Child Protection: Basic Awareness

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SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN CHILD PROTECTION
TRAINING LEVEL 1 FOR GENERAL
PRACTICE PRESENTED BY Monica King Senior
Named Nurse Child Protection
2008
2
Ground Rules

• Differences in views heard sensitively and/or
  questioned in a way that is constructive and
  enabling to the process of the group.
• Right not to know.
• Anti-discriminatory way and to consider the
  influence that difference have on our work.
• The group will take responsibility to address
  oppressive behaviour /language which may occur,
  in a way that is sensitive and constructive.
• Content of personal contributions will remain
  confidential to the group. The only exception to
  this is where dangerous or illegal practice is
  revealed.

3

• Child Protection Level 1
• Introduction - Quiz
• Is this acceptable to me Values and beliefs
• Context setting. The Safeguarding Legislative
  Framework,
• CAF, Section 17 and 47 (significant harm).
• Threshold Exercise
• Roles and Responsibilities, Where to go for
  advice.
• Evaluation
• Finish

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Learning Outcomes

• How personal belief systems impact on CP/clinical
  judgements.
• Raise awareness of child abuse, how to identify,
  and thresholds of harm
• How national and local guidance contributes to
  safeguarding and relates to practice and how to
  access.
• When and with whom to share information and local
  service arrangements for supporting and
  safeguarding children
• Understanding of participants roles and
  responsibilities in relation to safeguarding
  children
• The importance of documentation and accurate
  records
• Where to seek local advice and support

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Child Protection Responsibility
Childrens Social care services
Education
Police
Health
Probation
Housing
everybody
Voluntary and community
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Child Protection Public Inquiries
2000 2003 Victoria Climbié Lord Lamings
Inquiry
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KEY THEMES EMERGING FROM SERIOUS CASE REVIEWS

• Poor communication between and within agencies
• Lack of shared understanding of individual agency
  thresholds
• Professional anxiety and reluctance to act
• Professional challenge
• Inadequate Supervision
• Poor recording
• Understanding and dealing with Neglect-Start
  Again syndrome
• Keeping track of families
• Child not seen/heard
• Inadequate links with Childrens Social care and
  Mental health services
• 
  Brandon et al 2007 DCFS

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Data from recent study (n 47)

• Under 1s - 47
• 11-16 - over 30
• On Child Protection Register -12
• 55 known to Childrens Social care
• DV, Mental ill Health ,Parental Substance misuse
  noted in over 50 of cases
• Brandon et
  al 2007 DCFS

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Haringey - the Local Context

• Children with CP Plans /registration 240
• Neglect - 54
• Emotional Abuse - 26
• Physical - 12.7
• Sexual - 6.6
• Children being cared for (LAC) 437
• Under 5s 74
• 6-17yrs 363 ( 208 of
  these children between 11-16)
• 2561 referrals made to Childrens Social care in
  2006/7
• 
  LSCB L.B Haringey data set 2007

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Legal Framework

• The Children Act 1989 and 2004 provide a
  comprehensive framework for the care and
  protection of children and promote an integrated
  approach to both protecting children from abuse
  and promoting their welfare through the provision
  of services

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The Children Act 1989 key points

•       The Childs welfare is paramount
•       Parental responsibility and childrens
  rights
•       Children should be with their own family
  
• whenever possible
•       Children in need need services
•       Partnership with parents
•       Children should be protected if in danger
•       High quality substitute care
•       No order principle
•  

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The Children Act 1989

• Places a duty to co-operate and promote
• the welfare of children
• To help a local authority with its enquires in a
  case where there is reasonable cause to suspect
  that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer
  significant harm

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Every Child Matters - Change for Children
(five outcomes)
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THE CHILDREN ACT 1989

• Introduced the concepts of
• Child in Need Section 17
• - Significant Harm Section 47

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Children Act 1989Section 17 - A child is in need

• They are unlikely to achieve or maintain or have
  the opportunity of achieving or maintaining a
  reasonable standard of health or development
  without the provision of services
• their health or development is likely to be
  significantly impaired or further impaired
  without the provision of such services
• they are disabled

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Significant harm Section 47

• There is no absolute criteria to rely on when
  judging what constitutes significant harm
• harm means ill-treatment or the impairment of
  health and development
• development means physical, intellectual,
  emotional, social or behavioural development
• ill-treatment includes sexual abuse and forms
  which are not physical

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Significant Harm Section 47

• Where the question of whether harm suffered by a
  child is significant turns on the childs health
  and development, his health or development shall
  be compared with that which could reasonably
  expected of another child

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CATEGORIES OF HARM

• Physical abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Neglect

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Assessment Thresholds

• CAF Early intervention threshold any agency -
  common assessment where there are concerns that a
  child will not progress towards ECM outcomes
  without additional services eg family support.
• Threshold for Childrens Social care
• Child in need Section 17
• Significant harm Section 47

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Professional has concerns about a childs welfare
Quick Referral flowchart (LCP 2007)
If concern is of a child suffering or likely to
suffer significant harm, go straight to referral.
     
Professional discusses with manager and agencys
nominated safeguarding children advisor
Professional checks whether a common assessment
has recently been completed and whether there is
a lead professional appointed
If a common assessment has been completed the
professional adds to it and contacts the lead
professional, if there is one
If a common assessment has not been completed the
professional completes one
Quick referral flowchart
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Child Protection Basic Roles Responsibilities
Protect children and promote their safety and
welfare listen to the voice of the child
Record keeping accurate, legible,
contemporaneous, signed and dated
Read and understand Local Child Protection
Procedures/ LSCB , and London CP Procedures
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Child Protection Basic Roles Responsibilities

• Be clear about own role the role of others

- cannot act independently
- shared responsibility

• Share information on a needs to know basis,
  and liaising with other professionals including
  Child Protection specialists and agencies both
  internal and external to health.
• Seeking advice and support for decision making
  from Team leaders, Line Managers and Haringey
  TPCT Child Protection team.

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Key Policy and Procedures for reference

• What to do if you are worried a child is
  abused.HM Government 2006
• London Child Protection Guidelines 3rd edition
  2007 www.londonscb.gov.uk
• HTPCT guidelines 2002-www.haringey.nhs.uk/services
  /child-protection/indexshtm
• LSCB LB Haringey Policy and Procedures -
  www.haringey.gov.uk
• Working Together to Safeguard Children - 2006 HM
  Government www.tso.co.uk
• Every Child Matters- Change for children -
  www.everychildmatters.gov.uk
• The Children Act 1989/2004

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Child Protection Support Advice

• GOSH IN HARINGEY CHILDRENS COMMUNITY HEALTH
  HARINGEY TPCT CHILD PROTECTION ADVICE AND SUPPORT
  TELEPHONE LINE 0208 489 3133
• Appointed, not yet commenced employment -
  Designated Nurse
• Monica King Senior Named Nurse . 0208 489 3066
  mob [phone]
• Suzanne Dale Child Death Co-ordinator 020 8489
  3073
• Dr David Elliman Designated Doctor and Consultant
  Paediatrician - 0207 405 9200 x 5137
• Dr Laura Hayman Named Doctor Child Protection
  020 8442 6662 mob [phone]
• Dr Sejal Pandya - Lead GP 0208 808 7968

LB Haringey Childrens Social Care First
response Team - 0208 489 5652/4582/4592/5762