Safeguarding Children TrainingLucy Jones Student Practice Teacher

6th March 2013

With grateful thanks to the Ann Pringle, Deputy Named Nurse for Safeguarding Children, Norfolkfor sharing her materials and expert knowledge for this session

This morning we’ll start with something easy

a bit of time travel……

http://safeguardingchildrenea.co.uk/timelines/childprotectiontimeline.html

Activity:- Safe from What ?

Physical Neglect

Emotional Sexual

HittingPoisoning

Shaking Burning/scalding

ThrowingSuffocating

Fabricated Illness

Persistent failure to provide..Basic physical / psychological needs

Adequate food, shelter & clothing

Protection from physical harm or danger

Access medical care

Basic emotional needs

Ill treatment causing severe persistent effect on emotional development

Conveying worthlessness

Scape-goating

Inappropriate expectations

Overprotection

Physical contact-penetrative or non-penetrative

Exposure to sexually explicit material or activities

Production of Pornographic material

Encouraging to behave in sexually inappropriate way

Key Legislation and Guidance

Children Act (1989 and 2004) – Every Child Matters (2004)

Framework for the Assessment of Children (2000)

Adoption and Children Act (2002)

Sexual Offences Act (2003)

Lord Laming Report (2003) – Victoria Climbie

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004)

Lord Laming Progress Report (2009) – Baby P

Working Together To Safeguard Children (2010)

Children Act 1989

The child’s welfare is paramount Attention to each child’s individual needs Wishes and feelings of the child should be known Avoidance of delay Balance

-protecting children/procedures fair to parents Partnership with parents Consultation with other significant people

Working with parents

The Children’s Act (1989) uses the phrase

“Partnership with parents”

With the person next to you have only 2 minutes to identify one barrier and one

benefit to working WITH parents to safeguard children

Children Act 2004

• Section 11 Places a duty on all staff to safeguard and promote the welfare of children

• Section 10 requires Local Authorities and other specified agencies to co-operate with a view to improving the well being of children in relation to the 5 outcomes first set out in “Every Child Matters”

Sexual Offences Act 2003 18 years and over and mentally

competent-can consent 16-18 years–can not consent to

sex with person in authority 13-16 years -under age of

consent but Fraser competency and power balance should be considered

Under 13 years -unable to consent-Statutory Rape (must be referred to Social Care/ Police).

Adoption & Children Act 2002

This extended the legal definition of significant harm to children, to include harm suffered by seeing or hearing ill treatment of others, especially in the home

(Came into force 2005)

Aberdeen CCN 2009

The Assessment Framework

CHILDSafeguarding

& promoting

welfare

PA

RE

NTIN

G C

AP

AC

ITY

Basic Care

Ensuring Safety

Emotional Warmth

Stimulation

Guidance &Boundaries

Stability

FAMILY & ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

CH

ILD

’S D

EVEL

OPM

ENT

NEE

DSHealth

Education

Emotional & Behavioural Development

Identity

Family & Social Relationships

Social Presentation

Self-care Skills

Comm

unity

Resources

Family’s Social

Integration

Income

Employm

ent

Housing

Wider Fam

ily

Family History &

Functioning

National Guidance

The framework to protect childrenand promote their welfare

14

Record your concernsConsult

Make a referral to SSDReferral Accepted

Refer to Police if a crime is suspected

(usually SSD)

Strategy Discussion(SSD, Police & any relevant agency)

InitialChild Protection Conference(Professionals and family develop a plan

to safeguard the child)

Core Groupwithin 10 days of child protection conference

Core Assessmentwithin 35 days of strategy

24 hours

48 hours

15 days Review conference3 months

Review conference6 months

    

Section 17Child “in need” if …….

• He is unlikely to achieve or maintain, or have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision for him of services by a local authority under this part.

• His health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision of such services.

• He is disabled.

Section 47 - Children Act 1989Definition of “significant harm”

‘The ill treatment or impairment of the health or development of a child which is serious,

considerable noteworthy or important.’Now includes harm suffered by seeing or hearing ill treatment of others, especially in the home

The concept of ‘significant harm’ is the threshold that justifies compulsory intervention in family life in the best interests of the child.

Parental consent for the disclosure of information is desirable but not essential.

Who Has Parental Responsibility? (PR)SH

AR

E

CA

N L

OSE

Biological Mother Married Fathers (at time of birth)

..even if subsequently divorced Un Married?….as long as named on

Birth Certificate…births after 01.12.03

DO NOTUn Married fathers births before 01-12-03Married Step-parentsRegistered Civil Partners

Parental Responsibility Agreement(depends on mothers cooperation)

Parental Responsibility Order(through courts)

• Child given upfor adoption

DO

• Care Order

CAN GET

Local Safeguarding Children Boards

Serious Case Reviews

Identifies good practice & where opportunities were missed

Lessons learnt Changes in practice Recommendations implemented

Risky Situations for Children Domestic Abuse Being under 1 year old Being disabled Mental illness in parents or carer Substance misuse Social exclusion and isolation Learning disability in parent Previous child protection concerns Parents who have been through care system

Common Pitfalls for Practitioners Fixed Thinking Assumptions Not taking responsibility for

communicating Overly deferential to professionals of

perceived higher status Over identification with parents Fear

Defined as…

Domestic Abuse – Always Harmful

Whatever form it takes, domestic violence is rarely a one-off incident, and should instead be seen as a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour through which the abuser seeks power over their victim. Domestic violence occurs across society, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, wealth or geography. The figures show, however, that it consists mainly of violence by men against women. Children are also affected. Not only are many traumatised by what they witness, but there is also a strong connection between domestic violence, sexual violence and child abuse.

‘Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual,

financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.’

• New powers to increase protection available to victims. Breach of non

molestation or occupation order is now a criminal

offence.

• A significant new charge “causing or allowing the

death of a child or vulnerable adult

Domestic Violence, Crime Victims Act 2004

Safeguarding or not?

•A 3 month old baby presents in clinic with a bruise on the inner aspect of their upper arm.

•A 9 year old boy is reported to have no pe kit and regularly has only a chocolate bar and can of coke for lunch

•On a home visit a 3 year old girl sits on your lap and strokes your hair

•A mum in clinic becomes tearful at forgetting her red book as she leaves you hear her warning her 4 year old not to tell Daddy.

•You attend are unable to contact a 18 year old care leaver for 2 ante-natal appointments.

Support and trust in teams.

Reflective challenging supervision.

Confident professional judgement

and sustained challenge

Good working relationshipswith children & families.

Clear lines of communicationwith other agencies.

A Positive practice cycle

Child seen, kept in mind, understood

OBSERVERECORD

REVIEW

REFERREFER

LSCB1

DecisionsActions

DecisionsActions

FOLLOW

UPFOLLOW

UP

BE SURE

Set up support

Set up support

Safeguarding Duties

Final thoughts…..

What are you going to take back to your practice?

Reflections

A final little reminder

to after yourself ……