Post on 28-Mar-2015
transcript
Introduction to Safeguarding and Child
Protection
Helen Elliott and Barry Rawlings
Welcome !
Introduction Housekeeping Learning Contract Looking after ourselves
Aims of the session To provide an overview of the legal and
policy framework of safeguarding and child protection
To consider roles and responsibilities of staff and volunteers in safeguarding
To raise awareness of types of abuse, signs and symptoms
To provide information about what to do if you have concerns
Introductory Exercise Safeguarding Quiz
The National Picture Tragedy of child deaths Laming Enquiry Failures at every level and in every
organisation Problems in sharing information Soham/Safer Recruitment We all have a part to play -
Safeguarding children is everybody’s responsibility
What Do We Mean By Safeguarding?
Duty to protect children from impairment
Duty to prevent impairment
Promoting wellbeing
By Working Together
Safeguarding is everybody’s business!
Children Act 1989 - Education Act 2002 -Children Act 2004
UN Convention of the Rights of the Child
42 Articles which state that all rights guaranteed by it must be available to all children without discrimination.
Article 19 “Children have the right to be protected from all forms of violence. They must be kept safe from harm. They must be given proper care by those looking after them.”
Article 34 “Children have a right to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.”
Article 37 “Children have the right not to be punished cruelly or in a way that would belittle them.”
Safeguarding Children In Diverse Communities: Working Together 2010
Awareness of impact of racism. Awareness of cultural
misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
Consider how religious beliefs and cultural traditions influence values, attitudes and behaviour, and the way in which family and community life is structured and organized.
Cultural and religious factors should not be regarded as acceptable explanations for abuse or neglect and are not acceptable grounds for inaction if a child is at risk
Guard against myths and stereotypes.
Fear of being accused of racism should not stop safeguarding a child.
Child Protection
The process of protecting individual children identified as either
suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm as a result of abuse
or neglect
Prevention and Early Intervention (Common Assessment Framework :CAF )
For children where there are concerns about welfare but NOT at risk of significant harm
Practitioners from any agency can carry out a CAF Common forms and shared language to assess
children when parents consent
Stages of intervention- the CAF in context
Statutory services(high need)
Targeted support services(med high need)
Targeted support services(med low need)
Universalservices (low or no need))
SPECIALIST ASSESSMENTS & STATUTORY INTERVENTION
(children in care), Children with Child Protection Plans, Young offenders, Special Educational Needs (SEN), complex health & disability
e.g. Schools and health visiting, Children’s Centres, youth work
CAF
CAF, with Lead ProfessionalSeveral agencies involved
The Children Act 1989
The legal duty to protect children is governed by this act which introduced:
The welfare of the child as paramount Wishes and feelings of child must be ascertained Working in partnership with families Parental responsibility is always retained by
parents. Duty to provide services to families with ‘children
in need’. L.A. promote the upbringing of children by families
Child in Need (Children Act 1989 s17)
Unlikely to achieve or maintain, or have opportunity of achieving a reasonable standard of health or development without provision of services
Health or development likely to be significantly impaired or further impaired without provision of such services
Disabled
Significant Harm
Concept of significant harm justifies compulsory intervention in family life (S47 Children Act)
Duty to make enquiries where reasonable cause to suspect child suffering from significant harm
Definition of Significant Harm ( Children Act 1989) Ill–treatment (including sexual abuse
and physical abuse) Impairment of health(physical or
mental) or development compared to a similar child
Now includes impairment as a result of witnessing ill-treatment of another person(domestic violence) Adoption & Children Act 2002
Threshold for Significant Harm
There is no absolute criteria but London Procedures give guidance
“Significant harm can be caused by one traumatic event or a compilation of events that interrupt, change or damage the child’s physical or psychological development.”
It is necessary to consider
• The severity of ill treatment,
• the degree and extent of physical harm,
• the duration and frequency of abuse and neglect,
• the extent of pre-meditation
• the degree of threat and coercion, sadism and bizarre or unusual elements in child sexual abuse.
To understand significant harm…
…. It is necessary to consider: The nature of harm, in terms of maltreatment or
failure to provide adequate care The impact on the child’s health or development The child’s development within the context of
their family and wider environment Any special needs, such as medical condition,
impairment or disability that may affect the child’s development and care in the family
The capacity of parents to meet the child’s needs The wider and environmental family context
Categories Of Abuse
Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Neglect Emotional Abuse
Exercise: Recognising Abuse
Physical Abuse Includes Shaking Hitting Burning/scalding Female Genital
Mutilation Fabricated and
Induced illness Drowning Suffocating
Possible signs Bruises (soft tissue
areas ) Grasp marks Bites Burns/scalds Fractures Large number of
differering aged marks Failure to seek medical
help/opposite
Sexual Abuse Includes Forcing/enticing child
to take part in sexual activity
Contact,penetrative/non penetrative
Non contact eg watching sexual activity/pornography
Encouraging inappropriate sexual behaviour
Possible signs Pregnancy where
father’s identity concealed
Genital bruising STDs/ UTIs Inappropriate
sexualised behaviour Child hinting of
secrets Deliberate self-
harm /anorexia other disturbance
Neglect Includes Failure to meet
physical needs Failure to meet
psychological needs Failure to provide
food, shelter, clothing Failure to protect
from harm Failure to seek
medical care
Possible signs Malnutrition Dirty/cold
environment Leaving young child
unattended Failure to protect
from physical danger Lack of supervision Lack of stimulation,
social contact, education
Emotional Abuse Includes Overly critical
parenting Causing child to feel
unloved, worthless Inappropriate
expectations Causing children to
feel frightened Witnessing domestic
violence or other forms of abuse
Possible signs Very low self esteem High level of anxiety Overly
compliant/eager to please
Fearfulness/appearing withdrawn
Behavioural issues Self harm
What is your role?
Recognising indicators of abuse Recording and acting on concerns,
referring to designated colleague or Manager
Ensuring all communication with parents is managed professionally and sensitively
If in doubt use consultation line Making detailed accurate referral reports Providing information as needed to
Children’s Social Care Supporting child and family , being
sensitive to stress a referral can bring Maintain confidentiality of written records
What to do if you have concerns
Follow procedures Talk to your manager or designated
person Listen to the child but don’t ask leading
questions Record full information, who, what, when Refer any concerns to Police or
Children’s services via named staff
Managing a Disclosure
Listen carefully, do not interrupt the child or ask any questions
Reassure the child that they have done the right thing by telling someone
Do not promise confidentiality Record the conversation ASAP include
date time, persons present and sign it
Safer Working Practice Importance of safer recruitment Induction and training Clear expectations re code of conduct Awareness of role and maintaining
professional boundaries Minimising risk of allegations Clear systems to report concerns by
children, staff or parents Open and transparent culture
Dealing with allegations against staff or volunteers
All allegations must be reported immediately to your designated person/manager who will refer to the Local Authority Designated Officer for threshold discussion
No automatic assumption of guilt but all cases must be properly investigated
Exercise : Safeguarding Scenarios
Making a referral
This is what I am worried about This is what I have seen and/or heard: when,
who from and where This is what I have done What more do I need to do? If parents/carers/child are aware of this
referral? Confirm name of person and next steps Who should I speak to if I am not happy with
the outcome
You can expect children’s services to.. discuss your concerns with you decide what action is needed agree with you what the child and parents are told, by whom and
when
If there are concerns about a child’s safety: check whether the child has a child protection plan consult with other agencies take action to ensure the child is safe involve the police if a crime may have been committed tell you if they are taking no further action and why acknowledge your written referral within one working day of
receipt
What happens next?
recognition and referral
initial assessment
strategy discussion
s47 enquiries core assessment
child protection conference
When there is a likelihood of continuing significant harm
child protection plan
review
What parents worry about ?
Sexual activity Drugs Gangs Extremism Discrimination Dilution of culture and religion
Key Themes in perception of abuse
Honour Respect Cultural clashes in values Faith Mistrust of agencies
Working in Partnership
Safeguarding agencies need to gain an understanding of how abuse, in any family, is understood in regard to Faith and culture. It has implications for likelihood of harm, risk analysis, input into what would be an effective protection plan
Faiths/cultural groups- singularly and inter faith need to grapple with arguments used to minimise, deny or justify abuse on the grounds of Faith.
Sources of Advice
Barnet Children’s Service Advice and Consultation Line 020 8359 4336
Local Contact details see handout CommUNITY Barnet Muslim Youth Helpline 0808 808
2008 NSPCC 0800 056 0566
Questions ?