Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

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Burns and Scalds Deliberately inflicted burns and scalds are found in 10% of physically abused children, 5% of sexually abused children and 1 – 6% of all children presenting at hospital with burns and scalds. A child who presents with any burn should be comprehensively medically examined, because many of the children deliberately burnt have previously suffered from child abuse. It can be difficult to distinguish between accidental and inflicted burns, but generally, non-accidental burns are characterised by their regular outlines and their location. Accidental scalds are usually accompanied by ‘splash marks’. Scalds to buttocks and groin are rarely accidental. Accidental burns or scalds should always lead to questions about the amount of supervision and protection offered to the child and should raise the issue of child neglect. Injuries to the Head and Central Nervous System Head injuries lead to more serious long term consequences for the child, and are the commonest cause of death from abuse. Head injuries may result from a blow to the head of the child, swinging him round or shaking him. A fracture is usually less significant in terms of the physical prognosis, than the associated complications which may result from brain damage. These complications may also occur after the child has been swung around or shaken, resulting in a collection of blood immediately underneath the skull (subdural haematoma), causing increasing pressure on the brain. Retinal haemorrhages may also be found with shaking injuries. Fractures Fractures are among the most serious injuries sustained. They may occur in almost any bone and may be single or multiple, clinically obvious or detectable only by x-ray. The presence of old/healing undiagnosed fractures on x-ray indicates potential previous incidences of child abuse. The physical signs of fractures are deformities of the bones, tenderness, swelling, limitation of movement in an extremity or pseudoparalysis. Immobile babies very rarely break their bones and toddlers rarely suffer more than a green-stick fracture (a crack which does not result in a complete break). Physical abuse must therefore be seen as a highly probable diagnosis in all fractures in children under one year. Recent fractures may be difficult to see, but are more obvious when callus forms after about 10 – 14 days. 126
Abdominal Injuries In a few cases, children may suffer damage to the kidneys, spleen, liver, intestines, or other genital organs as a result of a punch or kick. Such injuries are serious and may lead to death if not treated. Chest Injuries Rib fractures are highly suspicious of physical abuse in young children unless there is a history of direct trauma to the rib cage e.g. a road traffic accident. The signs are chest deformities and limitation of mobility. If rib fractures cause rupture of a blood vessel, bleeding into the chest cavity (haemothorax) may result. If a rib punctures the lung, air leaking into the cavity (pneumothorax) and subcutaneous tissue (surgical emphysema) may ensue. Behavioural Indicators in Children and Young People which could Indicate Physical Abuse • Refusal by child to discuss injuries • Fear of returning home • Aggression towards others • Undue fear or anxiety towards adults or a particular individual • Poor personal hygiene • Constant tiredness • Running away • Poor or erratic attendance at school • Low self esteem Child Neglect and Emotional Abuse Child neglect is a serious condition which can result in delayed physical and emotional development. A child’s development is highly sensitive to both physical and psychological stress. Where insufficient care or protection leads to actual or potential impairment then child abuse can be said to have occurred. Diagnosis is difficult because these effects are not as dramatic as bruises and lacerations. However, the effects of physical and emotional neglect can be very damaging. Therefore any situation suggesting that neglect is present must be treated seriously. The effects present themselves in a variety of ways and some examples are listed below: Physical Neglect • Failure to provide basic care for the child’s needs. • Inadequate nourishment. 127
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CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES The Eas
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CONTENTS Foreword Section 1: Defini
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Section 5: The Child Protection Reg
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APPENDICES Appendix 1: The Main Tas
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1.0.4.1 If it is agreed that a join
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1.3 Sexual Abuse 1.3.1 “Any child
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SECTION 2 Investigation of Suspecte
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Team Leader will liaise with the Se
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interviews by a Police Officer and
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e widely available to general pract
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2.8 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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properly investigating them can als
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person with whom the child shares h
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(i) (j) (k) (l) Once a referral has
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for formal intervention in this par
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public interest to prosecute. It is
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(Article 19 of the UN Convention on
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made available. The criminal aspect
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3.7 Convicted Offenders 3.7.1 A sep
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serious addiction by the parent who
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3.12 Children with a disability or
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3.14.1.3 Any such concerns should b
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3.14.8 Deciding on How the Matter s
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3.14.13.3 The Link Worker/Family Pl
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3.15.1.4 Attention to young peoples
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3.15.4.6 While the possible need fo
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• deciding that there is an alleg
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The safety of other children 3.15.6
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3.15.7.8 An assessment of the immed
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3.15.7.21 At an appropriate stage t
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3.15.7.35 Any involvement of a youn
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3.17.2.2 There are two important el
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3.17.4.2 Social workers must submit
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3.19 The Data Protection Act 3.20.1
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3.21.6.5. A child may have to give
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eport this to the Service Unit Mana
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of making this decision. It may wel
Page 75 and 76: 4.6 Professionals and Others 4.6.1
Page 77 and 78: his or his wishes and feelings and
Page 79 and 80: 4.13.1 Once a child’s name has be
Page 81 and 82: 4.18 Key worker 4.18.1 A key worker
Page 83 and 84: Section 5 The Child Protection Regi
Page 85 and 86: 5.7.1 There are two Child Protectio
Page 87 and 88: (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l) (m) (n)
Page 89 and 90: 5.15 A Registered Child moving into
Page 91 and 92: SECTION 6 Informing and Consulting
Page 93 and 94: 6.5.4 Family members will need to k
Page 95 and 96: • The procedure for making an app
Page 97 and 98: 7.5 Information required for an app
Page 99 and 100: to any person or class of person sp
Page 101 and 102: 7.12 Procedure for making an applic
Page 103 and 104: for recall or variation the Team Le
Page 105 and 106: 7.16.3 The sheriff when considering
Page 107 and 108: notification for the application fo
Page 109 and 110: 7.22.7 If an emergency authorisatio
Page 111 and 112: (e) (f) (g) (h) Having undertaken i
Page 113 and 114: procedures for application to a She
Page 115 and 116: Families) or equivalent. It will be
Page 117 and 118: there is significant concern for th
Page 119 and 120: 8.7.8.5 The Team Leader will inform
Page 121 and 122: (o) Where there is disagreement abo
Page 123 and 124: It will be the responsibility of ea
Page 125: (b) (c) (d) (e) No explanation of t
Page 129 and 130: • Unusual genital odour. • Anxi
Page 131 and 132: APPENDIX 3 Referral/Reporting Conta
Page 133 and 134: Glossary of Medical Terms and Condi
Page 135 and 136: Appendix 5 HIV and other blood-born
Page 137 and 138: • Should worker’s aim for a sam
Page 139 and 140: APPENDIX 6 List of Sign Language In
Page 141 and 142: APPENDIX 8 East Ayrshire Council Ch
Page 143 and 144: Risk Assessment Risk Assessment is
Page 145 and 146: for each release in a planned progr
Page 147 and 148: Assessment and Supervision of Sex O
Page 149 and 150: • is over sixteen • is a convic
Page 151 and 152: Help To: The Director of Social Wor
Page 153 and 154: APPENDIX 11 EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL E
Page 155 and 156: Signed: Print Name: Status: Date: S
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Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

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