Child Protection

Child Protection

Level 1

Introduction

This module is a basic introduction to Child Protection designed for anyone who is required by their Line Manager to undertake basic Child Protection Training.

For some staff, completing this workbook will be followed up by attending a half-day training session on Child Protection that will give an opportunity to discuss case study situations and how you might implement Child Protection in your practice and in your work

The module has 8 sections and an assessment at the end that you will need to complete and achieve an 80% pass. When you have completed the questionnaire please return to Workforce Development, 8 North Ness, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0LZ

Throughout this workbook there are short exercises for you to complete, the answers to these are at the back page.

Aim of the Module

To raise awareness of the key child protection procedures, policies and the law applicable to all staff, and to ensure you are aware of your roles and responsibilities in protecting children.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module you will be able to:

·  Explain what is meant by child protection

·  Identify the key procedures, policies and the law that can assist in the protection of children and young people

·  Explain what is meant by child abuse and what the different types of abuse are

·  Show an awareness of the possible alerting signs of child abuse

·  Show that you understand your responsibilities in relation to the protection of children and young people

·  Show you have a clear understanding of the child protection referral process

·  Show you have a clear understanding of your responsibilities to share information if you are concerned that a child is being abused, or is at risk of abuse

Foreword

·  Child protection can be a sensitive and distressing subject both personally and professionally. If you have any difficulty in continuing with this module please speak with your Line Manager.

·  It is important to bear in mind that most children do grow up healthy and happy in loving families. However, there is a significant minority who are vulnerable to abuse and neglect, and we must be able to recognise when this is the case and know how to respond.

·  On completion of this module, you should make yourself familiar with the Shetland Inter-agency Child Protection Procedures which can be accessed via the Shetland Islands Council Intranet or at – http://www.safershetland.com/

SECTION 1 – Background

Over the past decade, the child protection landscape in Scotland has developed considerably. In December 2010, the Scottish Government introduced national guidance on child protection, the National Guidance for Child Protection 2010. This has been updated in May 2014.

The Shetland Inter-agency Child Protection Procedures produced in June 2013 are fully consistent with the National Guidance.

Getting it right for every child – GIRFEC

'Getting it right for every child' is an approach that aims to improve outcomes for all children and young people in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has a vision for all children to ensure that they are:

·  healthy

·  achieving

·  nurtured

·  active

·  respected

·  responsible

·  included

·  and above all, safe

These are the basic requirements for all children and young people to grow and develop and reach their full potential. At the heart of the approach is the aim to identify any additional needs a child may have and act as early as possible to prevent problems from escalating to a point of crisis. The approach seeks to achieve the best outcomes for all children and young people in Scotland.

The 'getting it right for every child' approach is currently being embedded into working practices in Shetland.

The vast majority of parents/families will 'get it right' for their children and only be involved with the usual routine health and education services. For some children and young people, in order for their needs to be met, they and their families will require involvement with additional services and/or higher interventions from professionals to 'get it right' for them. Child protection is linked to GIRFEC as there will be times, when in supporting families, concerns about abuse come to light and also situations where the support provided through GIRFEC does not result in a better situation for the child and it becomes clear that there are unacceptable levels of care being provided.

Further guidance about GIRFEC in Shetland is available at:

http://www.shetland.gov.uk/children_and_families/GIRFEC.asp

Your Responsibilities

What you need to do:

·  Discuss suspicions/concerns with your line manager as soon as possible (they will support you in taking further action). Do not delay.

·  Seek advice from your Line Manager and you can also contact the Duty Social Worker

·  Write down as soon as you can exactly what has been said and/or what you have seen

·  You must make a child protection referral if you have concerns or continued concerns

If your line manager is not immediately available you must avoid any delay. You need to speak to the Duty Social Worker who is available Monday-Friday 9am - 5pm, on 01595 744421 or the out-of-hours Duty Social Worker service on 01595 695611.

Information Required

The Shetland Inter-agency Child Protection Procedures give guidance about the basic information to be sought when a child discloses abuse or you observe something that causes concern (for example marks or bruises that are unusual or unexplained), or the child's behaviour or physical presentation causes a concern (for example they are poorly dressed for the weather and are unclean).

Below is a guide to help you to gather basic information that will help in the initial assessment process; what happened, where, who was there, when did it happen:

·  Why you are concerned? What has happened?

·  Child's details (full name, age, date-of-birth, address)

·  Is the child believed to be in imminent danger?

·  Are there any other children at risk? Give their basic details too if you can

·  What is the child at risk of?

·  Who has or may cause harm to the child?

·  Details of the adults who have care of the child

·  Record the name of the person to whom you are making the referral

Remember you must ensure that vital time is not wasted if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse. For further guidance and telephone numbers, you should refer to the flow chart at the front of the Shetland Inter-agency Child Protection Procedures which will give you step-by-step guidance showing what should happen if you have concern about a child.

http://www.safershetland.com/assets/files/child-protection-procedures-june2012.pdf

http://www.safershetland.com/assets/files/child-protection-procedures-june2012.pdf

Remember you can always seek advice from your Line Manager

Exercise 1

Every person who knows or suspects that a child has suffered, is suffering or is at risk should make a child protection referral without delay

True
False

At work, who can you contact for advice if you have a concern that a child might be at risk of harm?

Police
Duty Social Worker
Child’s Mother
Line Manager

SECTION 2 – Definitions of Abuse and Alerting Signs of Child Abuse

Definition of Child Abuse

Child abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting, or by failing to act to prevent, significant harm to the child.

Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional setting, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. Assessment will need to consider whether abuse has occurred, or is likely to occur. It is helpful to consider and understand the different ways in which children can be abused.

Children may be in need of protection where:

·  Their basic needs are not being met, in a manner appropriate to their stage of development. For example, very young children being left alone

·  They are being harmed directly. For example, physical or sexual abuse

·  They are being harmed by things that adults are failing to do. For example, not being provided with a secure loving environment within which to develop self-esteem and confidence.

Child Abuse

The Shetland Inter-agency Child Protection Procedures set out what agencies will do when children or young people may be at risk of abuse or neglect.

These procedures direct you in what must be done in dealing with concerns about the safety and well being of children.

Children can be affected by any or all of the following types of abuse

·  Physical abuse

·  Neglect

·  Emotional abuse

·  Sexual abuse

Abuse can be associated with domestic abuse, parental substance misuse, contact with adults who have a history of violence or sexual abuse, and sometimes children and young people can place themselves at risk, for example, by going missing.

Children and young people who place themselves at risk may sometimes have been affected by abuse.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is the causing of physical harm to a child or young person. Physical abuse may involve:

·  hitting

·  shaking

·  throwing

·  poisoning

·  burning

·  scalding

·  drowning

·  suffocating

Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes, ill health to a child they are looking after.

Whilst the law recognises some physical chastisement by parents of children as reasonable, any blow to the head, shaking or use of an implement is against the law (Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003)

Alerting signs of physical injury:

·  Unexplained injuries or burns, particularly if recurrent

·  Improbable excuses given to explain injuries

·  Refusal to discuss injuries

·  Untreated injuries, or delay in seeking treatment

·  Excessive physical punishment

·  Frequent attendance at A&E department

These alerting signs must be considered in the context of a child's age and stage of development, for example, injuries are always concerning in pre-mobile babies.

It is important to remember that these are possible alerting signs.

Injuries may occur for other reasons and only a qualified and designated medical practitioner can reach a conclusion on cause of injury.

Neglect

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development.

It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide:

·  adequate food

·  shelter or clothing

·  to protect a child from physical harm or danger

·  or to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment

It may also include neglect of, or failure to respond to, a child's basic emotional needs.

Neglect may also result in the child being diagnosed as suffering from 'non-organic failure to thrive', where they have significantly failed to reach normal weight and growth or development milestones and where physical and genetic reasons have been medically eliminated.

In its extreme form, children can be at serious risk from the effects of malnutrition, lack of nurturing and stimulation. This can lead to serious long-term effects such as greater susceptibility to serious childhood illnesses and reduction in potential stature.

With young children in particular, the consequences may be life-threatening within a relatively short period of time.

Neglect also includes when an adult or carer persistently pursues or allows a child to follow a lifestyle inappropriate to the child's development needs or which jeopardises the child's health.

Alerting signs of physical neglect:

·  Constant hunger (stealing food)

·  Tiredness/poor concentration

·  Poor hygiene/poor or inadequate clothing

·  Untreated medical problems

·  Frequent lateness/unexplained absences from nursery/school

·  Low self-esteem

·  Poor peer relationships

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is persistent emotional neglect or ill treatment that has severe and persistent adverse effects on a child's emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.

It may involve the imposition of age or, developmentally-inappropriate expectations on a child. It may involve causing children to feel frightened or in danger, or exploiting or corrupting children. Some level of emotional abuse is present in all types of ill treatment of a child; it can also occur independently of other forms of abuse.

Emotional abuse may feature:

·  Age/developmentally inappropriate expectations

·  Overprotection/limitation of exploration and learning

·  Preventing child participating in normal social interaction

·  Seeing/hearing ill-treatment of another, for example, exposure to domestic abuse

·  Serious bullying

·  Causing children to frequently feel frightened or in danger

·  Exploitation or corruption of children

Alerting signs of emotional abuse:

·  Continual self-deprecation

·  Significant decline in concentration

·  Extremes of aggression or passivity

·  Inability to make or sustain relationships

·  Indiscriminate friendliness

·  Self-harm

·  Low self-esteem

·  Compulsive stealing

·  Running away

Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is any act that involves the child in any activity for the sexual gratification of another person, whether or not it is claimed that the child either consented or assented.

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts. They may include non contact activities, such as:

·  involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities

·  using sexual language towards a child

·  or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways

Strong indicators

It is extremely difficult for a child to tell someone that they are being sexually abused and they may consider their experiences to be normal. The child may show some signs - as listed below. Some children may not show any signs of sexual abuse, but may still be at risk.

In sexual abuse there may be no physical, medical or behavioural signs at all. Changes in behaviour or demeanor may be an alert that something has happened, although these could be indicators that the child may be troubled about something else, not necessarily about sexual abuse.