Child
protectionIssues
Maltreatment is the biggest cause of morbidity in children (the adults in prison/mental health care are the walking wounded of the effects of child maltreatment)
- Normalising of the process by professionals (what we tend to expect from our previous experiences)
- Denial by professionals
- Professional communication and training
- Information sharing
- Accurate information
For discussion
- What to say if you suspect abuse
- What to do if you suspect abuse
- Changes in the story of the injury
- Confidentiality
- Child protection case conferences
- Collusion
- The "secret" conference
- "Significant harm" which may require direct intervention in the life of the family
- Neglect
- Societal attitudes
- Physical punishment
- Domestic violence
- Unemployment
- Lack of resources for victims
- Middle class failure to thrive
- Parental vulnerability eg mental health, drug misuse
- Child vulnerability eg disability
- Resilience - by intelligence, sense of humour, having something important
Resources
- Working together to safeguard children - government guidance on inter-agency cooperation to protect and promote the welfare of children.
- Framework for the assessment of children in need and their families
- BMJ Child protection - lessons from Victoria Climbié
- Child protection - RCGP position paper on the role of primary care
- Child protection scenario
- Child protection protocol