Safeguarding Children Flashcards
What is child protection?
Activity undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are at risk of suffering from significant harm.
Who are the “children in need”?
Those who require additional support or services to achieve their full potential.
What are the 3 main measures taken to safe guard children?
- Protecting children from maltreatment
- Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
- Ensuring that children are growing up in a safe and caring environment.
What is child abuse and neglect?
Anything which those entrusted with the care of children do, or fail to do, which damages their prospects of safe and healthy development into adulthood.
What 3 elements all must be present in child abuse?
Significant harm to the child
Carer has some responsibility for that harm
Significant connection between carer’s responsibility for child and harm to child.
What is the children’s and young people’s act 2014?
It has 4 major themes- children’s rights, getting it right for every child, early learning and childcare and “looked after” children.
What are 4 contributing factors of child abuse?
Adult, child, community/environmental and family violence/dysfunctional family.
What are the big 3 concerns for parenting capacity?
Domestic violence
Drug/alcohol misuse
Mental health problems.
What are the 5 child abuse categories?
Physical Emotional Neglect Sexual Non-organic failure to survive.
What children are classed as vulnerable?
Under 5’s
Irregular attenders
Medical problems and disabilities.
How many visits should a child get from a health visitor/nurse during the first couple years of life?
11 home visits to all families (8 within the first year of life and 3 child health reviews between 4-5 years).
What is neglect?
Neglect is a signifiant and under-recognised problem which affects the wellbeing of many children; agencies and their staff need additional professional support in the assessment and intervention with such children and young people. Acentre for children’s wellbeing should include a focus on research and on developing a range of interventions that will be effective.
What are some effects of neglect on a child?
Failure to thrive Inappropriate clothing Ingrained dirt Dental caries Withdrawn or attention seeking behaviour.
What are examples of short and long term damage to a child from neglect?
Short= physical, emotional, social and cognitive development.
Long= arrest, suicide attempts, major depression, diabetes and heart disease.
What is the definition of dental neglect
The persistant failure to meet a child’s basic oral health needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of a child’s oral or general health or development.
What can severe dental disease do to a child that is neglected?
Toothache
Disturbed sleep
Difficulty eating/change in food preferences
Absence from school.
Dental disease may put a child at risk of…
Teasing due to poor dental appearance
Repeated antibiotics
Repeated general aesthetic extractions
Severe infection.
What are indicators of dental neglect?
Obvious dental disease Impact on the child Practical care has been offered but the child has not returned for treatment Repeated GA for dental extractions Irregular attendance.
What are the three stages of managing dental neglect?
Preventative dental team management
Preventative multi-agency management
Child protection referral.
What happens during stage 1 of managing dental neglect?
Raise concerns with parents, offer support set targets, keep records and monitor progress.
What happens during stage 2 of managing dental neglect?
Liase with other health professionals
A child may be the subject of a CAF (common assessment framework) at this level
Check if child is subject to a child protection plan
Agree joint plan of action, review at agreed intervals
Letter to HV of children under 5 who fail appointments and have failed to respond to letter from dental practice.
What happens during stage 3 of managing dental neglect?
In complex situations
Follow local guidelines
Referral to social services (telephone then followed up in writing).
From what date is it illegal to physically punish a child?
7th November 2020.
What are types of injuries a child can get from physical abuse?
Head (95% of serious head injuries in first year of life)
Body (10% of 5 year olds attending A&E)
10-12% of childhood burns are non-accidental.
Name some accidental and non-accidental injuries?
Accidental- injuries to forehead, elbow, palm of hand, shins and knees etc- usually bony prominences and match the history.
Non-accidental- triangle of safety injuries, soft tissues of cheek, intra-oral, chest, abdomen, soles of feet, groin, inner aspect of arms and back/side of trunk- concerns raised by untreated injuries, injuries to soft tissue, any injury that doesn’t fit the explanation or injuries to both sides of the body.
What are extra oral signs of physical abuse?
Bruising of face/ears Abrasions and lacerations Eye injuries Hair pulling Fractures Neck- choke or cord marks Burns and bites.
What are major clinical features of physical abuse?
Skin lesions- bruises/bites/lacerations
Bone lesions- fractures
Intracranial lesions- from shaking
Visceral lesions- blunt trauma.
What is tattoo bruising?
Bruising in the shape of the instrument that has caused it.
What are intra oral signs of physical abuse?
Contusions Bruises Abrasions/lacerations Burns Tooth trauma Frenal injuries.
How can you identify is an adult has bitten a child?
The inter canine width is greater in adults than in children.
When would you be suspicious of a frenal injury?
When the child is immobile.
What are medical equivalents of extra oral lesions?
Impetigo (similar to cigarette burns)
Birthmarks (mistaken for bruises)
Facial infection (mistaken for trauma)
Coagulation problems (bruise easily).
What things can make you suspicious of child abuse?
Delay in seeking help Story vague and lacking in detail Story changing every time Account not compatible with the injury Parents mood or behaviour abnormal Child's interaction with parent is abnormal History of previous injury History of violence within the family.
What are some final checklist observations for physical abuse?
General demeanour of the child
Nature of the relationship between guardian and child
Child’s reaction to other people
The reaction of a child to dental observation
Any comments by the child/guardian that give concern about the child’s upbringing or lifestyle.
How can a dentist help with child neglect/abuse?
Share concerns with named person
Know where to go for help and advice (telephone initially then follow up in writing when referring)
Know contact names and numbers
ALL CONTACT DETAILS ARE ON THESE SLIDES!!!
What happens after you refer a child?
If they are in immediate danger there might be: a child protection order, exclusion order, child assessment order or removal by police or authority of a JP
If not in immediate danger- investigation takes place, initial assessment and discussion
THEN a joint investigation in Scotland.
