 1

CPP policy and CYF

Whats the age cut-off for CPP involvement?

Answer 1

The ‘Child protection investigation policy and proceedures’ apply to all cases where the victim is under the age of 17 at the time of making the complaint

Question 2

Acute child abuse

Define

Answer 2

Child abuse occurring less than 7 days before it was reported

Question 3

**Child abuse **

Define

Answer 3

• Physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological abuse
• Neglect
• Witness to serious crime or to FV
• Presence of unsafe environments
• Cyber-crime exploitation
• Child trafficing

Question 4

CYF timeframes

Define the three categories of priority

Answer 4

Critical - Immediate risk of serious harm and the need for immediate protection may be needed

Very Urgent - At risk of harm but not in any immediate danger

Urgent - At risk of harm but protected in the short term

Question 5

**IJIP - Initial Joint Investigation Plan **

Who are the parties and what is decided ?

Answer 5

Agreement is between CYF and Police

Decides

• Who is involved in the case
• What they will do
• When they will do it by

Question 6

Non-acute child abuse

Define

Answer 6

Child abuse reported 7 days or later from the abuse occurring

Question 7

**Serious Child Abuse **

What constitutes Serious Child Abuse

Answer 7

Serious child abuse includes but is not limited to:

• sexual abuse
• serious physical abuse (see Determining seriousness of physical abuse below)
• serious wilful neglect
• serious family violence where the child is a witness
• all allegations against CYFCYF approved caregivers that involve serious child abuse
• all allegations against employees of CYFCYF and NZ Police that involve serious child abuse.

Question 8

Determining seriousness of Physical Abuse

There are three areas to consider…

Answer 8

There are three 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).

Question 9

**Determining seriousness of physical abuse **

Action / Injury / Circumstances

What Actions will meet the CPP threshold

Answer 9

Any single one of these actions (i.e. methodology, how it was done) 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 (e.g. broom, belt, bat etc)
• Attempted drowning.

Question 10

**Determining seriousness of physical abuse **

Action / Injury / Circumstances

What Injuries will meet the CPP threshold?

Answer 10

Any single one of these injuries (i.e. outcome or result) will meet 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

Question 11

Three Key Steps

What are they and when do they happen

Answer 11

If the case in confirmed as CPP the following three steps must occur:

1. Referral to CYFS
2. Consultation to determine action
3. Agreement on an IJIP