Session 1: Introduction to Safeguarding Children and Reviewing Child Deaths Flashcards
Immediate referral into Social Care of a child.
Children at:
Immediate risk of significant harm, physical, sexual, emotional harm and neglect.
Unexplain injuries
Suspicious injuries
Inconsistent explanation of injuries
Victims of trafficking
Evidence of repeated domestic violence witnessed or experienced by a child.
Adult mental health issues or substance use.
Experience or at risk of sexual abuse or exploitation
Children <2 yrs with unexplained bruising
Risk of significant harm to an unborn baby
Children who live with adults who are known to pose a risk to children
Children left home alone
Children who are primary age and reported to be self-harming
Categories of abuse
Physical
Sexual
Emotional
Neglect
What does physical abuse involve?
Hitting
Shaking
Throwing
Poisoning
Burning
Scalding
Drowning
Suffocating
etc…
Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or a carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child.
What does sexual abuse involve?
Forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
Can be physical contact, assualt by penetration or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing.
Can also include non-contact activities like sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, grooming etc…
Not only men, can also be women or other children.
Definition of child sexual exploitation.
Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse.
Where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance or power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person <18 yrs old into sexual activity.
This can be in exchange for victim needs or desires or for financial advantage or increased status of perpetrator.
The victim can still have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Does not have to be physical contact.
Definition of neglect.
Persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development.
This can occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse.
Give examples of neglect.
Parent or carer’s failure to:
Provide adequate food, clothing or shelter.
Protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger
Ensure adequate supervision
Ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment
Meet basic emotional needs
What is medical neglect?
Involves carers minimising or ignoring children’s illness or health needs and failing to seek medical attention or adminstrating medication and treatments.
Also mothers who fail to prepare for child birth.
Definition of emotional abuse.
Emotional maltreatment of child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.
What might emotional abuse involve?
Conveying to children that they are worthless, unloved, inadequate or valued in only the ways desired of the carer.
Not giving child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or making fun of what they say or how they communicate.
Inappropriate expectations imposed on the child. Could be expecting beyond limits of child’s developmental capability as well as overprotection and limitation.
Seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another.
How to handle a disclosure.
Listen rather than ask questions.
Don’t stop a young person freely speaking.
Remain calm, do not communicate that what they have said is shocking or upsetting.
Don’t promise that everything will be ok.
Don’t promise to not tell anyone.
Make a report as soon as possible
Record all subsequent events
Reassure the child or young person that it was the right thing to do in telling.
Explain steps of action if you are concerned about the welfare of a patient.
Seek explanation for your concerns, usually from a parent, carer or child.
Record events, date, sign, check background info.
Inform and discuss with your line manager or supervisor.
Agree what action to take:
Keep a record/Refer to other agency/Fill in a MARF form/Refer to social care
Define abuse.
Physical, sexual, financial, emotional or psychological violation or neglect of a person unable to protect themselves, or to prevent from happening, or to remove themselves from abuse, or potential abuse from others.
What does safeguarding include?
Protecting from:
domestic and sexual violence
Trafficking
Radicalisation
Modern slavery
FGM
Forced marriage
Honour based violence
Discriminatory abuse
Why do we review child death?
To establish, where possible a cause or causes of child deaths
Identify any potential contributory and modifiable factors
To provide ongoing support to the family
To learn lessons in order to reduce the risk of future child deaths.
